One of the greatest actors of all time, Peter O’Toole’s star-making performance in the 1962 David Lean epic “Lawrence of Arabia” was recently rated by Premiere Magazine as the best in history. O’Toole has been nominated for the Best Actor in a Leading Role Oscar an amazing seven times, and in 2003 received the Academy’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
The Irish-born O’Toole began his professional acting career at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, where he studied from 1952-1954. He soon became a staple in the marvelous productions of the Bristol Old Vic Theatre, and after a few minor screen roles was cast in “Lawrence of Arabia” after Albert Finney turned down the role to do the award-winning “Tom Jones.” O’Toole’s performance in the film is truly historic (excuse the pun) – few actors since have matched the intensity of feeling he brought to the role of famed adventurer T.E. Lawrence. O’Toole received his first Oscar nomination for the epic film, but lost out to an equally exceptional performance – Gregory Peck in “To Kill A Mockingbird.”
Well-known for his comedic abilities, O’Toole has given some terrifically funny performances in films like “The Ruling Class,” “Goodbye, Mr. Chips,” and the black comedy “The Stunt Man.” Other notable dramatic roles for O’Toole include “Becket,” “The Lion in Winter,” and the grossly controversial “Caligula,” which co-starred Malcolm McDowell and Helen Mirren. More recently, O’Toole has appeared in the rousing Brad Pitt-Eric Bana beef-fest “Troy,” a touching but little-seen update of “Lassie,” and 2006’s “Venus,” for which O’Toole has received a bevy of award nominations, including a Golden Globe nod.