Max von Sydow

The legendary Bergman-era actor brought total, dry-voiced conviction to Ming the Merciless — a performance of genuine menace inside one of cinema's most extravagant villain costumes. Already one of European art cinema's most celebrated actors from his long collaboration with director Ingmar Bergman, he brought unexpected dramatic gravity to a role many actors would have played purely for camp. He continued working prolifically in major international productions, including later an Academy Award nomination, until his death in 2020.