X

Join or Sign In

Sign in to customize your TV listings

Continue with Facebook Continue with email

By joining TV Guide, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy.

Peter O'Toole Biography

Birth Name:Peter Seamus O'Toole

Birth Place:Connemara, County Galway, Ireland

Profession Actor, Soundtrack, Producer

Fast Facts

  • Enjoyed a resurgence in the 1980s after receiving two Academy Award nominations for his work in "The Stunt Man" and "My Favorite Year․"
  • Turned down knighthood in 1987, citing differing political views as the reason he declined
  • Passed away at 81 years old after battling a long illness throughout much of 2013
  • After his first birthday, his family spent the next five years traveling across England touring major racecourse towns, as his father was a racecourse bookmaker
  • Quote: "Booze is the most outrageous of drugs, which is why I chose it․"
  • Quote: "Good parts make good actors․"
  • Gained worldwide acclaim after landing the lead role in "Lawrence of Arabia․"
  • Made his stage debut at the age of 17, after which he spent two years as a radioman in the Royal Navy
  • Attended a strict Catholic school as a child
  • Suffered declining health in the 1970s, which doctors named his drinking as the chief cause, but ultimately found out that cancer was to blame and had a large portion of his stomach and pancreas removed as a result
  • Personally does not know his original birth date, as he has two birth certificates with differing dates, one from Ireland and the other from England

Awards

  • 1963Oscar-Best Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
  • 1963BAFTA Film Award-Best British Actor: winner
  • 1963Golden Globe-Most Promising Newcomer - Male: winner
  • 1963Golden Globe-Best Actor - Drama: nominated
  • 1963Golden Laurel-Top Male Dramatic Performance: nominated
  • 1964David-Best Foreign Actor (Migliore Attore Straniero): winner
  • 1965Oscar-Best Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
  • 1965BAFTA Film Award-Best British Actor: nominated
  • 1965Golden Globe-Best Actor - Drama: winner
  • 1965Golden Laurel-Dramatic Performance, Male: nominated
  • 1965Sant Jordi-Best Performance in a Foreign Film: winner
  • 1967David-Best Foreign Actor (Migliore Attore Straniero): winner
  • 1968NYFCC Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 1969Oscar-Best Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
  • 1969Golden Globe-Best Actor - Drama: winner
  • 1970Oscar-Best Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
  • 1970David-Best Foreign Actor (Migliore Attore Straniero): winner
  • 1970Golden Globe-Best Actor - Comedy or Musical: winner
  • 1970NBR Award-Best Actor: winner
  • 1970NSFC Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 1972NBR Award-Best Actor: winner
  • 1973Oscar-Best Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
  • 1973Golden Globe-Best Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical: nominated
  • 1973NSFC Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 1980NYFCC Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 1981Oscar-Best Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
  • 1981Golden Globe-Best Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama: nominated
  • 1981NSFC Award-Best Actor: winner
  • 1981Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or a Special: nominated
  • 1982Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
  • 1982LAFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 1982NYFCC Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 1983Oscar-Best Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
  • 1983Golden Globe-Best Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical: nominated
  • 1983NSFC Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 1984Sant Jordi-Best Foreign Actor (Mejor Actor Extranjero): winner
  • 1985Razzie Award-Worst Actor: nominated
  • 1987ACE-Actor in a Dramatic Series: winner
  • 1987Razzie Award-Worst Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 1988David-Best Supporting Actor (Migliore Attore non Protagonista): winner
  • 1989BAFTA Film Award-Best Actor in a Supporting Role: nominated
  • 1999Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie: winner
  • 2000Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
  • 2002Best Actor-: winner
  • 2003DVD Premiere Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 2003Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie: nominated
  • 2004IFTA Award-Best Supporting Actor in Film/TV: winner
  • 2006British Independent Film Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 2006CFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 2006DFWFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 2006Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical: nominated
  • 2007Movies for Grownups Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 2007Oscar-Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
  • 2007Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
  • 2007BAFTA Film Award-Best Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
  • 2007Critics Choice Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 2007Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama: nominated
  • 2007NSFC Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 2007OFTA Film Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 2007OFCS Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 2008Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Guest Actor: nominated
  • 2009IFTA Award-Best Actor in a Supporting Role in Television: winner
  • 2009IFTA Award-Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Film: nominated
  • 2009ALFS Award-British Supporting Actor of the Year: nominated
  • 2009Golden Nymph-Outstanding Actor - Drama Series: nominated
  • 2009Film Award-Best Supporting Actor in a Feature Film: winner