‘Ever After: A Cinderella Story’ Actor Patrick Godfrey Dies at 93
According to the CinemaDrame News Agency, Patrick Godfrey, the distinguished English actor best known for his portrayal of Leonardo da Vinci in the enduring 1998 romantic fantasy film Ever After: A Cinderella Story, has passed away at the age of 93.
The news of Godfrey’s passing was announced via a statement from his talent agency, Markham, Froggatt & Irwin. The statement read: “It is with great sadness that we confirm Patrick Godfrey has passed away. He died peacefully at his home, surrounded by his family. Paddy was a tremendously talented actor and a truly remarkable human being; he will be dearly missed.”
In Ever After, Godfrey brilliantly brought the legendary Italian polymath and artist to life, sharing the screen with Drew Barrymore, who starred as Danielle (the film’s iteration of Cinderella). The film’s acclaimed ensemble cast also featured Anjelica Huston, Dougray Scott, Megan Dodds, Melanie Lynskey, Timothy West, and Judy Parfitt.
A Prolific Career Across Film, TV, and Stage
Godfrey’s extensive feature film credits included standout performances in celebrated period dramas and major cinematic releases such as 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 was an incredibly prolific presence, appearing in dozens of popular and critically acclaimed series across several decades. His small-screen work featured roles in Compact, Dixon of Dock Green, Doctor Who, Z-Cars, The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, Blott on the Landscape, Play for Today, and The Dead Dahlia.
Born in February 1933 in Finsbury Park, London, Godfrey originally entered the entertainment industry in 1956 by joining the BBC Radio Drama Company. In 1972, he transitioned to screen acting, making his feature debut as a servant in the Royal Shakespeare Company’s television adaptation of the play Miss Julie, directed by John Glenister and Robin Phillips. His subsequent major film appearance came in 1981, playing Kulygin in Trevor Nunn’s cinematic production of Three Sisters.
