Scofield, Paul

Scofield, Paul, 1922–2008, English actor, b. Hurstpierpoint, Sussex. Scofield joined the Birmingham Repertory Theatre in 1945, and had his first major success in King John. At the Stratford Memorial Theatre he won wide acclaim for his Hamlet and King Lear. His portrayal of Sir Thomas More in the stage (1960–62) and film (1966) versions of A Man for All Seasons gained him international renown along with a Tony and an Academy Award. He also appeared in such other stage productions as Uncle Vanya (1970), Volpone (1977), Amadeus (1979, 1982), Othello (1980), Heartbreak House (1992), and John Gabriel Borkman (1996). Noted for his strong, sculptured face and unusual rumbling voice, Scofield made several films, including The Train (1964), King Lear (1971), A Delicate Balance (1973), Henry V (1989), Quiz Show (1994), and The Crucible (1996).

See biography by G. O'Connor (2002).

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