Born August 2, 1932 in Connemara, County Galway, Ireland and raised in Leeds, England, Peter OโToole was the son of a Scottish nurse and an Irish bookie. Originally intent on becoming a journalist, his interest turned to acting and by 17 he was already on stage. He made his screen debut in a minor role in the 1960 version of Kidnapped, but had major supporting roles in the same yearโs The Day They Robbed the Bank of England and The Savage Innocents. It was his fourth film, however, that made him a star at the age of 32 when David Lean cast him in the title role of 1962โs Lawrence of Arabia for which he received the first of his eight Oscar nominations. He lost to Gregory Peck in To Kill a Mockingbird.
His next role as Henry II in 1964โs Becket brought him his second Oscar nomination. He lost to Rex Harrison in My Fair Lady.
The title role in the 1965 film of Joseph Conradโs 1900 novel, Lord Jim and a dangerous Nazi in 1967โs The Night of the Generals were major hits as was the 1966 comedy How to Steal a Million opposite Audrey Hepburn, but it was his reprise of Henry II opposite Katharine Hepburn in 1968โs The Lion in Winter that would earn him his third Oscar nomination. He lost to Cliff Robertson in Charly.
Not known as a singer, OโToole nevertheless came off extremely well talk-singing his way through the 1969 musical version of Goodbye, Mr. Chips for which he received his fourth Oscar nomination. He lost to John Wayne in True Grit.
OโToole received excellent notices for 1971โs Murphyโs War, faltered a bit with 1972โs peculiar Under Milk Wood but came roaring back with the same yearโs deft comedy, The Ruling Class. He was expected to top that with the year-end release of Man of La Mancha but when that film was almost universally panned, Oscar fell back on The Ruling Class for which he received his fifth Oscar nomination. He lost to Marlon Brando in The Godfather.
Spending the remainder of the 1970s in forgettable projects including the infamous 1979 version of Caligula, OโToole emerged once again at the top of his game as the eccentric director in 1980โs The Stunt Man for which he was nominated yet again for an Oscar. He lost to Robert De Niro in Raging Bull.
He was nominated for an Emmy for his performance in the epic 1981 mini-series Masala and returned to the big screen as a beloved matinee idol turned drunk in the comedy, My Favorite Year earning his seventh Oscar nomination. He lost to Ben Kingsley in Gandhi.
OโToole spent most of the 1980s in TV roles and the occasional film, the highlight being 1987โs Best Picture Oscar winner, The Last Emperor in which he played a supporting role.
The 1990s provided more of the same and when it looked like his career was permanently on the downside, the Academy granted him an Honorary Oscar at the 2002 awards. OโToole at first considered it an insult as he was still a working actor, but he was talked into attending the ceremony and graciously accepting his award.
OโToole had one more shot at a competitive Oscar when he was nominated for the dry 2006 comedy, Venus. He lost to Forest Whitaker in The Last King of Scotland, breaking his own record as the performer most nominated for an Oscar without winning. Now at eight nominations and no wins, heโs in good company. Richard Burton, Deborah Kerr and Thelma Ritter are tied for second place with six nominations each.
Still in demand, but in less and less more prestigious films, OโToole has decided to put an end to his still glorious career. He announced earlier this week that he is retiring from show business. The actor, who will be 80 on August 2nd, said in a statement on July 10th that โhis career on stage and screen fulfilled him emotionally and financially and put him in the company of fine people.
ESSENTIAL FILMS
LAWRENCE OF ARABIA (1962), directed by David Lean
OโTooleโs portrayal of the flamboyant British military figure who led the Arabs against the Turks in World War I established the screen persona that would keep him busy for most of the next fifty years.
Leanโs film is visually and emotionally stunning and would be a classic no matter who had the lead role, but OโTooleโs enigmatic performance takes it beyond the scope of a mere blockbuster and into the realm of the unforgettable.
BECKET (1964), directed by Peter Glenville
OโTooleโs portrayal of the young Henry II opposite Richard Burtonโs Thomas Becket was a tour-de-force for both Oscar nominated actors but the general consensus is that OโTooleโs wary king has the edge over Burtonโs reluctant saint.
OโToole is constantly fascinating whether sparring with Burton, his enemies, the church, his court or his family including Martita Hunt as his mother, Empress Matilda and Pamela Brown as his wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine.
THE LION IN WINTER (1968), directed by Anthony Harvey
OโToole reprised his role of Henry II opposite a formable Katharine Hepburn as Eleanor of Aquitaine. The 36 year-old actor went toe to toe with the 61 year-old legend as the battling royals and both earned Oscar nominations for their efforts โ OโToole, his third and Hepburn, her eleventh and third win.
The two stars dominate the film, but supporting players Anthony Hopkins, John Castle, Nigel Terry, Timothy Dalton, Jane Merrow and Nigel Stock all provide strong supporting characterizations.
GOODBYE, MR. CHIPS (1969), directed by Herbert Ross
Robert Donatโs great Oscar winning performance in the 1939 version of James Hiltonโs classic is almost impossible to equal, but OโToole manages to come close in this extended version updated by several decades to include events that occurred during World War II, receiving his fourth Oscar nomination for his efforts.
OโToole has to do something that Donat didnโt โ sing โ inasmuch as this is a musical. Petula Clark, better known for her singing than her acting is merely competent reprising Greer Garsonโs role as Mrs. Chipping. OโToole then wife Sian Phillips is splendid as a musical comedy star.
THE RULING CLASS (1972), directed by Peter Medak
OโTooleโs comic genius was never given freer reign than in this wittily observant comedy that pokes fun at Britainโs upper classes and political institutions, earning his him fifth Oscar nomination.
OโTooleโs 14th Earl of Gurney is a raving lunatic who believes he is Jesus Christ because as he says, “I found that whenever I prayed to God, I was talking to myself.” Supported by some of Britainโs finest character actors including Alistair Sim, Coral Browne, Harry Andrews and Arthur Lowe. OโToole cannily manages to upstage them all instead of the other way around.
PETER OโTOOLE AND OSCAR
- Lawrence of Arabia (1962) Nominated โ Best Actor
- Becket (1964) Nominated โ Best Actor
- The Lion in Winter (1968) Nominated โ Best Actor
- Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1969) Nominated โ Best Actor
- The Ruling Class (1972) Nominated โ Best Actor
- The Stunt Man (1980) Nominated โ Best Actor
- My Favorite Year (1962) Nominated โ Best Actor
- Honorary Award (2002) โ Oscar – For his remarkable talents which have provided cinema history with some of its most memorable characters..
- Venus (2006) Nominated โ Best Actor
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