He had a career as a stage director on Broadway and Off-Broadway, but began as an actor of note, performing in Jean Genet's The Blacks and an acclaimed production of the premiere of The Death of Bessie Smith by Edward Albee.

Scott was chosen by Elia Kazan to be an original member of the Repertory Theater of Lincoln Center, where he performed in Arthur Miller's After the Fall and Incident at Vichy, and was cast by José Quintero in Thomas Middleton's Changeling and Eugene O'Neill's Marco Millions.

Scott's production received nine National Theater Awards from the NAACP, including best director, and was filmed for public television's Great Performances.

He was extremely well-respected and beloved by his acting students there, who remember his unique and impressive training well due to his intense, insightful, caring personality.

In February 2006, Scott directed his final play, Yellowman, an examination of black-on-black prejudice, at the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, where in 1973, he began a two-year appointment as artistic director.