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Max von Sydow at the 2006 San Sebastian International Film Festival. Photo by Mario Antonio Pena Zapatería on

Top 10 Fascinating Facts about Max von Sydow

Max von Sydow was a Swedish-French actor. He was born Carl Adolf von Sydow on 10th April 1929 in Lund Sweden. His father, Carl Wilhelm von Sydow was an ethnologist and professor of folkloristics at Lund University.

Baroness Maria Margareta Rappe, mother of Max von was a school teacher. He was of part-German ancestry as his parental ancestor, David Sydow emigrated from Pomerania to the Kalmar region in 1724. Baroness was also part of Pomeranian descent.

Max von Sydow was brought up as a Lutheran. However, he later became an agnostic in the 1970s. He attended Lund Cathedral School where he learned English at a very tender age.

Max was originally expected to pursue a career in law but he came interested in acting after seeing a production of Midsummer Night’s Dream during a class trip. This promoted him to establish an amateur theatrical group with his friends. His 70-year career in European and American cinema, television and theatre were so amazing.

He appeared in more than one hundred and fifty films and television series in multiple languages. Max von Sydow received his French citizenship in 2002 and lived in France for the last two decades of his life.

Here are the Top 10 Fascinating Facts about Max von Sydow:

1. Max was born into a Well-off Family

On 10th April 1929, Max von Sydow was born in Lund, Sweden. His family was quite well-off as his parents had decent jobs. Carl Wilhelm von Sydow, his father, was an ethnologist and professor of folkloristics at Lund University.

His mother, Baroness Maria Margareta Rappe was a school teacher. Max von Sydow was given a well bringing up.

2. He was Brought up as Lutheran and Learnt English at an Early Age

The parents of Max von Sydow wanted him to be raised in a good and moral way. He was brought up as a Lutheran through his family. However, he became an agnostic in the 1970s.

Max von Sydow attended a top school, Lund Cathedral School. His parents wanted him to learn English which he did at a very tender age. This is how he got to learn and speak fluent English.

3. Max was Originally Expected to Pursue a Career in Law

Swedish actor Max von Sydow in Rome (Italy), November 29, 1974. Photo by Claudio Luffoli on

The parents of Max von Sydow wanted him to pursue a decent career which will benefit him. They shaped him well by giving him better knowledge and education.

Max von Sydow was originally expected to pursue a career in law. However, his interest in law changed while on a school trip. He became interested in acting after seeing a production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream during a class trip to Malmo.

4. He Established an Amateur Theatrical Group in the School

After the trip to Malmo where he saw the production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, more acting ideas were created by Max von Sydow. Together with his friends at school, Max took a step forward in expressing and exploring his interests in acting.

Max established an amateur theatrical group along with his friends while in school. This is where Max got the foundation for his acting career which later became more brilliant.

5. Max Served in the Swedish Military for 2 Years before Studying at Royal Dramatic Theatre

Max von Sydow and Lars Jacob. Photo by LJP assistant on

After finishing high school, Max von Sydow joined the military service. He served in the Swedish military with the Army Quartermaster Corps for two years.

This is where he adopted the name Max from the star performer of a flea circus he had seen. After he completed his service, Max von studied at the Royal Dramatic Theatre in Stockholm. He trained between 1948 and 1951 at the Royal Dramatic Theatre.

While at Royal Dramatic Theatre, Max helped start a theatre group of which actress Ingrid Thulin was a member. Max made his stage debut in a small part in the Goethe play Egmont. He received good reviews for his performances creating himself a fan base.

6. Von Rejected Offers to Work Outside Sweden Early in his Career

Max von Sydow created himself a huge following with his brilliant performances in acting. His rising profile got him a global audience. Max had limited his work exclusively to Sweden early in his career.

He received several offers to work with other top actors and actresses outside Sweden which he turned down. Max was first approached at the 1959 Cannes Film Festival to act in American films. However, Max turned down this proposition stating that his content was in Sweden and had no intention of starting an international career.

7. His First International Act was Below Expectations but Won a Nomination

From left: Max von Sydow, Povel Ramel and Beppe Wolgers in “The last enthusiasts”. Photo by Unknown author on

Max opted to try out the international stage role even after being advised against it by Bergman. He first spent six months at the University of California, Los Angeles as he prepared for a film role. He also adopted a Mid-Atlantic accent.

Max got introduced to a wider audience but he never met the expectations at the box office. He went ahead and featured in the Reward and was a fanatic missionary in Hawaii. His performance in Hawaii saw Max receive his first Golden Globe nomination.

8. Max had a Successful 70-year Acting Career

Max von. Photo by Mario Antonio Pena Zapatería on

Max von Sydow’s career went ahead to be a major success after taking it to the international stage. His career spanned seventy years which was a major success.

Max’s career was in European and American cinema, television and theatre. He appeared in more than one hundred and fifty films and television series in several languages.

9. Von had Two Wives and Four Sons

Max von was engaged to his fiancée Christian Inga Britta Olin who was an actress. The couple got married in 1951. Max and Christina Inga had two sons, Clas and Henrik who appeared with Jim in the film Hawaii.

However, his marriage to Von never lasted as he divorced Christina in 1979. Max later got married to French documentarian Catherine Brelet in 1997. He decided to adopt Brelet’s two adult sons, Cédric and Yvan.

10. Max Relocated to Â鶹APP and Relinquished his Swedish Citizenship

After Max von Sydow married Christina Brelet, he decided to relocate to her home country. He relocated to Â鶹APP where he stayed with his new family.

In 2002, Max von Sydow became a citizen of France. He had to relinquish his Swedish citizenship. Max von lived in France for the last two decades of his life.