Paul Shenar

Albert Paul Shenar (February 12, 1936 − October 11, 1989) was an American actor and theater director, known for portraying the Bolivian drug lord Alejandro Sosa, in Scarface (1983).

Paul Shenar
Born
Albert Paul Shenar

(1936-02-12)February 12, 1936
DiedOctober 11, 1989(1989-10-11) (aged 53)
Resting placeCalifornia
OccupationActor
Years active1971−1989

A veteran Broadway and Shakespearean actor, he was one of the twenty-seven founding members of the American Conservatory Theater.

Early life

Shenar was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the son of Mary Rosella (née Puhek) and Eugene Joseph Shenar. He was of Polish and Slovenian descent.[1]

Career

Shenar became involved in theater at an early age, working in Milwaukee playhouse productions. After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the United States Air Force. Following his military career he began acting again. Shenar gained attention playing larger-than-life entertainment legends in 1970s television films—Orson Welles in The Night That Panicked America (1975) and Florenz Ziegfeld, Jr., in Ziegfeld: The Man and His Women (1978). He portrayed the character John Carrington in Part II of the miniseries Roots (1977).

Shenar also portrayed the ruthless Bolivian drug lord Alejandro Sosa in Brian De Palma's 1983 feature film, Scarface. He portrayed crime boss Luigi Patrovita's (Sam Wanamaker) second in command, Paulo Rocca in Raw Deal (1986).

A founding member, actor, director and teacher of the American Conservatory Theatre (ACT) in San Francisco, he played more than forty roles there, including Hamlet, Oedipus Rex and Brother Julian in Tiny Alice. In 1982, He portrayed Jenner, the main antagonist of the animated feature The Secret of NIMH. Shenar's performance in the film impressed its director Don Bluth that he wanted Shenar to also portray Borf in the game Space Ace, but was unable to do so due to budget issues (a role that ultimately went to Bluth himself).[2]

Shenar continued to act during the late 1980s. He did a stage version of Macbeth in Los Angeles and appeared in films like Best Seller (1987), The Bedroom Window (1987), The Big Blue (1988), plus the TV film Rage of Angels: The Story Continues.

Personal life

Shenar was gay. He and British actor Jeremy Brett were in a relationship in the 1970s; it reportedly lasted five years.[3]

Death

He died from complications of AIDS on October 11, 1989.[4]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1978LuluLudwig Schon
1982The End of AugustArobin
The Secret of NIMHJennerVoice
1983Deadly ForceJoshua Adams
ScarfaceAlejandro Sosa
1986Dream LoverBen Gardner
Raw DealPaulo Rocca
1987The Bedroom WindowCollin Wentworth
Man on FireEttore
Best SellerDavid Madlock
1988The Big BlueDr. Laurence

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1973The ABC Afternoon PlaybreakLt. Joe MoroniEpisode: "Alone with Terror"
1974ColumboSgt. YoungEpisode: "Publish or Perish"
Owen Marshall, Counselor at LawBlairEpisode: "House of Friends"
MannixJohnny SandsEpisode: "The Dark Hours"
Great PerformancesDe GuicheEpisode: "Cyrano de Bergerac"
The Execution of Private SlovikCrawfordTV movie
1975KojakArthur HarrisEpisode: "Night of the Piraeus"
PetrocelliArchie LaSalleEpisode: "Death in Small Doses"
The Invisible ManAlexi ZartovEpisode: "Barnard Wants Out"
Ellery QueenAnnouncer Wendell WarrenEpisode: "The Adventure of Miss Aggie's Farewell Performance"
The Night That Panicked AmericaOrson WellesTV movie
1976, 1977Hawaii Five-OChadwick
Todd Daniels
Episodes: "A Killer Grows Wings"
"See How She Runs"
1976The KeegansRudi PortinariTV movie
Gemini ManCharles Edward RoyceEpisode: "Pilot"
The Bionic WomanDr. Alan CoryEpisode: "The Ghosthunter"
Wonder WomanLieutenant WertzEpisodes: "The Feminum Mystique: Part 1"
"The Feminum Mystique: Part 2"
1977RootsJohn CarringtonEpisode: "Part II"
The Hostage HeartJames CardoneTV movie
Young Dan'l BooneHammondEpisode: "The Pirate"
Logan's RunDavid EakinsEpisode: "Man Out of Time"
The Mask of Alexander CrossAlexander CrossTV movie
1978Ziegfeld: The Man and His WomenFlorenz Ziegfeld
The Courage and the PassionNick Silcox
Suddenly, LoveJack Graham
1979FamilyBob GantryEpisode: "Moment of Truth"
1980Hart to HartMichael ShillingfordEpisode: "Night Horrors"
Beulah LandRoscoe CorlayTV mini-series
1983, 1985DynastyJason Dehner
Justin Dehner
Episodes: "The Search"
"Samantha"
"The Californians"
1983Scarecrow and Mrs. KingJames DelanoEpisode: "Service Above and Beyond"
1984Paper DollsJonathan WestfieldEpisode: #1.1
1985BrassSchuyler RossTV movie
Spenser: For HireMatthew LowingtonEpisode: "Discord in a Minor"
Streets of JusticeJ. Elliott SloanTV movie
Best of the Football FolliesNarrator
1986Dark MansionsPhillip Drake
Rage of Angels: The Story ContinuesJerry Worth
1987Time Out for DadChase

References

  1. "Paul Shenar Biography (1936-1989)". Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  2. Space Ace Blu-Ray, commentary by Bluth
  3. Graham, David, Casting About: A Memoir (iUniverse, 2007), page 265
  4. "AIDS at 25". San Francisco Chronicle. June 8, 2006. p. E1. Retrieved October 3, 2011. Paul Shenar, died Oct. 11, 1989, at age 53. Actor. Part of the American Conservatory Theater's founding acting company, Shenar appeared in more than 40 plays with ACT in the 1970s, including appearances as Hamlet, Oedipus and in "Tiny Alice."
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