Paul Scofield - Actor Profile

Paul Scofield

Acting
Freshness: Jan 19, 2026
37Total Films
7.5 Highest Rated
Born: Jan 21, 1922
Birth Place: Hurstpierpoint, West Sussex, England, UK

About Paul Scofield

David Paul Scofield CH CBE (21 January 1922 – 19 March 2008) was an English actor. During a seven-decade career, Scofield achieved the Triple Crown of Acting, winning an Academy Award, Emmy, and Tony for his work. He won the three awards in a seven-year span, the fastest of any performer to accomplish the feat. Scofield received Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play at the 1962 Tony Awards for portraying Sir Thomas More in the Broadway production of A Man for All Seasons. 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 nine to receive a Tony and Academy Award for the same role. His Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie was achieved for the 1969 television film Male of the Species. Preferring the stage to the screen and putting his family before his career, Scofield nonetheless established a reputation as one of the greatest Shakespearean performers. Among other accolades, his performance as Mark Van Doren in Quiz Show (1994) earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor and he won Best Actor in a Supporting Role at the BAFTA Awards for portraying Thomas Danforth in The Crucible (1996). Scofield declined the honour of a knighthood, but was appointed CBE in 1956 and became a Companion of Honour in 2001. Description above from the Wikipedia article Paul Scofield, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Career Statistics & Market Influence

Analyzing the cinematic journey of Paul Scofield reveals a career defined by diverse artistic exploration. With a total of 37 major appearances, the actor has established a significant footprint in global cinema.

Genre Dominance: Drama

The majority of Paul Scofield's filmography leans towards the Drama genre. Audience data suggests that viewers respond most favorably to this persona, though their versatility has allowed for successful crossovers into other categories.

The "Box Office" Signature

With a 35% Success Ratio (movies rated above 6.5), Paul Scofield remains a reliable draw for studios. Their peak performance was recorded in The Train, which continues to be the benchmark for their career rating-wise.

Best Paul Scofield Movies Ranked

Must-watch hits from Paul Scofield's career based on audience ratings.

Complete Filmography & Success Status

Tracking the career evolution and box office verdicts of Paul Scofield.

YearMovieCharacterSuccessMore
2011 Discovering Hamlet The Ghost (archive footage) Hit Similar →
2000 Kurosawa Kurosawa (voice) Hit Similar →
1999 Animal Farm Boxer (voice) Average Similar →
1999 Rashi: A Light After The Dark Ages Narrator (voice) Flop Similar →
1997 Robinson in Space Narrator (voice) Hit Similar →
1996 The Crucible Judge Thomas Danforth Hit Similar →
1996 The Little Riders Grandpa Roden Flop Similar →
1994 Genesis: The Creation and the Flood Narrator (voice) Average Similar →
1994 Quiz Show Mark Van Doren Hit Similar →
1994 London Narrator (voice) Hit Similar →
1992 Utz Dr. Vaclav Orlik Flop Similar →
1990 Hamlet The Ghost Hit Similar →
1989 Henry V French King Hit Similar →
1989 When the Whales Came The Birdman Average Similar →
1988 The Attic: The Hiding of Anne Frank Otto Frank Hit Similar →
1987 Mr. Corbett's Ghost Mr. Corbett Flop Similar →
1985 Nineteen Nineteen Alexander Scherbatov Flop Similar →
1985 Summer Lightning Old Robert Clarke Flop Similar →
1985 Anna Karenina Karenin Flop Similar →
1984 A Kind of Alaska Dr. Hornby Average Similar →
1984 The Life and Times of Don Luis Buñuel Narrator (voice) Hit Similar →
1982 A Song At Twilight Hugo Latymer Hit Similar →
1982 Come Into The Garden Maud Verner Conklin Flop Similar →
1980 The Curse of King Tut's Tomb Narrator (voice) Flop Similar →
1977 The Ambassadors Lewis Lambert Strether Flop Similar →
1973 A Delicate Balance Tobias Average Similar →
1973 Scorpio Sergei Zharkov Average Similar →
1971 The Hotel in Amsterdam - Flop Similar →
1970 Bartleby The Accountant Average Similar →
1970 King Lear King Lear Average Similar →
1969 The Red Tent Main Judge (uncredited) Average Similar →
1969 Male of the Species Sir Emlyn Bowen, Q. C. Average Similar →
1968 Tell Me Lies - Average Similar →
1966 A Man for All Seasons Thomas More Hit Similar →
1964 The Train von Waldheim Super Hit Similar →
1958 Carve Her Name with Pride Tony Fraser Average Similar →
1955 That Lady King Philip II of Spain Average Similar →

Paul Scofield - Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best movie of Paul Scofield?

According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Paul Scofield is "The Train" with a rating of 7.5/10.

How many movies has Paul Scofield acted in?

Paul Scofield has been featured in at least 37 major films throughout their career.

What are some other popular movies by Paul Scofield?

Other notable films include "A Man for All Seasons", "Quiz Show", and "Henry V".