The legendary Swedish actor, Max von Sydow, sadly passed away at the age of 90. An actor so ingrained and respected across decades of cinema history, some of the headlines today citing his Star Wars appearances, for example, seem a little crass.
The Exorcist I can understand. I mean, it’s a marvel of a motion picture but von Sydow is so synonymous with that role that any mere mention of possession or exorcism and you think of him. News of the actor’s passing should relate to the campy, childhood adventure that is Flash Gordon, that would not be so memorable with Ming the Merciless. Or the Oscar-nominated role in the unforgettable Pelle the Conqueror.
Max von Sydow’s acting CV is extraordinary. Such a varied range and longevity of excellence. A man whose presence on screen offers a deep resonance and comfort. Even in darker times like succumbing to revenge in The Virgin Spring.
In fact, his illustrious, commanding work with fellow Swede, filmmaker Ingmar Bergman, would swamp anybody’s filmography with bravura and wonder. Shame, The Seventh Seal, Through a Glass Darkly, Winter Light, Wild Strawberries – films any actor in the world would thank their lucky stars for being part of. Von Sydow said many times that he would not have gotten where he did without Bergman – and I’m certain the director feels the exact same way about him.
Max von Sydow is a man you remember. Popping up in films like Conan the Barbarian, Escape to Victory, Hannah and Her Sisters, The Best Intentions. Even his tiny roles serve as possible career highs (oh so many to count).
The poignant scenes in the harrowing The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. Lending that authoritative, penetrating voice for Lars von Trier’s haunting Europa was a genius move. And the justified disregard for Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close has to be supplemented with a truly astonishing turn from von Sydow – the Best Picture nomination was a stunner but the Best Supporting Actor nod was not.
Here are what some others thought of the great man:
Brandon Stanwyck (@BrandonStanwyck): Like many film enthusiasts of my generation, my first Max von Sydow film was The Exorcist. I watched the film a young age because my family never bothered to censor my interests. At the time, I had no idea the old priest struggling to banish an ancient demon from young Regan’s body was one of the most incredible actors in the world.
As my fascination with cinema grew, I discovered the Criterion Collection DVDs at my local library. The Seventh Seal, Hour of the Wolf, and The Virgin Spring are just a few of the films that taught me what a powerhouse von Sydow could be—and how marvelous non-American movies could be.
Throughout his career, he worked with the very best auteurs and made each film he was in even stronger with his unmatchable charisma, ferocity, and intelligence. Max von Sydow was truly the best at what he did. There will never be another performer like him… In many ways, he guided me through my early years as a cinephile, and I’ll be forever grateful.
Chris Watt (@thechriswatt): An performer of immeasurable power, Sydow gave each character he played an inherent humanity, whether hero or villain. He breathed life into every part with the same magic as a painter might spread oils on canvas. He was one of those rare actors at home in any and every genre. He could play drama, comedy, adventure, fear, romance but, above all else, he gave us an in depth exploration of the human condition, through the parts he played.
In every aspect of his work, the craft was impeccable, his unmistakeable voice and sheer presence onscreen giving every picture that he appeared in a currency and legitimacy, whether it was Jan Troell’s The Emigrants or Mike Hodge’s Flash Gordon. Whatever the film movement, whoever the director, no matter the subject, the work spoke for itself. Sydow leaves a void now, in a cinema that will forever mourn his passing.
Susanne Gottlieb (@SusanneGottlieb): To write about what Max von Sydow is like writing about three lifetimes. When someone has had a career so rich with experiences, acclaim, and impact, how could you pick? Scrolling through the decade-spanning credits list, I spot movies from my childhood or early youth I didn’t even realise he was part of.
So to make this short personal obituary count, I will have to pick the two movies that stuck with me as in recognising the actor behind the role. The character rounded out by the make-believe of someone which such precision that the name will follow you around.
The first one would have to be the classic The Seventh Seal. The gravity of his Antonius Block, wandering the world, disillusioned by what he has seen, made von Sydow rightfully an international star. Von Sydow gracefully balances the fine line between altruism and indifference, a tall young blond Swede with a soothing voice and great things to come.
The other role that stuck with me was his Father Lankester Merrin in The Exorcist. Although for only a short time in the movie and hidden under heavy makeup, the role was one of those moments when von Sydow proved he could play anything and anyone. That he was willing to broaden his experiences in all fields and genres of the cinematic experience. A true legend.
