Actor Max Von Sydow, who appeared in films and TV series including The Exorcist, Flash Gordon and Game of Thrones, has died at the age of 90.
His family announced “with a broken heart and infinite sadness” that the Swedish-born actor died on Sunday.
Von Sydow’s other film credits included Hannah and Her Sisters, The Seventh Seal and Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
He was nominated for two Oscars during his career – including best actor in 1988 for Pelle the Conqueror.
His other Academy nomination was best supporting actor for his role in 2011’s Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close.
Von Sydow had a fruitful run of 11 films with legendary Swedish director Ingmar Bergman, including The Seventh Seal, in which he famously played chess with Death.
Hollywood came calling, but he reportedly turned down the role of Captain von Trapp in The Sound of Music.
He agreed to cross the Atlantic to play Jesus Christ in The Greatest Story Ever Told in 1965, and his global success grew with memorable roles like the priest Father Lankester Merrin in 1973 horror The Exorcist.
Von Sydow also appeared in Martin Scorsese’s Shutter Island, Steven Spielberg’s Minority Report, and played comic book villain Ming the Merciless in 1980’s Flash Gordon.
“I really enjoyed that film. I grew up reading Flash Gordon so it was sort of nostalgic for me,” he once told The Times.
Director Edgar Wright led the tributes on Twitter, writing: “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 and was Oscar nominated for a silent performance. A god.”
