Was offered the title role in Dr. No (1962).

After not appearing in a Ingmar Bergman film since "The Touch" (Beröringen (1971)), Von Sydow was reunited with the master, playing his grandfather in "Goda viljan, Den" (1991) (mini). While the film was directed by Bille August, the screenplay was written by Ingmar Bergman. Ironically, despite all the classic work Von Sydow dd with Ingmar Bergman such as the Knight in "The Seventh Seal" (Sjunde inseglet, Det (1957)), the eponymous "Magician" (Ansiktet (1958)), and the father in "The Virgin Spring" (Jungfrukällan (1960)) (portrayals that will live for as long as there is cinema), his sole Oscar nomination came under the hand of Bille August, for "Pelle the Conqueror" (Pelle erobreren (1987).

Two sons, Claes and Henrik.

Co-Head of jury at the Berlin International Film Festival in 1985.

Has lived in Los Angeles, California, USA; Rome, Italy and Paris, Seine, France.

Has appeared in two films as a leading villain, in which plots include the use of eye replacement surgery as a means of fooling security eye scanners; as Blofeld in Never Say Never Again (1983) and Lamar Burgess in Minority Report (2002).

His performance as Lasse Karlsson in "Pelle the Conqueror" (1987) is ranked #57 on Premiere Magazine's 100 Greatest Performances of All Time (2006).

One of the very few actors to be nominated for an Oscar for a role in a foreign language film for "Pelle the Conqueror" (Pelle erobreren (1987)).

One of his favourite movies is Runaway Train (1985).

Distant relative of Swedish speaker of parliament and ex-minister of defence, 'Björn von Sydow'.

One of the few actors to have played both God (in _Greatest Story Ever Told (1965)_) and the Devil (in Needful Things (1993)).

He and Ingmar Bergman made 13 movies together: Ansiktet (1958), Beröringen (1971), Herr Sleeman kommer (1957) (TV) (not released), Jungfrukällan (1960), _Nattvardsgästerna (1963)_, Nära livet (1958), Passion, En (1969), Rabies (1958) (TV), Sjunde inseglet, Det (1957), Skammen (1968), Smultronstället (1957), Såsom i en spegel (1961) and Vargtimmen (1968).

Father of Henrik von Sydow and Clas S. von Sydow.