The actor who most famously portrayed Sir Thomas More in the classic A Man for All Seasons has died of leukemia at age 86.

From the encomia, Scofield will most probably be remembered by his peers more for his theater work than his film work, which was relatively sparse. I never had the chance to see him onstage, but if you want to see his Lear, check out Peter Brooks’ wild film rendition.

“Why Richard, it profits a man nothing to give his soul for the whole world . . . but for Wales?”