Another great has just passed away after a life well lived. Swedish actor Max Von Sydow, who appeared in massive films like The Exorcist, The Seventh Seal, and more recently Star Wars: The Force Awakens, died this Sunday at age 90, his family announced.
He started out in his home country of Sweden, working with legendary Ingmar Bergman on 11 total films. One of his more notable roles was in Bergman’s The Seventh Seal in 1957. His talent was noticed in the US and he flew overseas in the next decade for a role in The Greatest Story Ever Told. In the 1970s, he nabbed the role of Father Merrin in The Exorcist, and a few years later played the villain Emperor Ming in Flash Gordon, two cult classic films that are still beloved by fans today.
Beyond Ingmar, he also worked with such renowned directors are Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg, and David Lynch. Von Sydow became renowned himself over his lifetime with 2 Oscar and 2 Emmy nominations.
He had developed a reputation for playing villains, because of his sharp facial features and deep voice. He was even a Bond villain in Never Say Never Again. He has a place in many franchises as well, including Star Wars, in which he played Lor San Tekka in The Force Awakens, and Game of Thrones, in which he appeared as Three-Eyed Raven.
He is survived by his 4 sons and his wife Catherine Brelet. Many actors and filmmakers have expressed their best wishes to his family and their appreciation of Van Sydow’s work.
Leave a Comment