Patrick Godfrey died on June 4 at 93, closing out a long career on stage, in film and on television that made him a familiar face in British acting circles. His agency, Markham Froggatt & Irwin, confirmed his death and said he died peacefully at home surrounded by his family.
For many viewers, Godfrey was the actor who played Leonardo Da Vinci in the 1998 fantasy film Ever After, starring Drew Barrymore. He also appeared in A Room with a View, The Remains of the Day and The Importance of Being Earnest, while television audiences saw him in Miss Marple, Midsomer Murders and Doc Martin.
That range was part of what made him such a steady presence. He worked with the RSC, the National, the Old Vic and in the West End, and playwright Bill Rosenfield said Godfrey had a theatrical career spanning nearly 70 years. Rosenfield called him “a wonderful next door neighbor,” said he was 93 years old, and described him as “an exceptionally talented actor and a remarkable individual.”
No cause of death was given, and the only public details so far are that he died at home with his family around him. Godfrey is survived by his wife, Amanda Walker, and their children, Kate and Richard, leaving the industry with a loss that is immediate and deeply personal for the people closest to him.
