British actor Paul Scofield, who won an Academy Award for his role in the 1966 film ``A Man for All Seasons,'' has died of leukemia at age 86. He died yesterday at a hospital near his home in Sussex, England.

Famed for his rumbling, rich voice and craggy face full of character, Scofield was widely considered one of the most subtle and intelligent classical actors of his generation. He was a contemporary of Laurence Olivier, to whom he had been compared.

He performed mainly on the stage and was acclaimed for his 1962 role in Peter Brook's production of  "King Lear'' for the Royal Shakespeare Company. That was hailed as the greatest Shakespearean performance ever in a 2004 poll of leading Royal Shakespeare Company actors.

He was born in Birmingham in January 1922 to a village schoolmaster and grew up in Hurstpierpoint in Sussex. He has long been associated with nearby Balcombe, enjoying walking on the downs, reading and baking bread.

He has two children, Martin and Sarah.