Peter O'Toole
Stage and screen actor Peter O'Toole has become famous for often playing characters who are otherworldy visionaries. The recipient of seven Oscar nominations, he won a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2003, at the 75th Academy Awards ceremony.

Born in Connemara, Ireland, August 2, 1932, he was raised in Leeds, England, the son of an Irish father and Scottish mother. He attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts and spent several years performing onstage at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre. He made his film debut in 1959 in The Savage Innocents, but leaped to stardom 3 years later when he was chosen by David Lean to star in Lawrence of Arabia. He was nominated for an Oscar for his portrayal of T.E. Lawrence in the film. His other Oscar-nominated films are Becket (1964), The Lion in Winter (1968), Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1969), The Ruling Class (1972), The Stunt Man (1980), and My Favorite Year (1982). O'Toole published a memoir, Loitering with Intent, in 1992.

Among the other films O'Toole has starred in are: How to Steal a Million (1966), The Night of the Generals (1967), Man of La Mancha (1972), The Last Emperor (1987), King Ralph (1991), and Troy (2004). He has also appeared in several TV shows, including the mini-series Masada (1981), Svengali (1983), and Crossing to Freedom (1990). He appeared on Broadway in Pygmalion in 1987, and in 2000, he was awarded the Laurence Olivier Theatre Award for Outstanding Achievement for his theatrical career

O'Toole's 20-year marriage to actress Sian Phillips ended in divorce. They have two daughters. O'Toole also has a son with Karen Brown.




WordNet

Note: click on a word meaning below to see its connections and related words.
The noun Peter O'Toole has one meaning:

Meaning #1: British actor (born in Ireland in 1932)
Synonyms: O'Toole, Peter Seamus O'Toole


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Wikipedia

Peter O'Toole
Peter O'Toole (born August 2, 1932) is a famous Irish film actor.




O'Toole's major break came when he was chosen to play T.E. Lawrence in David Lean's Lawrence of Arabia (1962), after Albert Finney turned down the role. His performance introduced him to US audiences and earned him a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actor. His subsequent film choices have ranged from superb to mediocre (with a couple of clinkers tossed in for good measure).

Severe illness related to his heavy drinking almost ended his life in the late 1970s, but he recovered and returned to work, although he found it harder to get in films, resulting in more work for television and occasional stage roles.

After Lawrence of Arabia, O'Toole received six more nominations for the Best Actor Oscar but never won the award. In 2003, the Academy bestowed upon him the Academy Honorary Award for his lifetime achievements in film. O'Toole initially balked about accepting and wrote the academy a letter saying he was "still in the game" and would like more time to "win the lovely bugger outright." In the end, O'Toole relented and agreed to appear at the ceremony and pick up his Oscar.

O'Toole also has the distinction of being the only actor ever nominated for Academy Awards for playing the same character in two different films; he played King Henry II in both 1964's Becket and 1968's The Lion in Winter. He is tied with Becket costar Richard Burton for most nominations for an acting Oscar (7) without winning.

In 1984, he was nominated for a Golden Raspberry Award as "Worst Actor" for his role in Supergirl.

In 2005 he took a rare television role as the older version of legendary 18th century Italian adventurer Giacomo Casanova in the BBC drama serial Casanova. O'Toole's role was mainly to frame the drama, telling the story of his life to serving maid Edith (Rose Byrne). The younger Casanova seen for most of the action was played by David Tennant, who had to wear contact lenses to match his brown eyes to O'Toole's blue.


Selected Filmography

With Petula Clark in Goodbye, Mr. Chips, his first and only attempt at a musicalKidnapped (1960)
Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
Becket (1964)
Lord Jim (1965)
What's New, Pussycat? (1965)
How to Steal a Million (1966)
The Bible (1967)
Night of the Generals (1967)
Great Catherine (1968)
The Lion in Winter (1968)
Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1969)
Brotherly Love (1969)
Murphy's War (1971)
The Ruling Class (1972)
Man of La Mancha (1972)
Under Milk Wood (1973)
Rosebud (1975)
Power Play (1978)
Zulu Dawn (1979)
Caligula (1979)
The Stunt Man (1980)
My Favorite Year (1982)
The Last Emperor (1987)
High Spirits (1988)
Wings of Fame (1990)
King Ralph (1991)
The Seventh Coin (1992)
FairyTale: A True Story (1997)
Phantoms (1998)
Hitler: Rise of Evil (2003)
Troy (2004)
Casanova (2005, television)

Stage Appearances
Jeffrey Bernard is Unwell (1989)