British actor Patrick Godfrey, best known for his portrayal of Leonardo da Vinci in the 1998 film Ever After: A Cinderella Story, has died at the age of 93, per tmz.com.
He passed away peacefully at his home on Thursday, surrounded by his family, his talent agency confirmed.
Godfrey’s agency announced the news on June 5, describing him as “an exceptionally talented actor and a remarkable individual.”
No cause of death was disclosed.
His career encompassed nearly seven decades across film, television and theatre. He appeared in several critically acclaimed period dramas, including the 1986 Merchant Ivory production A Room with a View and the 1993 adaptation of Kazuo Ishiguro’s The Remains of the Day, which starred Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson.
Further film credits included the 2002 adventure The Count of Monte Cristo and the 2012 musical adaptation of Les Misérables. On television, he featured in long-running British series such as Doctor Who and Inspector Morse.
Godfrey’s role in Ever After alongside Drew Barrymore and Anjelica Huston introduced him to a global audience, cementing his reputation as a distinguished character actor capable of bringing historical figures to life with gravitas and warmth.
Godfrey belonged to a generation of British character actors whose extensive training and stage experience underpinned prolific screen careers. His body of work reflects the enduring demand for classically trained performers in period drama, a staple of both British and international cinema from the 1980s through the 2010s.
•Featured image: Patrick Godfrey/Shutterstock
