Bengt Ekerot
Nils Bengt Folke Ekerot (8 February 1920 – 26 November 1971) was a Swedish actor and stage director best known for portraying Death in The Seventh Seal (1957) directed by Ingmar Bergman. In 1956, he directed the world premiere of Long Day's Journey into Night, considered the magnum opus of American playwright Eugene O'Neill.
Also recorded as Nils Bengt Folke Ekerot
Bengt Ekerot

Scenens ungdom: 33 porträtt av 10 års nya stjärnor / sammanst. av Claes Hoogland o. Gunnar Helén. - 1954 · Public domain
- Name
- Bengt Ekerot
- Birth Name
- Nils Bengt Folke Ekerot
- Born
- 8 February 1920
- Birthplace
- Stockholm, Sweden
- Died
- 26 November 1971
- Occupation
- Actor, director
- Known for
- Collaborations with Ingmar Bergman
- Nationality
- Sweden.
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Documentary summary
Nils Bengt Folke Ekerot (8 February 1920 – 26 November 1971) was a Swedish actor and stage director best known for portraying Death in The Seventh Seal (1957) directed by Ingmar Bergman. In 1956, he directed the world premiere of Long Day's Journey into Night, considered the magnum opus of American playwright Eugene O'Neill.
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wikidata · Q792878 · wikipedia · Bengt Ekerot
In this article
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Bengt Ekerot • Birth Name — Nils Bengt Folke Ekerot • Born — 8 February 1920 • Birthplace — Stockholm, Sweden • Died — 26 November 1971 • Place of death — Stockholm, Sweden • Occupation — Actor, director • Years Active — 1940–1968 • Known for — Collaborations with Ingmar Bergman • Notable Works — The Seventh Seal, The Magician
Early life
Early life
Ekerot was born in Stockholm.
Career
Career
He had several roles in Swedish films, but in Ingmar Bergman's The Seventh Seal (1957) he portrayed Death as a white-faced man in a black cloak. The decision to perform the role in this way was a joint decision between the actor and director. Bergman wrote in his autobiography Images: My Life in Film that the two men "agreed that Death should wear a clown mask, a white clown’s mask. A fusion of a clown mask and a skull." He also appeared in Bergman's 1958 film, The Magician (also released as Ansiktet (lit. Swedish: "The Face") as Johan Spegel, an ailing vaudevillian.
Death
Death
A man with a self-destructive personality, health issues from smoking and excessive drinking affected Ekerot's later career resulting in him losing potential roles. He died from lung cancer in 1971.
Partial filmography
Partial filmography
• They Staked Their Lives (1940) - Freedom Fighter • Hanna in Society (1940) - Fred Hummerberg • The Talk of the Town (1941) - Sven Törring • Snapphanar (1941) - Lille-Jonas • Lågor i dunklet (1942) - Åke Kronström, Student (uncredited) • We House Slaves (1942) - Linus Tallhagen • Nothing Is Forgotten (1942) - Student at art school (uncredited) • Night in Port (1943) - John • När ungdomen vaknar (1943) - Lennart • Sonja (1943) - Bengt • Gentleman with a Briefcase (1943) - Stig • Tre söner gick till flyget (1945) - Erik • The Rose of Tistelön (1945) - Anton, hennes bror • Fram för lilla Märta eller På livets ödesvägar (1945) - Radio Speaker (voice, uncredited) • Crime and Punishment (1945) - Studenten • 13 stolar (1945) - Clerk (uncredited) • Brita in the Merchant's House (1946) - 'Paniken' • Interlude (1946) - Tjuven • Dynamite (1947) - Allan Axelson • Marianne (1953) - Companion (uncredited) • Hamlet (1955, TV Movie) - Hamlet, prins av Danmark • Stage Entrance (1956) - Johan Eriksson • The Seventh Seal (1957) - Death • The Jazz Boy (1958) - Erik Jonsson • The Magician (1958) - Johan Spegel • On a Bench in a Park (1960) - Sam Persson • Myten (1966) - Policeman / Social Worker / Guard / Doctor • Here Is Your Life (1966) - Byberg • Life's Just Great (1967) - The Neighbour • Ola & Julia (1967) - Max • Who Saw Him Die? (1968) - Eriksson • Korridoren (1968) - Birger Olsson (final film role)
Identity
Identity
Bengt Ekerot is recorded with the occupation film director. Recorded with the occupation stage actor. Recorded as architect, film director, stage actor and film actor.
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 2 entries
1920
Bengt Ekerot was born on 8 February 1920.
1971
Bengt Ekerot died on 26 November 1971.
Places
Named by the record
Places
Only places the record itself states, plotted where the house gazetteer settles their coordinates. Nothing is inferred from a name or a nationality.
Bengt Ekerot was born at Stockholm.
Birthplace
Bengt Ekerot died at Stockholm.
Deathplace
Bengt Ekerot was born in Stockholm.
Birthplace
Bengt Ekerot died in Stockholm.
Deathplace
Primary material
Documents and archives
reference work
- “Bengt Ekerot”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q792878: Bengt Ekerot
Unverified · Wikidata
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Further particulars
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Further particulars
Open the remaining particulars
Identity and origins. The authorities additionally record the heading Nils Bengt Folke Ekerot. His recorded language was Swedish. He married Margareta Hallin.
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
Elsewhere in Design
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