The Elder (John Wick)

The Elder is the mysterious head of the High Table, a mystical man who resides in the desert, and the overarching antagonist of John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum.

He was portrayed by Said Taghmaoui.

History
On the run from the High Table following his killing of Santino D'Antonio, John Wick travels to the desert and follows the Canis Minor constellation to find the Elder in order to seek penance. After passing out from dehydration, John Wick is found by some of the Elder's men and brought to his tent, where the Elder has John presented to him. After John wakes up the Elder asks him why he wishes to live to which John replies that it is because he wishes to remember his late wife Helen. The Elder tells him that he may be allowed to continue living if he pledges himself to personally serve the High Table and has a board with a knife on it handed to John for John to cut his own finger off as a sign of loyalty. After John mutilates his ring finger and gives his wedding ring to the Elder, the Elder instructs John to kill Winston, who had refused to show fealty to the High Table and give up his position as manager of the Continental. John reluctantly accepts the mission and is led into a room in the Elder's tent where a new suit is waiting for him to help him carry out the task.

Trivia

 * The Elder is based on the ad-Din Sinan Old Man on the Mountain, the historical leader of the Hashashin Order.