Obituary: Paul Scofield
Obituary by Jack Foley
OSCAR-winning British star Paul Scofield, widely recognised as one of the UK’s greatest Shakespearian actors, has died at the age of 86, according to his agent.
The popular star died peacefully on Wednesday (March 19, 2008) in a hospital near his home in Sussex, said Rosalid Chatto. “He had leukaemia and had not been well for some time,” she added.
Scofield brought home the Academy Award for best actor in 1967 for his acclaimed performance as Sir Thomas More in A Man for All Seasons, and was also nominated in 1995 for best supporting actor for Robert Redford film, Quiz Show.
On the stage, meanwhile, his riveting portrayal of King Lear in 1962 was voted the greatest performance in a Shakespeare play by a panel of Royal Shakespeare Company actors, including Sir Ian McKellen, Ian Richardson and Sir Antony Sher, in 2004.
The late, great actor Richard Burton was also once quoted as saying that “of the 10 greatest moments in the theatre, eight are Scofield’s”.
Born in Sussex on January 21, 1922, Scofield was the son of a village headmaster and gained his first experience of acting while still at school in Brighton. He made his professional debut in London in January 1940.
After being turned down by the Army on medical grounds, he spent the war years with various repertory companies, including two years with Birmingham Rep and a tour with ENSA.
But his reputation really began to grow post-war, when he enjoyed two seasons at Stratford-upon-Avon in roles including Henry V.
In 1950, he won widespread acclaim for his performance in Ring Round The Moon and was with John Gielgud’s company in the early ’50s, before playing Hamlet in London and Moscow in 1955.
The awards quickly followed. In 1956, he was recognised with an Evening Standard award for The Power & The Glory – in what would prove to be the first of many on stage and in film.
And in 1960, Scofield appeared in A Man For All Seasons in London, before taking the production to Broadway for another career triumph the following year.
But the best was still yet to come when, in 1962, he set new standards for Shakespearian acting with his performance in King Lear, for Peter Brook, first at Stratford, and then in London, Paris, many East European cities including Moscow, and finally New York.
Then, in 1971, he won yet more awards and acclaim for the film version of King Lear.
Though a prolific actor, Scofield’s passion was reserved mostly for the stage and he worked regularly with both the Royal Shakespeare Company and The National Theatre.
Of the few films that he made, his first, That Lady, in which he played Philip II of Spain, led to more offers that he chose not to take up. But he generally appeared to acclaim and, latterly, was seen in Redford’s Quiz Show, as well as The Crucible alongside Daniel Day-Lewis and Joan Allen for director Nicholas Hytner.
On TV, he made notable appearances in a BBC adaptation of Charles Dickens’ Martin Chuzzlewit, as well as Anna Karenina and Mister Corbett’s Ghost.
While on the radio, he played Macbeth and Othello where his distinct voice enthralled listeners around the world.
He received a CBE in 1956 for services to the arts and was made a Companion of Honour [for work of national importance] in the New Year’s Honours for 2001.
He is survived by his wife, the actress Joy Parker, son and daughter.