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Acting great Paul Scofield dies Acting world mourns Paul Scofield
(10 minutes later)
Paul Scofield, one of Britain's most acclaimed Shakespearean actors and an Academy Award winner, has died at the age of 86, his agent has said.Paul Scofield, one of Britain's most acclaimed Shakespearean actors and an Academy Award winner, has died at the age of 86, his agent has said.
Scofield won the Oscar for best actor in 1967 for A Man for All Seasons, and was also nominated in 1995 for best supporting actor for Quiz Show.Scofield won the Oscar for best actor in 1967 for A Man for All Seasons, and was also nominated in 1995 for best supporting actor for Quiz Show.
"He was a great friend and a great man," actress Dame Judi Dench said."He was a great friend and a great man," actress Dame Judi Dench said.
The actor died peacefully on Wednesday in a hospital near his Sussex home, his agent Rosalind Chatto said.The actor died peacefully on Wednesday in a hospital near his Sussex home, his agent Rosalind Chatto said.
"He had leukaemia and had not been well for some time," she added."He had leukaemia and had not been well for some time," she added.
He had a kind of extraordinary physical warmth, almost literally like being near a fire Simon Callow The British-born actor started his stage career in 1940.He had a kind of extraordinary physical warmth, almost literally like being near a fire Simon Callow The British-born actor started his stage career in 1940.
In 2004, Scofield's 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, Scofield's 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.
"Of the 10 greatest moments in the theatre, eight are Scofield's," the actor Richard Burton once said."Of the 10 greatest moments in the theatre, eight are Scofield's," the actor Richard Burton once said.
Actor Simon Callow, who starred opposite Scofield in the play Amadeus in 1979, paid tribute to "one of the greatest actors in the world".Actor Simon Callow, who starred opposite Scofield in the play Amadeus in 1979, paid tribute to "one of the greatest actors in the world".
"He had a kind of extraordinary physical warmth, almost literally like being near a fire, in a way that I have almost never experienced with another actor. It was a sort of blaze," he told BBC Radio 4's The World At One."He had a kind of extraordinary physical warmth, almost literally like being near a fire, in a way that I have almost never experienced with another actor. It was a sort of blaze," he told BBC Radio 4's The World At One.
Scofield was simply one of the greats, creating landmark performances of all the great Shakespeare roles Gregory DoranRoyal Shakespeare CompanyScofield was simply one of the greats, creating landmark performances of all the great Shakespeare roles Gregory DoranRoyal Shakespeare Company
"He had a charisma, a hypnotism, a kind of spell that he cast on an audience, which was an extraordinary thing to negotiate as a young actor."He had a charisma, a hypnotism, a kind of spell that he cast on an audience, which was an extraordinary thing to negotiate as a young actor.
"He was an absolutely towering actor.""He was an absolutely towering actor."
The Royal Shakespeare Company's chief associate director Gregory Doran said: "Scofield was simply one of the greats, creating landmark performances of all the great Shakespeare roles at Stratford, from Hamlet to Macbeth to Lear."The Royal Shakespeare Company's chief associate director Gregory Doran said: "Scofield was simply one of the greats, creating landmark performances of all the great Shakespeare roles at Stratford, from Hamlet to Macbeth to Lear."
Scofield won his Oscar in 1967 for playing Sir Thomas More in the film of the life of the 16th Century Lord Chancellor.Scofield won his Oscar in 1967 for playing Sir Thomas More in the film of the life of the 16th Century Lord Chancellor.
He was also nominated for five Baftas, winning three times, including one for A Man for All Seasons.He was also nominated for five Baftas, winning three times, including one for A Man for All Seasons.
Scofield played Sir Thomas More in A Man for All SeasonsScofield played Sir Thomas More in A Man for All Seasons
His other Bafta wins came for his film debut in That Lady in 1956 and for The Crucible, which co-starred Daniel Day-Lewis and Winona Ryder, 40 years later.His other Bafta wins came for his film debut in That Lady in 1956 and for The Crucible, which co-starred Daniel Day-Lewis and Winona Ryder, 40 years later.
Scofield used his Shakespearean skills on screen as King Lear in the 1972 film and alongside Dame Judi in Kenneth Branagh's Henry V in 1989.Scofield used his Shakespearean skills on screen as King Lear in the 1972 film and alongside Dame Judi in Kenneth Branagh's Henry V in 1989.
His TV work included the BBC's £4m adaptation of Dickens' Martin Chuzzlewit in 1994 and he was also a familiar voice in radio dramas.His TV work included the BBC's £4m adaptation of Dickens' Martin Chuzzlewit in 1994 and he was also a familiar voice in radio dramas.
HAVE YOUR SAYPaul Scofield was a towering genius of a performer who had everything a theatrical elder statesman should havePaddy, AberystwythSend us your commentsHAVE YOUR SAYPaul Scofield was a towering genius of a performer who had everything a theatrical elder statesman should havePaddy, AberystwythSend us your comments
Scofield was appointed a CBE in 1956 but he was thought to have rejected attempts to give him a knighthood.Scofield was appointed a CBE in 1956 but he was thought to have rejected attempts to give him a knighthood.
"If you want a title, what's wrong with Mr?" he once said. "If you have always been that, then why lose your title? But it's not political. I have a CBE, which I accepted very gratefully.""If you want a title, what's wrong with Mr?" he once said. "If you have always been that, then why lose your title? But it's not political. I have a CBE, which I accepted very gratefully."
But in the New Year's Honours for 2001, he was made a Companion of Honour.But in the New Year's Honours for 2001, he was made a Companion of Honour.
People are made a Companion of Honour for work of national importance and there are only 65 members at any one time.People are made a Companion of Honour for work of national importance and there are only 65 members at any one time.
Scofield leaves his widow, the actress Joy Parker, a son and a daughter.Scofield leaves his widow, the actress Joy Parker, a son and a daughter.