Oscar Winner Schofield Passes Away

Written by Ruari Burgham | Thursday, March 20, 2008 |

Paul Scofield, one of Britain’s best loved and finest stage and screen actors, died yesterday at the age of 86. “He had leukaemia and had not been well for some time”, said Scofield’s agent Rosalind Chatto. Scofield’s illustrious career began in 1940 on stage, and it was not long before people were comparing him to Laurence Olivier.

Scofield had always been well known for his immense intelligence, and the quality and intensity of his delivery and presence. He was most well known for his work in classical theatre, with roles in numerous Shakespeare productions and the title role in Jonson’s ‘Volpone’. in 2004, Scofield’s portrayal of King Lear in 1962 was voted the greatest ever performance in a Shakespeare play, by a panel of judges including Sir Ian McKellen.

Another production of note was Peter Shaffer’s ‘Amadeus‘, in which Scofield played plotting composer Antonio Salieri. Whilst Scofield was not picked for the role in the big screen version (he lost out to F. Murray Abraham), his role as Sir Thomas More in ‘A Man For All Seasons’ on stage in 1960 was recognised and he won not only an Academy Award, but also a BAFTA for his performance in the 1966 film version, featuring Orson Welles. Scofield was nominated again in 1995 for the ‘best supporting actor’ award for his performance in ‘Quiz Show’.

“He was a great friend and a great man”, says well-loved British actress Dame Judi Dench. In 1956, Scofield was awarded a CBE, but he was always thought to have rejected a knighthood: “If you want a title, what’s wrong with Mr?”, Scofield once said. However, in 2001, Scofield was deservedly awarded a ‘companion of honour’, which signifies a body of work considered to be of national importance. Scofield was one of the 65 members there can be of this group at any one time.

Scofield was a fine actor, and will be sorely missed.

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