Max von Sydow

Max von Sydow, born as Carl Adolf von Sydow, was a well-renowned Swedish actor. He had an illustrious 70-year career in European and American cinema, television, and theatre, demonstrating remarkable versatility in roles ranging from contemplative protagonists to menacing villains. He received numerous accolades, including honors from the Cannes and Venice Film Festivals and was nominated for two Academy Awards. He debuted in American film as Jesus Christ in 'The Greatest Story Ever Told' and went on to star in iconic films such as 'The Exorcist', 'Three Days of the Condor', 'Flash Gordon', and 'Conan the Barbarian'. He also portrayed the main antagonist Leland Gaunt (The Devil) in the film adaptation of Stephen King's Needful Things and played the Three-eyed Raven in the HBO series Game of Thrones, earning a Primetime Emmy nomination.

Von Sydow's cinematic career budded under Ingmar Bergman's direction, featuring in eleven Bergman-directed films, including 'The Seventh Seal', 'Wild Strawberries', and 'The Virgin Spring'. He launched his international career in 1965 and continued to craft compelling characters in films like 'Minority Report', 'The Diving Bell and the Butterfly', 'Shutter Island', and 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens'. Von Sydow's work extended beyond films, marking his presence in video games too, by voicing roles in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and Ghostbusters: The Video Game.