Maximilian Schell, the Oscar winning actor, has died aged 83. The actor passed away in Innsbruck, Austria yesterday (1st February).

The Austrian actor was born in Vienna in 1930, one of four children to an Austrian author and Swiss actress. His family were forced to flee their home country during the Nazi annexation of Austria in 1938. They moved to Switzerland before Schell moved to Germany in the 1950s to attend university.

He remained in Europe until 1958 when he was invited to star in a Broadway production. From then on he starred in a number of Hollywood movies alongside the likes of Marlon Brando. 

Schell had a diverse and prolific career in both the US and Europe. His most famous and best received performance was in the 1961 film Judgment at Nuremberg. He was awarded an Oscar for best actor in his role as a defence lawyer defending a Nazi war criminal. He starred alongside Marlene Dietrich, whom he would later film an Oscar nominated documentary about, Spencer Tracy, Burt Lancaster, Judy Garland and Montgomery Clift. The film gained numerous awards including 11 academy awards and remains one of the most respected films about the aftermath of the war and the Nazi regime. 

Schell was taken ill earlier this week whilst filming in his native Austria. He was treated for pneumonia in Innsbruck but sadly passed away yesterday (1st February). His agent, as the BBC reports, said Schell had died due after "a sudden and serious illness". 

Schell is survived by his wife. Contactmusic send their condolences to Schell's friends, family and colleagues.