The personification of death as a living, sentient entity is a concept that has existed in many societies since the beginning of recorded history. In Western cultures, death is usually given the name "The Grim Reaper" and shown as a skeletal figure carrying a large scythe, and wearing a midnight black gown, robe or cloak with a hood, or sometimes, a white burial shroud. Usually when portrayed in the black-hooded gown, only his eyes can be seen.

The character of Death has recurred many times in popular fiction. He has made appearances in many stories, from serious dramatic fiction to comedy, including playing roles in science fiction and fantasy stories.

Films

1) In 1957, Swedish director Ingmar Bergman made The Seventh Seal, an influential (and heavily symbolic) movie depicting one of the most famous moments in the fictional portrayal of Death. In the movie, a medieval knight (Max von Sydow) returning from a crusade plays a game of chess with Death, with the knight's life depending upon the outcome of the game. American film critic Roger Ebert remarked that this image "[is] so perfect it has survived countless parodies."The influence of Bergman's depiction has been wide.

2) Woody Allen wrote a short story in which Death loses a game of gin rummy after clumsily entering a man's apartment and trying to cow him into going quietly.

3) Bob Burden's surrealist comic book, "The Flaming Carrot", features a cover in which the title character rejects Death's offer of playing chess and suggests instead lawn darts.
The final act of Monty Python's The Meaning of Life has Death going into a house to pick up a group of people sitting down to dinner who were killed by the salmon mousse. He then takes them (and their cars) into the afterlife.

4) In the Arnold Schwarzenegger movie Last Action Hero, Bergman's Death is brought into the real world temporarily, played by Sir Ian McKellen.

5) In Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey Bill and Ted play a number of games including Twister, Battleship etc. with the Bergman inspired death in order to escape from hell.

6) In the Adam Sandler movie Click, Sandler portrays Michael Newman that uses a remote to control aspects of his life. Death is represented by Morty (Christopher Walken) who takes Michael's father and afterwards Michael himself as he shows the importance of living life day by day.

7) In the Brad Pitt movie Meet Joe Black, Pitt plays the role of Joe Black, the human incarnation of Death.

8) The Hogfather a two part miniseries based on a book of the same name, aired on Sky One in christmas 2006. In it Death has to become the equivalent of Father Christmas in order to save the world, with the help of his Granddaughter.

Source : www.wikipedia.org