At the grand age of 86, Swedish-French actor Max von Sydow is more relevant than ever in entertainment with roles in two high-profile projects.

He plays the Three-Eyed Raven, the other-worldly mentor of Brann Stark, on season six of the fantasy blockbuster series Game Of Thrones. He is also part of the highly anticipated Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens, and is rumoured to be playing a Sith lord.

His credits date all the way back to 1949 and these are five of his best-known roles.

1. The Seventh Seal (1957)

This was the first of his 11 films with legendary director Ingmar Bergman. Von Sydow is the medieval knight who plays a game of chess with Death himself.

2. The Exorcist (1973)

As Father Lankester Merrin, he stares evil in the face in this horror classic. Even then, he was already playing a character described as "elderly".

3. Never Say Never Again (1983)

If you play villains, then your resume would not be complete without a James Bond flick to your name. He takes on the role of Ernst Stavro Blofeld, who runs the criminal organisation SPECTRE.

4. Minority Report (2002)

In this hit sci-fi thriller, von Sydow plays Tom Cruise's ruthless superior in PreCrime, the department which goes after criminals before the deed is carried out.

5. Extremely Loud And Incredibly Close (2011)

He received his first Oscar nomination, for Best Actor, for the immigrant drama Pelle The Conqueror (1987). His second, for Best Supporting Actor, was in this 9/11 drama as a man who communicates using written notes and the "yes" and "no" tattooed on his hands.