George C. Scott
“A commanding, uncompromising actor who famously refused the Oscar his work had earned.”
Scott built a reputation as a fierce stage and screen actor through the 1950s and earned Oscar nominations for Anatomy of a Murder and The Hustler. His towering title performance in Patton (1970) made him a major star and won an Academy Award he famously refused, at age 43.
Marine to the Stage
Born in Virginia and raised in Michigan, Scott served in the Marine Corps before training as an actor. His intense classical work off-Broadway, including Richard III, established him as a formidable theatrical talent.
A Commanding Screen Presence
Gravel-voiced and powerful, he earned early Oscar nominations for Anatomy of a Murder and The Hustler and brought biting comedy to Dr. Strangelove. His definitive 1970 portrayal of General George S. Patton became one of cinema's great performances.
Principles and Later Work
Believing performances should not be ranked competitively, he refused the Patton Oscar in 1971, a landmark protest. He continued working steadily on stage, in film, and on television, winning Emmys and directing as well.
Career Timeline
- 1927Born George Campbell Scott in Wise, Virginia
- 1945Serves in the U.S. Marine Corps
- 1957Acclaimed off-Broadway in Richard III
- 1959Oscar nomination for Anatomy of a Murder
- 1961Oscar nomination for The Hustler
- 1964Plays General Turgidson in Dr. Strangelove
- 1970Stars in title role of Patton
- 1971Refuses the Best Actor Oscar for Patton
- 1971Stars in The Hospital
- 1984Plays Scrooge in TV's A Christmas Carol
- 1996Wins Emmy for 12 Angry Men
- 1999Dies in Westlake Village, California, aged 71
Biggest Hits
- He called the Oscar ceremony a "two-hour meat parade" and watched a hockey game instead.
- He had also declined an Emmy in 1971 before being persuaded to accept later television awards.
The Moment You Remember
He is remembered standing before an enormous American flag in the opening of Patton, delivering the general's address to unseen troops in a scene that has become one of cinema's most quoted moments.
Portrait: Unknown photographer · Public domain (publicity still) · via Wikimedia Commons