Patrick Godfrey, the English actor best known for playing Leonardo da Vinci in the 1998 fantasy film “Ever After: A Cinderella Story,” has died at the age of 93. His death was confirmed on June 5 by his talent agency, Markham Froggatt & Irwin, which said he died peacefully at home on Thursday, surrounded by his family. The agency described him as an exceptionally talented actor and a remarkable individual who will be greatly missed.
Godfrey’s role in “Ever After” placed him among a notable ensemble cast that included Drew Barrymore, Anjelica Huston, Dougray Scott, Megan Dodds, Melanie Lynskey, Timothy West and Judy Parfitt. In the film, Barrymore played Danielle, a reinterpretation of Cinderella, while Godfrey portrayed the famed Renaissance thinker and inventor Leonardo da Vinci. The movie became one of his most recognizable screen credits and remains a key part of his legacy.
Over the course of a long career in film and television, Godfrey built a reputation as a versatile character actor. His film credits included “A Room with a View,” “Clockwise,” “Maurice,” “The Count of Monte Cristo,” “Oliver Twist,” “Les Misérables” and “Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle.” On television, he appeared in a wide range of British productions such as “Compact,” “Dixon of Dock Green,” “Doctor Who,” “Z Cars,” “The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby,” “Blott on the Landscape,” “Screenplay” and “Dandelion Dead,” along with many other series and dramas.
Born in February 1933 in Finsbury Park, England, Godfrey began his career in entertainment in 1956 when he joined the BBC’s Radio Drama Company. That early work helped launch a career that would span decades across radio, stage, film and television. He made his film debut in a televised 1972 production of “Miss Julie” for the Royal Shakespeare Company, playing a house servant. His next film role came in 1981, when he portrayed Kulighin in Trevor Nunn’s “The Three Sisters.”
Godfrey’s career reflected the breadth of British acting across multiple generations, with roles that ranged from classic literary adaptations to popular television dramas and fantasy films. His work connected him to some of the most respected directors, productions and performers in British entertainment.
He leaves behind a substantial body of work and a lasting presence in film and television. His death marks the loss of a veteran performer whose career helped shape the landscape of British screen acting for more than half a century.
