Legendary Shakespearean actor Paul Scofield was renowned for his powerful and nuanced performances, commanding stage presence, and profound understanding of characters. He was one of nine actors to achieve the Triple Crown of Acting, winning an Academy Award, an Emmy, and a Tony.
I have found that an actor’s work has life and interest only in its execution. It seems to wither away in discussion, and become emptily theatrical and insubstantial.
Paul Scofield
Early Life
David Paul Scofield was born on January 21, 1922, in Edgbaston, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England. His father, Edward Harry Scofield, served as headmaster of the Hurstpierpoint Church of England School in Sussex. His mother Mary Scofield, a Roman Catholic, and his father, an Anglican, created a religiously mixed upbringing. Scofield describing days when they were “little Protestants” and others when they were “devout little Catholics.” His early exposure to literature and theater came through his father’s school, where he first encountered Shakespeare’s works.
Scofield began his education at his father’s school before transferring to Varndean School for Boys in Brighton at age 12. It was at Varndean that he discovered Shakespeare through the school’s annual tradition of staging one of the Bard’s plays. He played roles like Juliet in Romeo and Juliet as a schoolboy, showing early promise.
Academically, he wasn’t a standout, and at 17, he left school without graduating to pursue acting. In 1939, he enrolled at the Croydon Repertory Theatre School, followed by the Mask Theatre School in London in 1940. The onset of World War II interrupted his training. He attempted to enlist but was rejected due to crossed toes that prevented him from wearing army boots. Instead, he joined touring companies, performing at munitions factories and entertaining soldiers.
Paul Scofield On Stage
His stage debut came in 1940 with Desire Under the Elms at the Westminster Theatre, marking the start of a lifelong career.
Scofield’s career took off in the early 1940s when he joined the Birmingham Repertory Theatre. His first significant success came in 1946 at Stratford-upon-Avon, where he played roles such as Henry V, Cloten in “Cymbeline,” and Hamlet. His rich, sonorous voice and commanding stage presence quickly established him as one of the greatest Shakespearean actors of his time.
Scofield’s theatrical brilliance reached its pinnacle with his portrayal of Sir Thomas More in the Broadway production of Robert Bolt’s play “A Man for All Seasons (1962).” Schofield received the Tony Award for Best Actor for his performance. Four years later, he won the Academy Award for Best Actor when he reprised the role in the 1966 film adaptation, making him one of eleven to receive a Tony and Academy Award for the same role.
Scofield preferred stage over screen, finding the collaborative nature of theater more fulfilling. When preparing for A Man for All Seasons, he initially struggled, facing harsh criticism from reviewers. Through trial and error, he focused on the character’s inner life, prioritizing sincerity and humility to portray Thomas More’s spiritual depth. This dedication to authenticity earned him praise from peers like Arthur Miller, who called him the finest English-speaking actor.
Paul Scofield On Screen
Scofield made his film debut in “That Lady (1955),” as King Philip alongside Olivia de Havilland and Gilbert Roland. He followed it with Lewis Gilbert’s Carve Her Name with Pride (1958) with Virginia McKenna. One of his most memorable performances came in John Frankenheimer’s “The Train (1964).” Playing Colonel von Waldheim, Scofield delivered a chilling performance as a German officer obsessed with art.
While primarily celebrated for his stage achievements, Scofield’s filmography includes notable works like King Lear (1971), A Delicate Balance (1973), Henry V (1989), and Hamlet (1990). Paul Scofield continuously gave magnetic performances on both stage and screen. He had a rare blend of intellectual depth and emotional resonance, which captivated audiences and critics alike. He portrayed Mark Van Doren in the historical drama “Quiz Show (1994)” and earned a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
For his role as Thomas Danforth in the film adaptation of “The Crucible (1996),” he received the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role. He also received the Primetime Emmy Award for Male of the Species (1969).
He originated the role of Antonio Salieri in Peter Shaffer’s play “Amadeus.” Scofield was shortlisted to play the role of Marc Antony in “Julius Caesar” (1953), which eventually went to Marlon Brando.
The Gifted Actor
Scofield’s acting method was rooted in meticulous preparation and a naturalistic style that allowed him to fully embody his characters. Known for his deep, resonant voice—initially described as “harsh, metallic, and broken” but later refined into a tool of rare beauty—he used it to add emotional depth to roles. He had an awkward gait, caused by his crossed toes. But Scofield transformed it into a distinctive, cat-like walk that captivated audiences.
He continued to balance his stage and screen careers, often returning to Shakespearean roles. Scofield’s performance as King Lear in a 1962 production at Stratford was voted the greatest Shakespearean performance by members of the Royal Shakespeare Company.
Scofield declined a knighthood three times, citing a preference for his existing title of “Mr.” He accepted a CBE in 1956 and became a Companion of Honour in 2001. In 2002, he received the Sam Wanamaker Award for his pioneering work in Shakespearean theater. He was awardedd an honorary D.Litt from the University of Oxford.
Personal Life and Later Years
Scofield met actress Joy Parker in 1942 while performing at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre, where she played Ophelia to his Horatio in Hamlet. Despite family objections due to their young age, they married on May 15, 1943, and remained together until his death. The couple had two children: Martin, and Sarah. Martin became a senior lecturer in 19th-century English and American literature at the University of Kent.
In his later years, Scofield withdrew from public life, spending time baking bread and taking long walks. He died of leukemia on March 19, 2008, at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton, East Sussex, at age 86. A memorial service was held at Westminster Abbey on the first anniversary of his death. Joy passed away four years later on November 7, 2012, at 90.
Paul Scofield on IMDB
