Contents
Peter O'Toole
Playing T. E. Lawrence in Lawrence of Arabia.
Becket · The Lion in Winter
- Born
- 2 August 1932
- Birthplace
- Leeds, United Kingdom
- Died
- 14 December 2013
More people
Peter O'Toole
Peter O’Toole was an English-Irish actor whose theatrical intensity carried into historical epics, comedy and television.
Early life
Yorkshire childhood
Grew up in Leeds, the son of a nurse and a bookmaker.
Before drama school
Worked for the Yorkshire Evening Post and served in the Royal Navy.
Career
- 1952–1954
Formal training
Studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.
- 1956–1958
Bristol Old Vic
Built his reputation in a Shakespearean repertory company.
- 1962
International breakthrough
David Lean cast him as Lawrence, establishing his screen career.
- 2006–2012
Late-career work
Earned another Oscar nomination for Venus before announcing retirement in 2012.
Selected work
Becket
Played Henry II opposite Richard Burton.
The Lion in Winter
Returned to Henry II, this time opposite Katharine Hepburn.
Joan of Arc
His portrayal of Bishop Cauchon won a supporting-actor Emmy.
Beyond work
Irish connections
Held an Irish passport and maintained a home in County Galway.
Memoirs
Published two volumes of Loitering with Intent about childhood and training.
Sources & photo credit
Wikipedia biography and references ↗Further biography and career ↗Photo: unknown. Public domain · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
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