George C. Scott

Born October 18, 1927, in Wise, Virginia, George Campbell Scott was the son of Helena Agnes and George Dewey Scott. After serving in the Marines, he studied at the University of Missouri School of Journalism. His early career was spent performing in stock companies before he moved to New York, where he landed the iconic role of Richard III in Joseph Papp's newly formed New York Shakespeare Festival. He also directed films.

Scott married four times: to Carolyn Hughes, with whom he had a daughter, Victoria; to Patricia Reed, with whom he had two children, Matthew and Devon Scott; to actress Colleen Dewhurst, with whom he had two sons, Alexander Scott and Campbell Scott; and to actress Trish Van Devere. He also had a daughter, Michelle, with Karen Truesdell.

His film credits include "Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb," "Patton," "The Hustler," "Anatomy of a Murder," "Taps," "Legion," "The Changeling," "The Rescuers Down Under," "Malice," and "Firestarter." Television credits include "Columbo," "In the Heat of the Night," "The Virginian," "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson," and "12 Angry Men."

Among his honors: an Oscar for Best Actor in a Leading Role for "Patton" in 1971, a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Single Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role for "ITV Saturday Night Theatre" in 1971, and a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie for "12 Angry Men" in 1998.

On September 23, 1999, the marquees of Broadway theaters were dimmed in his honor.