Max von Sydow

Max von Sydow Profile Photo

Characters played by Max von Sydow

Lor San Tekka — Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015)

Explorer who gives Poe the map to Luke

Dr. Naehring — Shutter Island (2010)

Senior psychiatrist and colleague of Dr. Cawley. Participates in monitoring the patients and attempts to sedate Teddy during his breakdown. Highlights the severe consequences of relapse, including potential lobotomy.

Father Lankester Merrin — The Exorcist (1973)

Veteran Jesuit priest and renowned archaeologist who performs exorcisms.

Director Lamar Burgess — Minority Report (2002)

Burgess is the director of Precrime and its most determined defender. To preserve the program, he conceals a murder, arranges a setup intended to provoke Anderton, and kills Witwer while the precogs are offline. When Anderton exposes his dilemma publicly, Burgess acknowledges the truth and takes his own life.

Father Lankester Merrin — Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977)

Veterant priest and archaeologist who confronts demonic forces across continents.

Doctor Kynes — Dune (1984)

Imperial planetologist secretly aiding Fremen terraforming efforts.

Vigo (voice) (uncredited) — Ghostbusters II (1989)

Auditory manifestation of the tyrant.

Sir Walter Loxley — Robin Hood (2010)

Aging knight who guides Robin in defending England against internal corruption and foreign invasion.

Sigmund Freud — The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles (1992)

Pioneering psychoanalyst who mentors young Indiana in London during his formative years.

King Osric — Conan the Barbarian (1982)

Wealthy monarch who hires Conan to rescue his daughter from Doom.

Antonius Block — The Seventh Seal (1957)

A disillusioned knight returning from the Crusades who challenges Death to a chess match to prolong his life. He seeks one meaningful deed, enjoys a moment of peace with Mia's strawberries, and ultimately stays behind to play chess, sacrificing himself to allow others to escape.

Varden Reynard — Rush Hour 3 (2007)

French ambassador secretly leading a global crime syndicate in Rush Hour 3.

Career Overview

Max von Sydow has 172 screen credits in a career dating back to 1944. Their work spans 13 cinematic universes — most prominently The Exorcist with 2 titles. Signature works include Shutter Island, The Exorcist, Minority Report. Explore the interactive character relationship maps on each title page to trace how their roles connect across franchises.

Personal Facts

Known For
Acting
Gender
male
Known Credits
172
Birth Date
1929-04-10
Birth Place
Lund, Skåne län, Sweden

Known For

Associated Universes

Universe traveler — spans 13 universes

Frequent Collaborators

Credits

Content sources

Related entry on Wikidata (Q203215), public domain (CC0).