Ingmar Bergman Dies at 89

Legendary stage and screen director Ingmar Bergman died this morning on the Swedish island of Faro at the age of 89.

Bergman’s theatrical career began in the 1940s. Early on, he worked at the municipal theaters of Halsinborg and Malmo; he eventually became head of the Royal Dramatic Theater in Stockholm.

In recent years, many of his theatrical productions were seen at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, including Ghosts, Ghost Sonata, Maria Stuart, Madame de Sade, and The Winter’s Tale.

He also directed many operas around the world, including a notable production of Mozart’s The Magic Flute, which was filmed. His television film After the Rehearsal, about three actors working on a production of August Strindberg’s Dream Play, received a critically acclaimed theatrical release in the U.S.

Bergman’s many films include The Seventh Seal, Wild Strawberries, Persona, Scenes from a Marriage, and Fanny and Alexander. His film, Smiles of a Summer Night provided the inspiration for the Stephen Sondheim musical A Little Night Music.

Bergman won numerous prizes throughout his career, including the Academy Award and the Swedish Academy of Letters’ Great Gold Medal.

Bergman was married five times; four of the unions ended in divorce, while his fifth wife, Ingrid, died in 1975. He also had many other romantic relationships, most notably with actress Liv Ullmann, who appeared in many of his films. Their daughter Linn survives him, along with at least eight other children.