Max von Sydow dies at 90

Wife's 'broken heart' over Seventh Seal actor

by Amber Wilkinson

Max von Sydow in The Seventh Seal
Max von Sydow in The Seventh Seal Photo: Criterion Collection
Max von Sydow's French wife has said that the Swedish born star of The Seventh Seal and The Exorcist has died at the age of 90.

Documentarian Catherine Brelet announced that he had died yesterday "with a broken heart and with infinite sadness".

Von Sydow - whose final film Echoes Of The Past is currently in post-production - starred in more than 100 films and TV series. Although he began his career in theatre, he quickly carved out a career onscreen, working 11 times with Ingmar Bergman, including The Seventh Seal, Through A Glass Darkly and Wild Strawberries.

His career saw him span a range of genres and included roles as Jesus (The Greatest Story Ever Told), a priest (The Exorcist), the Devil (Needful Things) and Bond villain Blofeld (Never Say Never Again). He also featured as Lor San Tekka in Star Wars: The Force Awakens and as the Three-Eyed Raven in Game Of Thrones.

He was twice nominated for an Academy Award, for Bille August's historic drama Pelle The Conqueror in 1989 and, in 2011, for Stephen Daldry's Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close - the only male Swedish actor to receive an Oscar nod. He relinquished his Swedish citizenship to become a French citizen in 2002.

He has two children from his first marriage to Christina Olin and two from his marriage to Brelet.

Read reviews of Max von Sydow's films here.

Share this with others on...
News

Coppola, the fearless, has no regrets Megalopolis director values friendship more than personal fortune

Miller still a playful child at heart Furiosa director on the joys of technology, creating legends and eternal curiosity

Status 'protected' Cannes star Léa Seydoux 'From the beginning I worked with people who respected me - more or less'

On reflection Sav Rodgers on Ben Affleck, Kevin Smith, coming of age on camera and Chasing Chasing Amy

Meryl crowned Queen of the Croisette Honorary Palme for Hollywood royalty as Cannes crowds and first nighters go wild for Streep

More news and features

We're bringing you all the excitement of the world's most celebrated film festival direct from Cannes



We're looking forward to Inside Out, the Muslim International Film Festival, the Tribeca Film Festival, Docs Ireland and the Fantasia International Film Festival.



We've recently covered Fantaspoa, Queer East, Visions du Réel, New Directors/New Films, the Overlook Film Festival, BFI Flare, the Glasgow Short Film Festival and SXSW.



Read our full for more.


Visit our festivals section.

Interact

More competitions coming soon.