Paul Scofield's Height
6ft 0 (182.9 cm)
English actor best remembered for roles in films such as A Man for All Seasons, The Train, Quiz Show, Henry V and The Crucible. In a 1962 article he was described as "6-foot" tall and that height is what his agency called him in the early 1950's. Paul himself once said "My height is just over six feet".
Allan warren, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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Add a Comment27 comments
Average Guess (8 Votes)
5ft 11.63in (181.9cm)
5ft 11.63in (181.9cm)
Gerald S said on 26/May/23
Rob, might a downgrade be called for?
We now know that an aging Orson Welles was a touch taller than a peak Michel Piccoli. You have Welles at 6 feet peak, meaning Piccoli was likely 5'11.5" at peak. We also now know Michel Piccoli was more or less the same height as Nigel Davenport. However, Davenport had a good inch on Scofield in A Man For All Seasons, potentially more (although footwear may well have been a factor). Footwear aside, Scofield was struggling with 5'11" next to Davenport, looking 5'10.5" range in comparison.
Rob, might a downgrade be called for?
We now know that an aging Orson Welles was a touch taller than a peak Michel Piccoli. You have Welles at 6 feet peak, meaning Piccoli was likely 5'11.5" at peak. We also now know Michel Piccoli was more or less the same height as Nigel Davenport. However, Davenport had a good inch on Scofield in A Man For All Seasons, potentially more (although footwear may well have been a factor). Footwear aside, Scofield was struggling with 5'11" next to Davenport, looking 5'10.5" range in comparison.
Gerald S said on 15/Apr/23
Maybe 6’0.25”, Rob? You are trying to steer away from 1/8ths.
Maybe 6’0.25”, Rob? You are trying to steer away from 1/8ths.
Martin owens said on 9/Jun/18
Paul scofield is my favorite actor, i have over 40 of his autographs and personal letters written by him, the give a privaye insight into his character.
Editor Rob
Paul scofield is my favorite actor, i have over 40 of his autographs and personal letters written by him, the give a privaye insight into his character.
Editor RobAnd he would probably appreciate your height guess too!
Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 3/May/18
Great find
Great find
Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 11/Oct/17
6ft0½ is arguable. Still looked around 6ft by Quiz Show
6ft0½ is arguable. Still looked around 6ft by Quiz Show
Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 13/Apr/17
I agree. Could have been fraction over 6ft. Put him in a pair of dress shoes and he's approaching 6ft2
I agree. Could have been fraction over 6ft. Put him in a pair of dress shoes and he's approaching 6ft2
Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 9/Mar/17
Rob, how likely is a strong 6ft?
Editor Rob
Rob, how likely is a strong 6ft?
Editor Rob there could be a greater chance of 6ft - 6ft 0.25 range than say 11.75 range.
Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 2/Jul/15
I read 6ft2 for him aswell.
I don't think he was less than 6ft though
I read 6ft2 for him aswell.
I don't think he was less than 6ft though
Arch Stanton said on 11/Oct/14
Agreed, no role was more suited to him than his one in A Man for All Seasons. One of the most natural/realistic performances from an Oscar winner I've ever seen.
Agreed, no role was more suited to him than his one in A Man for All Seasons. One of the most natural/realistic performances from an Oscar winner I've ever seen.
Sam said on 9/Oct/14
Yeah, Arch, in a movie like The Train, Scofield's attributes are definitely something you want to boo...but in A Man for All Seasons, it's the same bearing that makes you feel so badly for him, i.e. dull-witted, greedy men like Henry VIII (sorry to bust on the King!) come out on top in life whereas they end badly for intelligent men of conscience like Thomas More. It's the perfect role for Scofield.
As to height, I do think Scofield was more in the strong six foot range, it's easily to see a guy with his build and good posture pulling off a 6'2" impression, perhaps even claiming it as his height if measured in boots.
Yeah, Arch, in a movie like The Train, Scofield's attributes are definitely something you want to boo...but in A Man for All Seasons, it's the same bearing that makes you feel so badly for him, i.e. dull-witted, greedy men like Henry VIII (sorry to bust on the King!) come out on top in life whereas they end badly for intelligent men of conscience like Thomas More. It's the perfect role for Scofield.
As to height, I do think Scofield was more in the strong six foot range, it's easily to see a guy with his build and good posture pulling off a 6'2" impression, perhaps even claiming it as his height if measured in boots.
Arch Stanton said on 9/Oct/14
Even in Scorprio though Mr V Scofield didn't walk about like a man over 6 ft, let alone 6'2.
Even in Scorprio though Mr V Scofield didn't walk about like a man over 6 ft, let alone 6'2.
Arch Stanton said on 9/Oct/14
@Mr. V There is one scene in The Train about half the way through I think in which the briefly capture them from a distance and Lancaster looks a good inch taller. It was difficult to tell really in Scorpio.
@Mr. V There is one scene in The Train about half the way through I think in which the briefly capture them from a distance and Lancaster looks a good inch taller. It was difficult to tell really in Scorpio.
Mr.V said on 8/Oct/14
Thanks Sam.
After some rewatch, he may have been very similar to Lancaster in 'Scorpio' (planning to give another look to 'The Train' soon), so they could have been the same height (not sure if Burt had lost some from his peak by then).
What I meant is that I've seen Scofield listed both at 6' and 6'2, so it's possible he could have been something in between.
Click Here ( thanks to his bearing and height — he stood six-foot-two)
At times a 6 foot listing was used to indicate a six-footer, doesn't necessarily mean he was exactly six feet.
Thanks Sam.
After some rewatch, he may have been very similar to Lancaster in 'Scorpio' (planning to give another look to 'The Train' soon), so they could have been the same height (not sure if Burt had lost some from his peak by then).
What I meant is that I've seen Scofield listed both at 6' and 6'2, so it's possible he could have been something in between.
Click Here ( thanks to his bearing and height — he stood six-foot-two)
At times a 6 foot listing was used to indicate a six-footer, doesn't necessarily mean he was exactly six feet.
Arch Stanton said on 8/Oct/14
Sam says on 18/Sep/14
Scofield is one of those rare actors who always seem to convey a daunting intellect just via his facial expressions as well as his speech and speaking voice.
I know what you mean. Yeah he had that look about him didn't he, you could get the impression he could be deeply unpleasant, untrustworthy or even sordid at times with his face and expressions. A face if anything which probably made him immediately dislikable without knowing him. I have no idea what he was really like, but he was a great actor.
Sam says on 18/Sep/14
Scofield is one of those rare actors who always seem to convey a daunting intellect just via his facial expressions as well as his speech and speaking voice.
I know what you mean. Yeah he had that look about him didn't he, you could get the impression he could be deeply unpleasant, untrustworthy or even sordid at times with his face and expressions. A face if anything which probably made him immediately dislikable without knowing him. I have no idea what he was really like, but he was a great actor.
Arch Stanton said on 8/Oct/14
They do look very close in Scorpio but difficult to tell exactly. in some scenes Lancaster looks to have the edge and then in the scene you linked a still of, yeah Scofield did look to have the edge but Lancaster's posture wasn't great. There is a briefly a better comparison in about 42 minutes range when Lancaster takes off his hat and he looks about an inch taller.
They do look very close in Scorpio but difficult to tell exactly. in some scenes Lancaster looks to have the edge and then in the scene you linked a still of, yeah Scofield did look to have the edge but Lancaster's posture wasn't great. There is a briefly a better comparison in about 42 minutes range when Lancaster takes off his hat and he looks about an inch taller.
Arch Stanton said on 8/Oct/14
Burt looks like he's leaning though. I'll have to watch the film later..
Burt looks like he's leaning though. I'll have to watch the film later..
Sam said on 8/Oct/14
Good find, Mr. V, but I think in posture Lancaster is dropping more than Scofield. There wasn't a huge difference between the guys but the listing for Scofield does seem legit.
Good find, Mr. V, but I think in posture Lancaster is dropping more than Scofield. There wasn't a huge difference between the guys but the listing for Scofield does seem legit.
Arch Stanton said on 7/Oct/14
Nup, Scofield looks a good inch shorter than Lancaster in The Train, stood by the trains there was a brief distant shot and you could see her was shorter than Lancaster.
Nup, Scofield looks a good inch shorter than Lancaster in The Train, stood by the trains there was a brief distant shot and you could see her was shorter than Lancaster.
Arch Stanton said on 7/Oct/14
Watching The Train now,. Scofield doesn't really look over 6 ft in it but I haven't got to the part with Lancaster yet.
Watching The Train now,. Scofield doesn't really look over 6 ft in it but I haven't got to the part with Lancaster yet.
Mr.V said on 27/Sep/14
I don't think there were any good shots of the two of them in 'The Train'. I think they just had a couple scenes together: one was the final climax on the railways and they were several feet apart. I think they had another one early on, but I don't think there were close either. But Scofield is visibly taller in 'Scorpio'.
I don't think there were any good shots of the two of them in 'The Train'. I think they just had a couple scenes together: one was the final climax on the railways and they were several feet apart. I think they had another one early on, but I don't think there were close either. But Scofield is visibly taller in 'Scorpio'.
Sam said on 22/Sep/14
Scofield was also in The Train with Lancaster but I can't remember how they stacked up.
Scofield was also in The Train with Lancaster but I can't remember how they stacked up.
Mr.V said on 20/Sep/14
One obituary also gave him as tall as 6'2". I doubt he was anything less than 6'1" at peak; he wasn't much shorter than Joseph Cotten in 'A Delicate Balance' and taller than Burt Lancaster in 'Scorpio'. If he was only 6', Lancaster might have shrunk to 5'11" by the time he did the movie, which I find unlikely.
One obituary also gave him as tall as 6'2". I doubt he was anything less than 6'1" at peak; he wasn't much shorter than Joseph Cotten in 'A Delicate Balance' and taller than Burt Lancaster in 'Scorpio'. If he was only 6', Lancaster might have shrunk to 5'11" by the time he did the movie, which I find unlikely.
Sam said on 18/Sep/14
Scofield is one of those rare actors who always seem to convey a daunting intellect just via his facial expressions as well as his speech and speaking voice.
Scofield is one of those rare actors who always seem to convey a daunting intellect just via his facial expressions as well as his speech and speaking voice.
Sam said on 17/Sep/14
I've seen all the 5 movies above but he was most memorable in A Man for All Seasons. He did seem pretty lanky, in older age I'm thinking from memory in Quiz Show that he was similar range to Ralph Fiennes after some height loss. The one shot I've found below suggests Fiennes is taller but he is in the foreground.
Click Here
I've seen all the 5 movies above but he was most memorable in A Man for All Seasons. He did seem pretty lanky, in older age I'm thinking from memory in Quiz Show that he was similar range to Ralph Fiennes after some height loss. The one shot I've found below suggests Fiennes is taller but he is in the foreground.
Click Here
Arch Stanton said on 16/Sep/14
In thinking about it though he didn't look 6 inches taller than Katherine Hepburn in A Delicate Balance, although I can't remember her footwear.
In thinking about it though he didn't look 6 inches taller than Katherine Hepburn in A Delicate Balance, although I can't remember her footwear.
Arch Stanton said on 16/Sep/14
Thanks, don't forget Henry V though which he was in with Kenneth Branagh, as Shakespearean films go that was absolutely top notch. Honestly I thought he was near 6 ft 1, in A Man for All Seasons he towered over John Hurt. I can't remember how he looked with Robert Shaw though, who seemed bigger in that film as he was playing Henry VIII and looked like he was wearing 5 coats for girth.
Thanks, don't forget Henry V though which he was in with Kenneth Branagh, as Shakespearean films go that was absolutely top notch. Honestly I thought he was near 6 ft 1, in A Man for All Seasons he towered over John Hurt. I can't remember how he looked with Robert Shaw though, who seemed bigger in that film as he was playing Henry VIII and looked like he was wearing 5 coats for girth.
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