English: Screen shot from “Lawrence of Arabia” (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Famed English actor Peter O’Toole has passed away in London after a lengthy illness.  Mr. O’Toole was 81.

Mr. O’Toole was most famous for his portrayal of T.E. Lawrence in the movie Lawrence of Arabia.  He would win a BAFTA Award for his performance in the movie, as well as first Academy Award nomination.

Mr. O’Toole would receive an honorary Oscar in 2003.  He would receive a total of eight Academy  Award nominations for Best Actor – 1962 (Lawrence of Arabia), 1964 (Becket), 1968 (The Lion in Winter), 1969 (Goodbye, Mr. Chips), 1972 (The Ruling Class), 1980 (The Stunt Man), 1982 (My Favorite Year), and 2006 (Venus).  He would never win an award, making him the most nominated actor never to win.

Mr. O’Toole would win an Emmy award for Outstanding Supporting Actor – Miniseries or a Movie for the 1999 movie, Joan of Arc.   He would also win two Golden Globe awards for Best Actor (Drama): in 1964 for Becket, and 1958 for The Lion in Winter.  He also received a Golden Globe for Best Actor – Musical or Comedy for Goodbye, Mr. Chips in 1969.

Mr. O’Toole was married once, to Siân Phillips from 1959 to 1979.  He is survived by his three children Kate, Patricia, and Lorcan.

He was a classically trained actor who started out in theatre before moving to movies.  His appearance in Lawrence of Arabia has been ranked #1 in the 100 greatest performances of all time by Premiere Magazine.

Stage roles included Cornwall (King Lear), Peter Shirley (Major Barbara), Henry Higgins (Pygmalion), Lysander (A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream), Vladimir (Waiting for Godot), Hamlet, Shylock (The Merchant of Venice), and Macbeth.

Movie roles include: T. E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia), Henry II (Becket, and The Lion in Winter), Arthur Chipping (Goodbye, Mr. Chips), Don Quixote (Man of La Mancha), Lord Chelmsford (Zulu Dawn), Eli Cross (The Stunt Man), General Cornelius Flavius Silva (Masada), Alan Swann (My Favorite Year), Reginald Johnston (The Last Emperor), Maurice (Venus), and many others.

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• Actor Peter O’Toole is dead at 81 (pbs.org)
• Actor Peter O’Toole dies aged 81 (bbc.co.uk)