The legendary actor and star of films ranging from “The Seventh Seal” to “The Exorcist,” Max von Sydow, has passed away. Fans are offering an outpouring of kind words and well wishes to his family following his passing.
The actor is remembered for his distinctive appearance, with his gaunt face and long limbs making him perfect for the horror genre and wise, mentor-like roles.
Max von Sydow, born in Sweden in 1929, was 90 years old when he passed away on Sunday. His representative at Diamond Management announced that “it is with a broken heart and with infinite sadness that we have the extreme pain of announcing the departure of Max.”
The pain of losing someone as talented and renowned as von Sydow isn’t the kind you can deal with by taking pain relief medicine, either: he was truly singular in his talents.
Von Sydow studied at the acting school at Stockholm’s Royal Dramatic Theatre. He was a truly classically trained actor. He brought a great deal of gravitas and a lifetime of theater talent to bear when he was on set.
The Swedish actor’s star began to rise in the 1950s when he starred in the masterpiece, “The Seventh Seal.”
Following the success of “The Seventh Seal” in 1957, von Sydow went on to star as Jesus in “The Greatest Story Ever Told” in 1965. He also starred in “The Exorcist” as Father Lankester Merrin in 1973. These international roles dramatically increased von Sydow’s profile, and he became a fast favorite of cult-movie enthusiasts. His tall physique and regal countenance helped lend him an air of otherworldly grandeur on otherwise unusual films.
You can see this in one of his final roles as Lor San Tekka in “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.”
Even in the wild and weird world of “Star Wars,” von Sydow’s character felt right at home. He helped kick-start the adventure that would define the next three films and the “sequel era” of the legendary series.
Tributes to the legendary Swedish actor were numerous Monday following the news of his passing. One was from Edgar Wright, director of films like “Shawn of the Dead” and “Scott Pilgrim.”
He offered a touching tribute to von Sydow on Twitter Monday morning.
“Max Von Sydow, such an iconic presence in cinema for seven decades, it seemed like he’d always be with us. He changed the face of international film with Bergman, played Christ, fought the devil, pressed the HOT HAIL button & was Oscar nominated for a silent performance. A god.”
