Star of ‘The Exorcist’ Max von Sydow Passes Away

Credit: Mel Melcon/Los Angeles Times

May the soul of another talented artist rest in peace.

Sweden-born French actor Max von Sydow has died at the age of 90. His credentials included Ingmar Bergman’s The Seventh Seal, William Friedkin’s The Exorcist, and the role of Emperor Ming in Flash Gordon.

The actor’s career spanned 65 years and he is a famous name among Hollywood blockbusters and television. More recently, he played Lor San Tekka in Star Wars: The Force Awakens and the Three-Eyed Raven in Game of Thrones.

Via the actor’s international reps, the actor’s widow Catherine von Sydow made a statement, saying, “It is with a broken heart and with infinite sadness that we have the extreme pain of announcing the departure of Max von Sydow, on March 8, 2020.”

Credit: HBO

Von Sydow was born in Lund, Sweden and studied at Stockholm’s Royal Dramatic Theatre. He officially got his start in the film business through his work with mentor Ingmar Bergman. After gaining international recognition for his work with Bergman, von Sydow made his name in Hollywood in the mid-1960s where he appeared as Jesus in George Stevens’ The Greatest Story Ever Told.

The actor received two Oscar nominations for his role in Bille August’s 1987 drama Pelle The Conqueror and in 2011 for his supporting role in Stephen Daldry’s 9/11 film Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close.

Von Sydow’s last role before passing away was Nicholas Dimitropoulos’ upcoming drama Echoes Of The Past.

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