He had an incredible acting resume, from the 1950s until the 2010s. Some of his most memorable roles:

- A Christian medieval knight who played chess with the Devil (The Seventh Seal)

- A vengeful father whose daughter was raped and murdered (The Virgin Spring)

- Jesus Christ (The Greatest Story Ever Told)

- Father Merrin (The Exorcist)

- King Osric (Conan the Barbarian)

- The Three-eyed Raven (Game of Thrones)