- Max is famous as being the only actor to have played both the Devil and Jesus. Many sources correctly say he played Christ in 'The Greatest Story Ever Told' (1965), and a demonic character, Leland Gaunt, in Stephen King's 'Needful Things' (1993). However, he also provided the voice of the Devil in 1984's 'A Soldier's Tale'.
Languages
- Max is one of the most multilingual performers the cinema has ever seen. As well as his native Swedish, Max has acted in English, Danish, Italian, French and German. He can also be heard uttering a little Arabic in 'The Exorcist' (1973) as well as Latin in 'Hiroshima: Out of the Ashes' (1990), Russian in 'The Kremlin Letter' (1970) and even a few words of Hawaiian in 'Hawaii' (1966).
Globe-trotter
- Max has travelled almost everywhere in the world, it seems. Having ventured to places as far apart as Hawaii, Morocco, Eastern Europe, Spain and Mexico for filming. He has lived in Sweden, France, Los Angeles and Rome.
Beliefs
- Max is credited on some internet sites as an "atheist and freethinker." While he has never aluded directly to his religious beliefs, he is quoted as saying he doesn't believe in God. He apparently had trouble delivering pious lines in 'The Exorcist', because he didn't believe what he was saying.
- Max's wife Catherine has often been involved in the production of his most recent films, such as 'Solomon', 'Nuremburg', 'Sleepless' and 'Minority Report'. She is most often credited as "Assistant to Mr von Sydow", but has also directed and assisted in the productions of a Making-of featurette for 'Sleepless' and 'Conan Unchained', about the making of 'Conan the Barbarian'.
- Max had an uncredited cameo in the 1984 film 'The Ice Pirates'
- One of his favourite films is 'Runaway Train'
- Max made his debut on Broadway in 1977, starring with Bibi Andersson in 'The Night of the Tribads' as August Strindberg.
- In 1981 he appeared in the original stageplay of 'Duet for One', opposite Anne Bancroft, also on Broadway.
- Max's two sons, Claes and Henrik played his son (at different ages) in the film 'Hawaii' (1966)
- He was Chairman of the Jury at the 1996 Prague Film Festival.
- Max is an Honorary Member of the Eugene O'Neil Foundation, whom he played in 'Och ge oss skuggorna' (1993) and in the stage play in 1991.
- He was offered the role of 'Dr No' (1962) and would have been the first Bond villain. He later played Ernst Stravo Blofeld in 'Never Say Never Again' (1983)
- In 1995, Max was 'artist in residence' at Gustavus Adolphus College, Minnesota, where he gave lectures on his film career and on the Swedish king after whom the college is named.
- In the office scene with Lara Anderton in 'Minority Report' (2002), Max accidentally uses the Swedish word 'men' instead of 'but'.
- After they finished their final break-up scene in 'Hannah and Her Sisters' (1986), Max and Barbera Hershey were given a standing ovation by the crew.
- Danish actress Iben Hjejle ('High Fidelity') says Max is her biggest role model
- Max provided the voice of Zeus in the Swedish version of 'Hercules' (1997)
- Max and Liv Ullmann were to star in Fred Zinnemann's unrealised 'Man's Fate'
- It was one of Max's sons that persuaded him to accept the role of Brewmeister Smith in 'Strange Brew' (1983), because he was a fan of the Bob and Doug's SCTV sketches.
- Max was considered for the title role of the 1965 film 'Doctor Zhivago'.
- The role of elderly antiques dealer Jesus Gris (Federico Luppi) in 'Cronos' (1993) was originally written for Max.
- His voice can be heard in numerous TV commercials, including BMW and the Swedish National Encyclopedia.
- At Saloui's Stage Deli & Bar on Broadway, there is a sandwich named after Max.
- Max was set to star in Lasse Halstrom's 'Cider House Rules' - but the film was delayed and the part given to Michael Caine.
- 'American Pie' directors Chris and Paul Weitz were introduced to Max as children. Their grandfather, Paul Kohner, was Ingmar Bergman's American agent. Actor Max von Sydow became "Uncle Max" to the boys.
- Max published his autobiography 'Berättar' in 1988.
- In the last days of her secluded life, Greta Garbo emerged to watch her countryman in 'Pelle the Conqueror'
- The AFI shortlisted Max in the 500 greatest screen legends.
- Max is 6 feet 4 inches tall.
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