Peter O’Toole, arguably one of the finest actors without an Academy Award and a legendary personality throughout life, has died at age 81. From The Guardian:
The acclaimed leading man who overcame stomach cancer in the 1970s passed away at the Wellington hospital in London following a long illness.
His daughter Kate O’Toole said: “His family are very appreciative and completely overwhelmed by the outpouring of real love and affection being expressed towards him, and to us, during this unhappy time. Thank you all, from the bottom of our hearts.”
O’Toole announced last year he was stopping acting saying: “I bid the profession a dry-eyed and profoundly grateful farewell.”
He said his career on stage and screen fulfilled him emotionally and financially, bringing him together “with fine people, good companions with whom I’ve shared the inevitable lot of all actors: flops and hits…”
He received an honorary Oscar in 2003 after receiving eight nominations and no wins – an unassailed record. He considered turning it down and asking the Academy to hold off until he was 80, on the basis that “I am still in the game and might win the bugger outright.”
He finally accepted, saying: “Always a bridesmaid, never a bride, my foot”.
O’Toole holds the record for the most Oscar nominations without a win, being nominated 8-times for roles ranging from T.E. Lawrence in David Lean’s Lawrence of Arabia and most recently in the 2006 film Venus.
He received an honorary Oscar in 2003 after receiving eight nominations and no wins – an unassailed record. He considered turning it down and asking the Academy to hold off until he was 80, on the basis that “I am still in the game and might win the bugger outright.”
He finally accepted, saying: “Always a bridesmaid, never a bride, my foot”. (via)
The legendary actor was often connected to fellow thespians Richard Burton, Oliver Reed and Richard Harris. Their antics were notably collected in the book Hellraisers by Robert Sellers which I recommend. From The Guardian:
Early in his career O’Toole became emblematic of a new breed of hard-drinking Hollywood hellraiser.
“We heralded the ’60s,” he once said. “Me, [Richard] Burton, Richard Harris; we did in public what everyone else did in private then, and does for show now. We drank in public, we knew about pot.”
Rest in peace and good thoughts to the family.
(Lead image via gettyimages)