Saying Goodbye to Actor Peter O’Toole

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It’s with a heavy heart that we say farewell to actor Peter O’Toole, who passed away yesterday at the age of 81. The beloved Irish/English actor was famous for his roles in films that have become indispensable to the world of cinema, such as Lawrence of Arabia (1962), The Lion in winter (1968) and Goodbye Mr. Chips (1969)

O’Toole himself was never sure of his birthdate, but believed he was born in Galway, Ireland, in August of 1932. The son of a Scottish nurse and an Irish footballer, he grew up far removed the booming Hollywood film industry he would soon become a staple of.

After a few years spent as an amateur journalist for The Yorkshire Post, O’Toole was shipped out for national service by the Royal Navy. Upon returning from service, he immediately found his way to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, where he studied amongst other soon-to-be cinema giants like Albert Finney. In later interviews, O’Toole assured journalists that he’d grown up with an almost inherent desire to perform. It was as if he was born to be a poet or actor, he said – to work in any métier that could allow him the opportunity to express his stories and the stories of others. “It’s my job,” he explained, “it’s what I do, it’s what I’m on earth to do and it’s who I am.”

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“It’s my job, it’s what I do, it’s what I’m on earth to do and it’s who I am.”

–Peter O’Toole on acting

Though he received accolades for his dramatic work in Lawrence of Arabia, O’Toole was equally loved in his cheekier roles. He was at the top of his Hollywood game when he starred alongside Audrey Hepburn as a cavalier, romantacizing thief in William Wyler’s How to Steal a Million (1966).

Though he battled cancer related health issues since the 70s, O’Toole never lost his unique mix of a feisty but inviting personality. He passed away Saturday in London, at Wellington Hospital.