Peter
O'Toole

Biography

Known as one of cinema’s most recognisable leading men, Irish-born Peter O'Toole was raised in Leeds, England, the son of a bookie. From a young age he developed an interest in journalism and started his career as a newspaper copy boy. Despite making it as a reporter, by the age of 17 O’Toole had found a new interest, theatre.

He attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, where he studied alongside Albert Finney, Alan Bates and Richard Harris. He worked on-stage at the Bristol Old Vic for several years and then made his transition to film starring in Kidnapped in 1960. However in 1962 O'Toole became an international star when he was chosen by David Lean to play T.E. Lawrence in Lean's masterpiece Lawrence of Arabia.

His success allowed him to gain roles in artistically rich films as well as more mainstream projects. He received Academy Award nominations for seven of his performances however to this day has not won the Oscar. His career almost came to a dramatic halt in the 1970’s when health problems due to his alcoholism and later stomach cancer put a serious strain on the amount of work he could do. Despite giving up alcohol and recovering from his cancer after major surgery, O’Toole began to have trouble finding meaningful roles. He still had several successes including his performances in The Stunt Man (1980) and My Favourite Year (1982), but with his looks beginning to fade he was no longer being considered for leading man roles and was often consigned to character roles.

Despite all this he still remains one of the greatest actors of his generation and even in his twilight years continued to act in several big budget films such as Troy (2004), Venus (2006), Stardust (2007) as well as appearing in hit television show The Tudors (2008). He has two daughters, Pat and Kate O'Toole, from his marriage to actress Siân Phillips as well as a son, Lorcan O'Toole, by model Karen Brown.