Game of Thrones and Exorcist actor Max von Sydow dies aged 90
Hollywood actor Max Von Sydow, known for his roles in Star Wars and The Exorcist, has died at the age of 90.
The Swedish-born star had a varied career that spanned more than six decades and saw him appear in more than 100 films and TV series.
A statement issued by von Sydow’s agent Jean Diamond, on behalf of his wife Catherine, said: “It is with a broken heart and with infinite sadness that we have the extreme pain of announcing the departure of Max von Sydow.”
Von Sydow also appeared in Game of Throne as the Three-Eyed Raven and was well known for his many collaborations with Swedish filmmaker Ingmar Bergman.
The 90-year-old was nominated for two Oscars throughout his illustrious career – best actor for Pelle The Conqueror in 1989 and best supporting actor for his role in 2011’s Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close.
During his extensive film career, he worked with a number of heavyweight directors, such as Martin Scorsese, David Lynch, Woody Allen and Steven Spielberg.
However, he was most noted for his many collaborations with Swedish director Bergman.
Von Sydow’s first Bergman movie was in 1957 – The Seventh Seal, in which he played knight Antonius Block.
The scenes of him playing chess with the figure of Death would become renowned in cinematic circles.
He also went on to star in other Bergman films including Wild Strawberries, The Virgin Spring and Hour Of The Wolf after first meeting the director in the 1950s at the Malmo Municipal Theatre in Sweden.
Prior to carving out a name for himself in the Swedish theatre, Von Sydow studied at the Royal Dramatic Theatre in Stockholm, and he made his film debut in 1949 in Swedish drama film Only A Mother.
After years of appearing in European films, von Sydow went to America to play Jesus Christ in George Stevens’s epic The Greatest Story Ever Told in 1965.
It was his first English language film and launched his Hollywood career.He went on to appear in films including Flash Gordon, Conan The Barbarian, Dune, Hannah And Her Sisters, Shutter Island and Minority Report.
He also played sinister James Bond super-villain Ernst Blofeld in 1983’s Never Say Never Again.
In recent years, Von Sydow lent his voice to animated comedy The Simpsons.