Who was Alan Scarfe? Looking back at the ‘Double Impact’ and ‘Lethal Weapon 3’ actor’s career as family announces death at 77

Alan Scarfe, the Canadian actor has died at 77. He was famous for playing the antagonist in Double Impact and Lethal Weapon 3 and as Dr. Bradley Talmadge on the UPN sci-fi series Seven Days.

Scarfe's family disclosed in an online obituary that the actor peacefully died on April 28 after struggling with colon cancer at his home in Longueuil in the province of Québec, Canada.

Beyond his film roles, the online obituary listed many of Scarfe's accolades as an actor, director, and novelist. Notably, Alan Scarfe was an Associate Director of the Stratford Festival and the Everyman Theatre in Liverpool.

His son, Jonathan Scarfe, an actor and director (known for roles in ER, Raising the Bar, Hell on Wheels, and Van Helsing), and his daughter, Antonia (Tosia) Scarfe, a musician and composer, survive Alan Scarfe. Jonathan and Tosia collaborated on the award-winning short film Speak. Alan was married to Barbara March from 1979 until she died in 2019. He also had two brothers: Colin Scarfe, a professor of astronomy at the University of Victoria, and Brian Scarfe, a professor of economics and senior university administrator.

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Alan Scarfe's Diverse Career

Born in Harpenden, England but raised in Vancouver, Canada, Alan Scarfe carved a distinct path in the entertainment industry. He left his mark on the Star Trek franchise with multiple appearances.

He shared,

"I wanted to be a great classical actor in the long tradition of Burbage, Garrick, Kean, Booth, Olivier. 45 years ago when I began, it was still possible to think in such a romantic, idealistic way."

In the same interview, when asked about his proudest accomplishments, he revealed,

"I don't really think of film and television as the impressive part of my career. But of the films it is mostly the small, independent ones of which I am most proud. Films like Deserters and The Portrait and the recent Hamster Cage."

He achieved this dream after studying at the prestigious London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. His dedication to theater was further solidified by his work behind the scenes in the late 1960s as an associate director of the Everyman Theatre in Liverpool, England.

Alan John Scarfe, born June 8, 1946, in Harpenden, England, began his life journey with a family steeped in academia. His parents, Gladys and Neville Scarfe, were university professors who moved to Vancouver, Canada for their intellectual pursuits, while Alan Scarfe was still young. The elder Scarfe left a significant mark on his adopted home, becoming the founding Dean of the Faculty of Education at the University of British Columbia. A university building even bears his name.

After this, Alan Scarfe continued his acting dream by attending Lord Byng Secondary School in Vancouver. This ambition took him back to England, where he studied in one of the most recognized institutions in the world: LAMDA or the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, from 1964 to 1966. His interest in theater was further affirmed by his professional endeavor as an associate director in the Everyman Theatre, Liverpool, for two years from 1967 to 1968.

Through two decades in his career, Alan Scarfe could develop and perfect his art in the European, American, and Canadian theaters. He was actively associated with two festivals in Ontario, the Stratford Festival where he worked for eight seasons, and the Shaw Festival where he worked for two seasons.

Alan's genuine passion was on the stage. He dedicated his professional career to theater, globetrotting, and performing across Europe, the U.S., and Canada. This dedication resulted in over 100 roles across various productions.

While performing eight seasons at the prestigious Stratford Festival in Canada, Scarfe finally landed film roles. These included The Bay Boy (1984), Deserters (1984), Overnight (1986), Street Justice (1987), and Iron Eagle II (1988).

Trekkies will remember him for his portrayals of the Romulans Tokath and Admiral Mendak on episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation in 1991 and 1993, respectively. He also played the powerful Magistrate Augris on Star Trek: Voyager from 1995.

Alan Scarfe also achieved television acclaim for his portrayal of National Security Agency agent Robert "Bob" Talmadge. For three seasons (1998-2001), he commanded the screen as director of Backstep Project operations on all 66 episodes of the science fiction series Seven Days.

Scarfe's screen career thrived throughout the 1990s. He memorably battled twins Alex and Chad Wagner (both portrayed by Jean-Claude Van Damme) as the villainous Nigel Griffith in the action film Double Impact (1991).

Beyond his film and television roles, Alan Scarfe's passion for acting extended to the stage. He dreamed of becoming a classically trained actor, and according to a 2007 interview with Gilles Nuytens for The SciFi World website, he aspired to follow in the footsteps of acting legends like Burbage, Garrick, Kean, Booth, and Olivier.

Beyond acting, Alan was also a writer, penning three novels including The Revelation of Jack the Ripper.