Born in Harpenden, England, Scarfe emigrated to Canada with his family as his father pursued an academic career. He studied a the Lord Byng Secondary School in Vancouver and the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, and began a lifelong career as a performer and director.On stage, Scarfe acted and directed across Europe, Canada, and the United States, with roles ranging from King Lear and Othello to Cyrano de Bergerac, Doctor Faustus, and Uncle Vanya.
He worked as the artistic director at the Stratford Festival from 1976 to 1977 and Liverpool’s Everyman Theatre from 1967 to 1968. In addition to acting, Scarfe was an author who penned novels includingScarfe was married to Barbara March from 1979 until her death in 2019. He was also preceded in death by his parents and his brother Brian. Scarfe is survived by his daughter, Tosia Scarfe, and her husband, Austin; son Jonathan Scarfe; brother Colin; and grandchildren Kai and Hunter Scarfe.