Paul Shenar

Paul Shenar
Shenar as Alejandro Sosa in Scarface (1983)
Born
Albert Paul Shenar

(1936-02-12)February 12, 1936
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
DiedOctober 11, 1989(1989-10-11) (aged 53)
West Hollywood, California, U.S.
OccupationActor
Years active1971–1989
PartnerJeremy Brett (late 1970s)

Albert Paul Shenar (February 12, 1936 − October 11, 1989) was an American actor. A veteran Broadway and Shakespearean actor, he was one of the 27 founding members of the American Conservatory Theater. To film audiences, he was best known for his portrayals of Jenner in Don Bluth's The Secret of NIMH (1982) and drug lord Alejandro Sosa[1] in Scarface (1983).

Early life

Shenar was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the second of four boys (one older brother John, two younger brothers Michael and Marc), born from Mary Rosella (née Puhek) and Eugene Joseph Shenar. He was of Polish and Slovene descent.[2]

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. He made his Broadway debut in a 1963 production of Six Characters in Search of an Author.[3]

Shenar gained attention playing larger-than-life entertainment legends in late 1970s television films—Orson Welles in The Night That Panicked America and Florenz Ziegfeld, Jr., in Ziegfeld: The Man and His Women. He portrayed the character John Carrington in Part II of the miniseries Roots. In 1978, he starred in an avant-garde film adaptation of Frank Wedekind's Lulu, directed by Ronald Chase.[4]

A founding member, actor, director and teacher of the American Conservatory Theater (ACT) in San Francisco, he played more than 40 roles there, including Hamlet, Oedipus Rex and Brother Julian in Tiny Alice.

In 1982, he provided the voice of Jenner,[5] the main antagonist of Don Bluth's The Secret of NIMH; his performance in the film impressed Bluth so much that he wanted Shenar to also portray Space Ace's main antagonist, Commander Borf, but was unable to do so due to budget issues and the role ultimately went to Bluth himself.[6]

In 1983, Shenar portrayed Alejandro Sosa,[1] the main antagonist of in Brian De Palma's Scarface. Despite the initially-mixed critical reception of the film, Shenar's performance of the Bolivian drug lord was widely well-received.[7] Complex ranked Sosa as 27th in its list of 50 best villains in movie history.[8]

Shenar continued to act during the late 1980s, including as supporting villain Paulo Rocca[9] in the Arnold Schwarzenegger action film Raw Deal (1986). He had a recurring guest spot as twin brothers Jason and Justin Dehner on the primetime soap opera Dynasty. He did a stage version of Macbeth in Los Angeles and appeared in films like Best Seller, Man on Fire, and The Bedroom Window (all 1987). His last film role was in Luc Besson's The Big Blue (1988).

Personal life

Shenar was gay, and was romantically involved with the British actor Jeremy Brett during the 1970s; they were in a relationship that reportedly lasted from 1973 to 1978.[10] After the couple separated, they remained close friends until Shenar's death in 1989.[11]

Illness and death

In 1983, Shenar was diagnosed with HIV/AIDS. He died from AIDS in West Hollywood on October 11, 1989, at age 53. His remains were cremated and given to his executor, Thomas Wiley.[12]

Filmography

Film

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

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1973The ABC Afternoon PlaybreakLieutenant Joe MoroniEpisode: "Alone with Terror"
1974ColumboSergeant 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 WomanDoctor 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. 1 2 "Scarface 'Counting Money' / X After Inventing Y". Know Your Meme. September 18, 2022. Retrieved January 18, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Paul Shenar Biography (1936-1989)". Retrieved April 3, 2016.
  3. ↑ "Paul Shenar". About the Artists.
  4. ↑ Chatelet, François (January 17–23, 1979). Les meilleurs films de 1978. Pariscope
  5. ↑ Central, Film Music (August 31, 2018). "Disturbing Bluth #4: Jenner in The Secret of NIMH (1982)". Film Music Central. Retrieved January 18, 2023.
  6. ↑ Space Ace Blu-ray, commentary by Bluth
  7. ↑ "Scarface". The Day. New London, Connecticut. December 17, 1983. p. 25. Retrieved June 22, 2026 – via Google News Archive.
  8. ↑ Barone, Matt; Monroe, Justin; Scarano, Ross; Aquino, Tara (February 12, 2013). "Alejandro Sosa – The 50 Best Villains in Movie History". Complex. Retrieved June 22, 2026.
  9. ↑ Club, Wolfman's Cult Film (May 9, 2021). "Raw Deal (1986) Arnold Schwarzenegger Takes On The Mob". Wolfmans Cult Film. Retrieved January 18, 2023.
  10. ↑ Graham, David, Casting About: A Memoir (iUniverse, 2007), page 265
  11. ↑ "Livres sur Jeremy Brett". jeremy-brett.forumactif.com (in French). Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  12. ↑ "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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