PATTON (War Biography - R)

George C. Scott received his Oscar for playing the title role, of the flamboyant, controversial General George S. Patton, Jr. in this WW2 classic.

ABOUT GEORGE C. SCOTT (1927 - 1999)

George C. Scott was born in Wise, Virginia.  His mother died when he was 7. His father was a business executive. 

After trying to write novels, Scott joined the U.S. Marines, serving from 1945 to 1949.  After his service, Scott attended the University of Missouri, to pursue journalism, but developed an interest in theater and left college to pursue acting.

Once in New York, he appeared with the New York Shakespeare Festival in 1958. By 1959, he was on Broadway, where he acted and directed through the 60's. 

In 1959, George C. Scott played the crafty prosecutor in the courtroom drama, ANATOMY OF A MURDER, with James Stuart and Lee Remick.  Scott was nominated for a supporting Oscar for his work.  George C. Scott was nominated again for Best Supporting Actor for his 1961 portrayal of cut throat pool manager Bert Gordon,  in THE HUSTLER, with Paul Newman. 

One of his most memorable rolls was as General Buck Turgidson in Stanley Kubrik's black comedy, DR. STRANGELOVE OR HOW I LEARNED TO STOP WORRYING AND LOVE THE BOMB in 1964.  George C. Scott played an alpha male military man in the midst of fooling around with his secretary after hours, who can't quite understand that a doomsday machine has been activated at his base.

Then, in 1970, George C. Scott play another General, General Patton in PATTON.  He was again nominated for an Oscar for his performance and won the award.  He did not attend the ceremony, but watched hockey at home on TV.   Scott explained, "I have nothing against Oscar. I know what he stands for and it's terrific. And I think when people used to hang around and pat each other on the back over a drink and dinner it was wonderful. But when it became an international hoopla, where careers lived and died on whether or not you did or didn't get an Oscar, then it got out of hand."

George C. Scott was married 5 times, twice to actress Coleen Dewhurst. 

Called by many one of the greatest film actors, he himself said, "Bette Davis is my bloody idol. I admire her more than any other film star."

On his passion for acting, George C. Scott commented, "I became an actor to escape my own personality. Acting is the most therapeutic thing in the world. I think all the courage that I may lack personally, I have as an actor."

George C. Scott's directing credits include:

RAGE (1972)
THE SAVAGE IS LOOSE (1974)

George C. Scott's other credits include:

THE HANGING TREE (1959) 
ANATOMY OF A MURDER (1959)
THE HUSTLER (1961)
THE LIST OF ADRIAN MESSENGER (1963)
DR. STRANGELOVE (1964)
THE YELLOW ROLLS ROYCE (1964)
THE BIBLE: IN THE BEGINNING (1966)
THE FLIM FLAM MAN (1967) 
PETULIA (1968)
THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS (1967)
THE HOSPITAL (1971) 
DAY OF THE DOLPHIN (1973)
THE HINDENBURG (1976)
THE NEW CENTURIONS (1972) 
OKLAHOMA CRUDE (1973) 
THE PRINCE AND THE PAUPER (
ISLANDS IN THE STREAM (1977)
THE CHANGELING (1980)
THE FORMULA (1980) 
TAPS (1981) 
OLIVER TWIST (TV MOVIE)  (1982) 
FIRESTARTER (1984)
THE EXORCIST III (1990) 
THE RESCUERS DOWN UNDER (1990) 
GLORIA (1999) 

George C. Scott's television credits include:

EAST SIDE WEST SIDE (series 63)
JANE EYRE
THIS SAVAGE LAND
FEAR ON TRIAL
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
CHINA GIRL
A CHRISTMAS CAROL
MUSSOLINI: THE UNTOLD STORY (1985 mini-series)
MR. PRESIDENT (1987 series)
TRAPS (1994 series)
INHERIT THE WIND