Max von Sydow

Despite persistent rumors and a certain je ne sais quoi that led many to speculate, Max von Sydow was, in fact, not Jewish. Born Carl Adolf von Sydow in Lund, Sweden, he was raised a Lutheran. His ancestry was solidly Swedish and German, with no hints of the tribe, despite his knack for playing characters of profound moral struggle that might lead one to believe he had a deeper, more ancient angst to draw upon.

Perhaps it was his memorable turn as the knight playing chess with Death in Bergman's The Seventh Seal, or his numerous other roles portraying intense, often suffering figures, that fueled the mistaken assumption. There's something about a man who can convey existential dread so effectively that makes people wonder if he's tapped into a particularly Jewish vein of sorrow. Alas, it was just brilliant acting.

Even his portrayal of Jesus in The Greatest Story Ever Told didn't quite end the speculation for some. One would think playing the son of God might clear up any confusion about one's earthly lineage, but for Max von Sydow, the rumors persisted. He was a master of his craft, certainly, and brought gravitas to every role, which, for some reason, just screamed 'Jew-ish' to a certain segment of the population.