Max von Sydow of 'The Exorcist' and 'Game of Thrones' Fame Passes Away
Say it ain't so. Max von Sydow, who you may remember from Game of Thrones and other major Hollywood productions, has sadly passed away. He was 90 years old.
As reported by The Mercury News, the actor's long-time agent Jean Diamond made the announcement. “It is with a broken heart and with infinite sadness that we have the extreme pain of announcing the departure of Max von Sydow,” Diamond said on March 9. He had passed away one day earlier.
Von Sydow enjoyed a successful career in Hollywood, and was nominated for two Oscars, including Best Actor in 1988 for Pelle the Conqueror. Most famously, he portrayed the priest Father Lankester Merrin in The Exorcist. Other film credits of his include The Seventh Seal and Star Wars: The Force Awakens. More recently, the actor had appeared in three episodes of the HBO series Game of Thrones as the Three-Eyed Raven, and even received an Emmy nomination for his work on the series.
After the news of von Sydow's passing broke, celebrities mourned his death on Twitter. Famed filmmaker Kevin Smith was one of the first to do so.
The legendary actor who gave us both Brewmeister Smith and Ming the Merciless has finally laid down his King in the eternal chess match. Farewell, Max von Sydow. You were in many much more respected movies than Strange Brew and Flash Gordon but I loved you for those flicks first. https://t.co/ltytehF5Rm
— KevinSmith (@ThatKevinSmith) March 9, 2020
Actress Mia Farrow also shared a sentimental message.
Here was Max Von Sydow with his dear friend, master cinematographer, Sven Nykvist. Two great artists. Two true gentlemen. We were working on Bora Bora. I picture Max in heaven wearing his white linen suit, w Sven, Ingmar Bergman, Bibi Andersson, laughing & loving each other ? pic.twitter.com/ENdcB9bPKZ
— Mia Farrow (@MiaFarrow) March 9, 2020
Our hearts go out to von Sydow's family in this hard time. May he rest in peace.