“I will not be a common man. I will stir the smooth sands of monotony. I do not crave security. I wish to hazard my soul to opportunity.”
via Peter O’Toole, Star of ‘Lawrence of Arabia,’ Is Dead at 81 – NYTimes.com.
Peter O’Toole, Star of ‘Lawrence of Arabia,’ Is Dead at 81 – NYTimes.com
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Now there was an actor. The dark humor of his role in “The Ruling Class,” is made it a movie I’ve never forgotten, and most recently (as far as I know), his King Priam in “Troy” was one of the best supporting roles in that movie. Here’s to an artistic life well lived!
I just put “The Ruling Class” in my queue – can’t believe I haven’t seen it!
What a guy! From Pussycat to My Favorite Year, I loved him over the top.
I am so very sad. He was one of my first crushes and a magical actor. And those eyes!
Oh yeah, he had that effect…
goodnight sweet prince.
And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest!
one Hopes they have movies up there – imagine – *sighs* – the opportunity to work with Capra!
I hope it’s the younger, less curmudgeonly, version of Capra.
oh yes.
they’ll have given him a Hollywood Heavenly character make-over up there done by Ms Hedda Hopper who is their resident shrink now.
What an actor. An icon of cinema, for sure. May he rest in peace.
A raucous and wonderful life.
I had a huge crush on him after seeing “Lawrence of Arabia” on the big screen.
Those piercing blue eyes!
http://youtu.be/a3tuBFHuYV4
Oh Thanks! Love the Soundtrack, too!
The soundtrack sweeps you away, I love it too!
He defied expectations and lived as long as he did . . . heartbreak.
(Please know how much I will always be in love with Peter O’Toole.)
Tough old bird!
Sheer charisma.He set the screen alight.Yes and what piercing blue eyes indeed.
A character on and off screen, wonderful.
🙁 Sigh, no more ‘awrence.
I think he will be sorely missed.
Excellent post about a very talented actor.
🙂
Dearest V
For once The Dandy has a Hollywood Star tale…
The late Mr O’Toole used to frequent, in his older, more sober, days a rather fine hostelry on London’s Strand.
In addition to his other passions he was a noted rugby fan, and was, as we discovered as a young coves, apt to become a most hospitable host and charming conversationalist when the game was going his team’s way.
The first afternoon of one season of Six Nations Internationals we bumped into him by chance and rolled home many hours later, victims of his desire to vicariously live the big time still.
Arrangements were made to meet again for the next match. We sceptically thought such a thing impossible, lightning never striking twice, but kept our date as, much to our surprise did the great actor.
Six afternoons that year we spend in his company. He was charming, generous, devoid of anything except slightest hint of a slyly self-effacing and truly earnt arrogance. We wanted for nothing in his presence least alone his attention and anecdotes in equal measure.
After that year his health declined markedly and we never saw him again.
What remains though is the remembrance of what we quite correctly call ‘a true gent’ and ‘a great talent’.
Yours ever
The Perfumed Dandy
That, is gorgeous… and here’s one reported in the Daily Mail:
Although he has never talked about their relationship, he now admits he worshipped Hepburn.
‘I loved her, no question, in the proper platonic sense but, yes, I loved her.
‘We were filming one day and I kept her waiting on set because I was still in my caravan, playing cards.
‘She stormed in and shouted: “You are a real nut and I’ve met some nuts in my day.” And then she hit me.
‘A couple of hours later, I went to see her and gave her a present to say I was sorry for keeping her waiting.
‘She said: “Don’t worry, pig. I only hit the people I love.”‘
Dearest V
Two nuts in a shell that pair.
Very special.
Yours ever
The Perfumed Dandy