Britain’s The Guardian is reporting that veteran actor Peter O’Toole, who first shot to fame as the star of David Lean’s 1962 film classic Lawrence of Arabia, has passed away at the age of 81 years old at the Wellington hospital in London.
Lawrence of Arabia wasn’t O’Toole’s first film role but it continues to be his most famous one over 50 years later although his long prolific career consisted of over 60 films including classics such as The Lion in Winter, Goodbye, Mr. Chips, and My Favorite Year. Although he never won an Oscar despite eight nominations, he was honored with an Academy Honorary Award in 2003 for his lifetime achievement in film and had many other awards on his mantle, including four Golden Globes and an Emmy.
In recent years, O’Toole has not been nearly as present on screen, his last great turn being his performance in 2007’s Venus, for which he received his 8th Oscar nomination. He also provided the voice of food critic Anton Ego in the popular Oscar-winning Pixar’s Ratatouille and played Pope Paul III on “The Tudors.”
Last year, O’Toole announced that he was retiring from acting, although his last two films, Mary and Katherine of Alexandria, have yet to be released.
O’Toole is survived by two daughters, Pat and Kate, as well as a son, Lorcan.
(Photo source: WENN.com)
