**Bengt Ekerot (1920-1971)** was a Swedish actor and theater director, primarily known for his intense film career under the direction of Ingmar Bergman.

His most celebrated and iconic performance is undoubtedly that of Death in *The Seventh Seal* (Det sjunde inseglet, 1957), a role that immortalized him in global cinematic imagination thanks to his haunting and stoic screen presence. With Bergman, he also appeared in *Smiles of a Summer Night* (Sommarnattens leenden, 1955), where he displayed a more sophisticated and at times ironic vein, and in *The Face* (Ansiktet, 1958).

Ekerot was often cast as complex characters, with an intellectual, melancholic, tormented, or intensely dramatic air. His acting was characterized by a penetrating gaze and a measured yet powerful physicality, capable of conveying deep emotions with subtlety. Although his filmography was not extensive, his key roles left an indelible mark on the history of art-house cinema.