Max von Sydow

Max von Sydow (10 April 1929 – 8 March 2020) was a Swedish actor. He also held French citizenship since 2002. He starred in many films and had supporting roles in dozens more. He performed in films filmed in many languages, including Swedish, Norwegian, English, Italian, German, Danish, French and Spanish. Some of his most memorable film roles include knight Antonius Block in Ingmar Bergman's The Seventh Seal (the first of his eleven films with Bergman and the film that includes the iconic shot of his career in the scene where he plays chess with Death), Jesus in George Stevens's The Greatest Story Ever Told, Father Merrin in Friedkin's The Exorcist, Joubert the assassin in Three Days of the Condor, and Ming the Merciless in the 1980 version of Flash Gordon. He was twice nominated for the Academy Award - Best Leading Actor for Pelle the Conqueror (1988) and Best Supporting Actor for Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (2011).

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Minority Report (2002)

FuturisticAction-packedOriginalThought provoking

John Anderton is a top 'Precrime' cop in the late-21st century, when technology can predict crimes before they're committed. But Anderton becomes the quarry when another investigator targets him for a murder charge.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Steven Spielberg
CAST:  Tom Cruise  •  Max von Sydow  •  Steve Harris  •  Neal McDonough

John Anderton is a top 'Precrime' cop in the late-21st century, when technology can predict crimes before they're committed. But Anderton becomes the quarry when another investigator targets him for a murder charge.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Steven Spielberg
CAST:  Tom Cruise  •  Max von Sydow  •  Steve Harris  •  Neal McDonough

Winter Light (1963)

PowerfulClassicDramaticFantastical

A Swedish pastor fails a loving woman, a suicidal fisherman and God.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ingmar Bergman
CAST:  Ingrid Thulin  •  Gunnar Björnstrand  •  Gunnel Lindblom  •  Max von Sydow

A Swedish pastor fails a loving woman, a suicidal fisherman and God.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ingmar Bergman
CAST:  Ingrid Thulin  •  Gunnar Björnstrand  •  Gunnel Lindblom  •  Max von Sydow

A Kiss Before Dying (1991)

Infatuated with the idea of becoming rich, college student Jonathan Corliss secretly dates Dorothy Carlsson to gain the approval of her wealthy father. When Dorothy tells Jonathan that she is pregnant and that her father will deny her inheritance if he finds out, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  James Dearden
CAST:  Matt Dillon  •  Sean Young  •  Max von Sydow  •  Diane Ladd

Infatuated with the idea of becoming rich, college student Jonathan Corliss secretly dates Dorothy Carlsson to gain the approval of her wealthy father. When Dorothy tells Jonathan that she is pregnant and that her father will deny her inheritance if he finds out, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  James Dearden
CAST:  Matt Dillon  •  Sean Young  •  Max von Sydow  •  Diane Ladd

Conan the Barbarian (1982)

EpicAction-packedFantasticalAdventurous

A film adaptation of the classic sword and sorcery hero, Conan the Barbarian. A horde of rampaging warriors massacre the parents of young Conan and enslave the young child for years on The Wheel of Pain. As the sole survivor of the childhood massacre, Conan is ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Milius
CAST:  Arnold Schwarzenegger  •  James Earl Jones  •  Max von Sydow  •  Sandahl Bergman

A film adaptation of the classic sword and sorcery hero, Conan the Barbarian. A horde of rampaging warriors massacre the parents of young Conan and enslave the young child for years on The Wheel of Pain. As the sole survivor of the childhood massacre, Conan is ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Milius
CAST:  Arnold Schwarzenegger  •  James Earl Jones  •  Max von Sydow  •  Sandahl Bergman

Druids (2001)

In the year 60 B.C. a group of Druids, including the arch-druid Guttuart (Max von Sydow), witness the passing of a comet and interpret it as the sign of the coming of a king for their country Gaul, which has not had a king for a long time. Guttuart goes to Gergovia ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jacques Dorfmann
CAST:  Christopher Lambert  •  Klaus Maria Brandauer  •  Max von Sydow  •  Denis Charvet

In the year 60 B.C. a group of Druids, including the arch-druid Guttuart (Max von Sydow), witness the passing of a comet and interpret it as the sign of the coming of a king for their country Gaul, which has not had a king for a long time. Guttuart goes to Gergovia ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jacques Dorfmann
CAST:  Christopher Lambert  •  Klaus Maria Brandauer  •  Max von Sydow  •  Denis Charvet

Duet for One (1986)

When Stephanie, a famous violinist, contracts multiple sclerosis her life begins to fall apart. Her career ends, her husband leaves her for another woman and her favorite pupil leave the country. Unable to bear all this loss, Stephanie attempts suicide.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Andrei Konchalovsky
CAST:  Julie Andrews  •  Alan Bates  •  Max von Sydow  •  Rupert Everett

When Stephanie, a famous violinist, contracts multiple sclerosis her life begins to fall apart. Her career ends, her husband leaves her for another woman and her favorite pupil leave the country. Unable to bear all this loss, Stephanie attempts suicide.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Andrei Konchalovsky
CAST:  Julie Andrews  •  Alan Bates  •  Max von Sydow  •  Rupert Everett

Dune (1984)

In the year 10,191, the world is at war for control of the desert planet Arrakis—the only place where the space-travel substance Melange 'Spice' can be found. But when one leader gives up control, it's only so he can stage a coup with some unsavory characters.  (more)

DIRECTION:  David Lynch
CAST:  Francesca Annis  •  Leonardo Cimino  •  Brad Dourif  •  José Ferrer

In the year 10,191, the world is at war for control of the desert planet Arrakis—the only place where the space-travel substance Melange 'Spice' can be found. But when one leader gives up control, it's only so he can stage a coup with some unsavory characters.  (more)

DIRECTION:  David Lynch
CAST:  Francesca Annis  •  Leonardo Cimino  •  Brad Dourif  •  José Ferrer

Escape to Victory (1981)

A group of POWs in a German prison camp during World War II play the German National Soccer Team in this powerful film depicting the role of prisoners during wartime.  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Huston
CAST:  Michael Caine  •  Sylvester Stallone  •  Max von Sydow  •  Pelé

A group of POWs in a German prison camp during World War II play the German National Soccer Team in this powerful film depicting the role of prisoners during wartime.  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Huston
CAST:  Michael Caine  •  Sylvester Stallone  •  Max von Sydow  •  Pelé

Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977)

Bizarre nightmares plague Regan MacNeil four years after her possession and exorcism. Has the demon returned? And if so, can the combined faith and knowledge of a Vatican investigator and a hypnotic research specialist free her from its grasp?  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Boorman  •  Rospo Pallenberg
CAST:  Linda Blair  •  Richard Burton  •  Louise Fletcher  •  Max von Sydow

Bizarre nightmares plague Regan MacNeil four years after her possession and exorcism. Has the demon returned? And if so, can the combined faith and knowledge of a Vatican investigator and a hypnotic research specialist free her from its grasp?  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Boorman  •  Rospo Pallenberg
CAST:  Linda Blair  •  Richard Burton  •  Louise Fletcher  •  Max von Sydow

Flash Gordon (1980)

A football player and his mates travel to the planet Mongo and find themselves fighting the tyranny of Ming the Merciless to save Earth.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Mike Hodges
CAST:  Sam J. Jones  •  Melody Anderson  •  Max von Sydow  •  Topol

A football player and his mates travel to the planet Mongo and find themselves fighting the tyranny of Ming the Merciless to save Earth.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Mike Hodges
CAST:  Sam J. Jones  •  Melody Anderson  •  Max von Sydow  •  Topol

Ghostbusters II (1989)

Five years after they defeated Gozer, the Ghostbusters are out of business. When Dana begins to have ghost problems again, the boys come out of retirement to aid her and hopefully save New York City from a new paranormal threat.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ivan Reitman
CAST:  Bill Murray  •  Dan Aykroyd  •  Sigourney Weaver  •  Harold Ramis

Five years after they defeated Gozer, the Ghostbusters are out of business. When Dana begins to have ghost problems again, the boys come out of retirement to aid her and hopefully save New York City from a new paranormal threat.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ivan Reitman
CAST:  Bill Murray  •  Dan Aykroyd  •  Sigourney Weaver  •  Harold Ramis

Hannah and Her Sisters (1986)

Between two Thanksgivings, Hannah's husband falls in love with her sister Lee, while her hypochondriac ex-husband rekindles his relationship with her sister Holly.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Woody Allen
CAST:  Mia Farrow  •  Carrie Fisher  •  Michael Caine  •  Barbara Hershey

Between two Thanksgivings, Hannah's husband falls in love with her sister Lee, while her hypochondriac ex-husband rekindles his relationship with her sister Holly.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Woody Allen
CAST:  Mia Farrow  •  Carrie Fisher  •  Michael Caine  •  Barbara Hershey

Hawaii (1966)

Abner Hale, a rigid and humorless New England missionary, marries the beautiful Jerusha Bromley and takes her to the exotic island kingdom of Hawaii, intent on converting the natives. But the clash between the two cultures is too great and instead of understanding ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  George Roy Hill
CAST:  Julie Andrews  •  Max von Sydow  •  Richard Harris  •  Gene Hackman

Abner Hale, a rigid and humorless New England missionary, marries the beautiful Jerusha Bromley and takes her to the exotic island kingdom of Hawaii, intent on converting the natives. But the clash between the two cultures is too great and instead of understanding ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  George Roy Hill
CAST:  Julie Andrews  •  Max von Sydow  •  Richard Harris  •  Gene Hackman

Hour of the Wolf (1968)

While vacationing on a remote German island with his pregnant wife, an artist has an emotional breakdown while confronting his repressed desires.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ingmar Bergman
CAST:  Max von Sydow  •  Liv Ullmann  •  Gertrud Fridh  •  Erland Josephson

While vacationing on a remote German island with his pregnant wife, an artist has an emotional breakdown while confronting his repressed desires.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ingmar Bergman
CAST:  Max von Sydow  •  Liv Ullmann  •  Gertrud Fridh  •  Erland Josephson

Intacto (2001)

An enigmatic tale of four people whose lives are intertwined by destiny are subject to the laws of fate. They discover that luck is something they cannot afford to be without as they gamble with the highest stakes possible in a deadly game from which only one of ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Juan Carlos Fresnadillo
CAST:  Leonardo Sbaraglia  •  Eusebio Poncela  •  Mónica López  •  Antonio Dechent

An enigmatic tale of four people whose lives are intertwined by destiny are subject to the laws of fate. They discover that luck is something they cannot afford to be without as they gamble with the highest stakes possible in a deadly game from which only one of ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Juan Carlos Fresnadillo
CAST:  Leonardo Sbaraglia  •  Eusebio Poncela  •  Mónica López  •  Antonio Dechent

Pelle the Conqueror (1987)

In the late 19th century, two Swedish emigrants, Lasse Karlsson and his son Pelle, arrive on the Danish island of Bornholm hoping to find work on a farm and save enough money to travel to the United States of America.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Bille August
CAST:  Pelle Hvenegaard  •  Max von Sydow  •  Erik Paaske  •  Björn Granath

In the late 19th century, two Swedish emigrants, Lasse Karlsson and his son Pelle, arrive on the Danish island of Bornholm hoping to find work on a farm and save enough money to travel to the United States of America.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Bille August
CAST:  Pelle Hvenegaard  •  Max von Sydow  •  Erik Paaske  •  Björn Granath

The Emigrants (1971)

A Swedish peasant family, ravaged by poverty, privation and misery in mid-19th century Sweden, set out on a perilous journey to America in hope of a better life.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jan Troell
CAST:  Max von Sydow  •  Liv Ullmann  •  Allan Edwall  •  Eddie Axberg

A Swedish peasant family, ravaged by poverty, privation and misery in mid-19th century Sweden, set out on a perilous journey to America in hope of a better life.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jan Troell
CAST:  Max von Sydow  •  Liv Ullmann  •  Allan Edwall  •  Eddie Axberg

The Exorcist (1973)

Action-packedScaryDark

12-year-old Regan MacNeil begins to adapt an explicit new personality as strange events befall the local area of Georgetown. Her mother becomes torn between science and superstition in a desperate bid to save her daughter, and ultimately turns to her last hope: ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  William Friedkin
CAST:  Ellen Burstyn  •  Jason Miller  •  Max von Sydow  •  Lee J. Cobb

12-year-old Regan MacNeil begins to adapt an explicit new personality as strange events befall the local area of Georgetown. Her mother becomes torn between science and superstition in a desperate bid to save her daughter, and ultimately turns to her last hope: ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  William Friedkin
CAST:  Ellen Burstyn  •  Jason Miller  •  Max von Sydow  •  Lee J. Cobb

The Magician (1958)

When 'Vogler's Magnetic Health Theater' comes to town, there's bound to be a spectacle. Reading reports of a variety of supernatural disturbances at Vogler's prior performances abroad, the leading townspeople (including the police chief and medical examiner) ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ingmar Bergman
CAST:  Max von Sydow  •  Gunnar Björnstrand  •  Ingrid Thulin  •  Bibi Andersson

When 'Vogler's Magnetic Health Theater' comes to town, there's bound to be a spectacle. Reading reports of a variety of supernatural disturbances at Vogler's prior performances abroad, the leading townspeople (including the police chief and medical examiner) ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ingmar Bergman
CAST:  Max von Sydow  •  Gunnar Björnstrand  •  Ingrid Thulin  •  Bibi Andersson

The Passion of Anna (1969)

Andreas, a man struggling with the recent demise of his marriage and his own emotional isolation, befriends a married couple also in the midst of psychological turmoil. In turn he meets Anna, who is grieving the recent deaths of her husband and son. She appears ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ingmar Bergman
CAST:  Max von Sydow  •  Liv Ullmann  •  Bibi Andersson  •  Erland Josephson

Andreas, a man struggling with the recent demise of his marriage and his own emotional isolation, befriends a married couple also in the midst of psychological turmoil. In turn he meets Anna, who is grieving the recent deaths of her husband and son. She appears ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ingmar Bergman
CAST:  Max von Sydow  •  Liv Ullmann  •  Bibi Andersson  •  Erland Josephson
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