Actor Paul Scofield dies

Oscar-winning actor Paul Scofield has died at the age of 86, his agent said.

He died peacefully on Wednesday in a hospital near his Sussex home, Rosalind Chatto said. The actor had been diagnosed with leukaemia, Ms Chatto added.

Scofield was considered to be one of the greatest actors of his generation, winning an Oscar in 1966 for his portrayal of the Tudor statesman Sir Thomas More in the film of Robert Bolt's A Man For All Seasons.

He made his name on the London stage, playing many of the greatest roles in theatre, and went on to star in films and on TV.

He was appointed a CBE in 1956 after an appearance in Peter Brook's Hamlet in Moscow. But he twice rejected a knighthood - because he wanted to remain "plain Mister".

However, in the 2001 New Year Honours, he became a Companion of Honour, which ranks with a knighthood, but is more select in that only 65 people are allowed to hold it at any one time.

Other than his Oscar-winning performance, the actor was probably best known as the tormented composer Salieri in Peter Shaffer's play Amadeus.

Scofield leaves a widow, a son and a daughter.