Trivia

Is one of nine actors to have won the Triple Crown of Acting (an Oscar, Emmy and Tony); the others in chronological order are Thomas Mitchell, Melvyn Douglas, Jack Albertson, Jason Robards, Jeremy Irons, Al Pacino, Geoffrey Rush and Christopher Plummer.

In a rare 2004 opinion poll of members of the Royal Shakespeare Company, Paul was acclaimed for giving the greatest performance in a Shakespearean play for his legendary portrayal of King Lear in a 1962 production at Stratford. Voting peers included such theatre luminaries as Ian McKellen, Donald Sinden, Janet Suzman, Ian Richardson, Corin Redgrave and Antony Sher. Judi Dench's Lady Macbeth in Trevor Nunn's 1976 production of "Macbeth" came in second.

Originated the role of Antonio Salieri in Sir Peter Shaffer's play "Amadeus".

When Richard Burton and John le Carré bonded on the set of The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (1965), Burton (by now predominantly a movie actor) would frequently regret that he hadn't "done a Paul Scofield", by which le Carré understood "eschew the big-screen heroics and the big-screen money and accept only acting parts of real artistic substance". The two actors were simultaneously nominated for Best Actor Oscars (for A Man for All Seasons (1966) and Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966)): Burton's private diary records disappointment that he had lost, "But P. Scofield won so that's alright".

He was awarded the CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in the 1956 Queen's New Years Honours List for his services to drama. He was awarded Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour in the 2001 Queen's New Years Honours List for his service to drama.

He was one of 10 actors who won both an Academy Award and a Tony Award for performing the same role on film and stage. The other were: Yul Brynner (The King and I (1956)), Joel Grey (Cabaret (1972)), Rex Harrison (My Fair Lady (1964)), Anne Bancroft (The Miracle Worker (1962)), Shirley Booth (Come Back, Little Sheba (1952)), José Ferrer (Cyrano de Bergerac (1950)), Jack Albertson (The Subject Was Roses (1968)) and Viola Davis (Fences (2016)). Lila Kedrova won her Academy Award (1964), then her Tony Award 20 years later (1984) for "Zorba the Greek".

Playwright Arthur Miller considers him the finest English-speaking actor. Scofield appeared in the film version of Miller's "The Crucible".

Won Broadway's 1962 Tony Award as Best Actor (Dramatic) in "A Man for All Seasons", a role he recreated in an Oscar-winning performance in the film version of the same name, A Man for All Seasons (1966).

Was considered for the role of Marc Antony in Julius Caesar (1953). The role went to Marlon Brando.

Having been in the West End play "Staircase", he was wanted for the film version, which he turned down.

As a schoolboy in Brighton, he played Juliet in a school production of Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet".

He had been cast as O'Brien in 1984 (1984) but had to withdraw from the film after breaking a leg. Richard Burton was recast in the role.

Was considered for the role of Hercule Poirot in Murder on the Orient Express (1974). The role went to Albert Finney.

In 1969, he became the sixth performer to win the Triple Crown of Acting. Oscar: Best Actor, A Man for All Seasons (1966), Tony: Best Actor-Play, "A Man for All Seasons" (1962) and Emmy: Best Actor, Male of the Species (1969).

He happily accepted the CBE ("an honor with a hint of hard work about it") but declined a knighthood (Knight Bachelor of the Order of the British Empire) on a couple of occasions.

He was nominated for Actor of the Year Award for his stage role in Amadeus in 1980, but lost out to Roger Rees.

A memorial service was held for him at Westminster Abbey, London on 19 March 2009.

Edward Albee called him "one of the great actors". Scofield starred in the film version of Albee's play "A Delicate Balance".

When he won the Best Actor Oscar for his role of Sir Thomas More in A Man for All Seasons (1966), this was due to Richard Burton having turned down the role.

In 1991, he was scheduled to play the role of Dr. Monygham in Sir David Lean's adaptation of Joseph Conrad's "Nostromo". Lean's death on April 16, 1991 brought the project to an end.

He was awarded the 1996 London Evening Standard Theatre Award for Best Actor for his performance in "John Gabriel Borkman".

In common with another great British actor, Albert Finney, he declined a knighthood.

He was nominated for the 1997 Laurence Olivier Theatre Award for Best Actor in a Play of 1996 for his performance in "John Gabriel Borkman".

Trained briefly at the Croydon Rep.

Had two children: Martin (born 1944), a lecturer in 19th century English literature at the University of Kent, and Sarah (born 1951). Had two granddaughters, Robin and Rachel, and four great-grandchildren, Melissa, Oliver, Elliot and Caitlin.

Was considered for the roles of Dr. Hans Fallada, Dr. Armstrong and Sir Percy Helstine in the horror film Lifeforce (1985).

The August 28, 1985, issue of Variety, in the Production Pulse section announced that the film "The Conspiracy" began filming August 26, 1985, in Yugoslavia. Director was Michael Anderson with stars Christopher Walken, Robert Mitchum, Paul Scofield, Alice Krige, and others. No evidence the film was ever completed or released.

Has appeared in the film adaptations of two successful Broadway plays: Robert Bolt's "A Man for All Seasons" (for which he won a Tony, and later an Oscar) and Edward Albee's "A Delicate Balance". Coincidentally, in both adapted works, Scofield's characters (Sir Thomas More and Tobias) sarcastically say to their wives, "Oh, you're an honest woman!" near the end.

Was good friends with Dame Judi Dench.

Had to drop out of the film The Shooting Party due to breaking his leg in an accident on the first day of shooting which also prevented him taking a part in 1984 which went to Richard Burton.