He was born in a middle-class family in Lund, where his father was an ethnologist. When he was in high school, he and a few fellow students, including Yvonne Lombard, started a theatre club which encouraged his interest in acting. After conscription he began to study at the Royal Dramatic Theatre's acting school (1948-1951), together with Lars Ekborg, Margaretha Krook and Ingrid Thulin. His first role was as Nils the crofter in Alf Sjöberg's Bara en mor. After graduation he worked at the city theatres in Norrkoeping and Malmö. His work in the movies by Ingmar Bergman made him well-known internationally, and he started to get offers from abroad. His career abroad began with The Greatest Story Ever Told and Hawaii. Since then, his career includes very different kind of characters, like Emperor Ming in Flash Gordon or the artist Frederick in Hannah and Her Sisters. In 1987 he made his directing debut with Ved vejen. He has become one of Sweden's most admired and professional actors.


Has four sons, Clas S. von Sydow and Henrik von Sydow with his first wife; and Cédric and Yvan with his second wife. In 1951, Von Sydow married actress Olin with whom he had two sons, Claes and Henrik. His children appeared with him in the film Hawaii (1966), playing his son at different ages. He was divorced in 1996 and subsequently married French filmmaker Catherine Brelet in April 1997 in the Provence, France. He has two sons, Yvan and Cedric, with his second wife. Von Sydow lives in Paris with his wife. One of his favourite movies is Runaway Train (1985). Father of Henrik von Sydow and Clas S. von Sydow. Distant relative of Swedish speaker of parliament and ex-minister of defence, 'Björn von Sydow'. 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), En passion (1969), Rabies (1958) (TV), Det sjunde inseglet (1957), Skammen (1968), Smultronstället (1957), SÃ¥som i en spegel (1961) and Vargtimmen (1968). After not appearing in a Ingmar Bergman film since "The Touch" (Beröringen (1971)), Von Sydow was reunited with the master, playing his grandfather in "Den goda viljan" (1991). 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" (Det sjunde inseglet (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). His performance as Lasse Karlsson in "Pelle the Conqueror" (1987) is ranked #57 on Premiere Magazine's 100 Greatest Performances of All Time (2006). Received French citizenship in 2002 and now holds dual Swedish/French citizenship.