 Paul Scofield: Life comes to an end
The legendary stage actor of Britain, Paul Scofield passes away at an age of eighty six. His Oscar winning film, namely ‘A man for All Seasons’ has made his name well known in the whole world.
His agent Rosalind Chatto confirmed that Paul Scofield died in a hospital that is located at a place adjacent to his residence in southern part of England. He suffered from leukemia.
Born on Jan. 21, 1922, Paul Scofield was a son of the village schoolmaster in Hurstpierpoint, almost eight miles from England’s southern coast. After marrying actress Joy Parker, the actress, in the year 1943, they have settled down in the country village of Balcombe.
Paul Scofield received training at the Croydon Repertory Theater School and Mask Theater School of London before the outbreak of Second World War. After being dismissided from service purely for medical reasons, he tried his hands in drama, entertainment troups.
From 1940s, he dominated the stage plays of London and Standford. All and all he rocked the stage with his striking, cragged face and to top it all, through his spectacular voice. Needless to mention, Paul Scofield’s acting skill is fascinating.
His highly acclaimed performance in "A Man for All Seasons” was a ‘follow up’ of a play where Paul Scofield himself has acted for 9 months. Before the memory of his superb performance in this film has died down, the audienced got the chance to behold his marvelous stage acting as Salieri in "Amadeus”. It came in the year 1979.
"Heartbreak House" and Ibsen's "John Gabriel Borkman." are some of his later performances.
Some of the Paul Scofield's films are Edward Albee's "A Delicate Balance" and Kenneth Branagh's "Henry V". In this latter film, Paul was cast in the role of the king of France. "Quiz Show," Robert Redford's film about the 1950s TV scandal in which Scofield played poet Mark Van Doren; and the 1996 adaptation of Arthur Miller's play "The Crucible."
Praising Paul Scofield’s acting skill, a popular magazine commented,"With a kind of weary magnificence, Scofield sinks himself into the part, studiously underplays it, and somehow displays the inner mind of a man destined for sainthood".
"Of the 10 greatest moments in the theater, eight are Scofield's," is once- upon-a- time comment of the famous Actor Richard Burton of British theater.
Paul Scofield was a man of different stature. He was outright a family man and maintained a demeanour quite unforeseen from an actor like him. It has been reported to have denied the offer of Knighthood. However the actor denied such claim and said "It is just not an aspect of life that I would want". "If you want a title, what's wrong with Mr.?".
In the year 2001, he has been felicitated with Companion of Honor, one of the top awards of the country.  |
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