Actor Erland Josephson Has Died

Swedish actor Erland Josephson, best known for his long collaboration with Ingmar Bergman, has died at age 88, according to EW.com.

Josephson met Bergman when he was 16 and participated as an amateur actor in his production of The Merchant of Venice. He later appeared in numerous Bergman films, including The Magician, Brink of Life, Scenes from a Marriage, Cries and Whispers, Autumn Sonata, and Fanny and Alexander.

The actor made a notable stage appearance in the U.S. when he played Gaev in Peter Brook’s famed production of Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard, which played BAM in 1988. The production also starred Brian Dennehy, Natasha Parry, and Zeljko Ivanek.

Josephon’s many other film credits include Beyond Good and Evil, The Unbearable Lightness of Being, and The Sacrifice.

He also published many novels and autobiographical books, two poetry collections and around 40 scripts for stage, radio and television. He also served as head of Sweden’s Royal Dramatic Theatre between 1966 and 1975, and was director of the Swedish Film Institute in the 1990s.

Josephson is survived by his wife, Ulla Aberg, and five children.