Peter O'Toole his famous roles were a true symbol of cinema that lasted for generations. With eight Academy Award nominations, O'Toole, who made his film debut in 1960 and worked continuously until his death in 2013, held the record for the most Oscar nods without ever winning. Some of the classics Lawrence of Arabia to family-friendly favorites like lending his voice to Pixar RatatouilleO'Toole left an undeniable mark on Hollywood and film history.
Although O'Toole described himself as “the biggest loser” Looking back on his career as he failed to receive an Academy Award, he delivered several Oscar-worthy performances that cemented his reputation as one of the all-time greats. Equally comfortable in comedic and dramatic roles, O'Toole imbued all of her characters with a strong humanity as her effortless charm elevated every role she played.. With a Shakespearean sensibility that lends charm to his famous performances, O'Toole deserves to be remembered not only with the greatest actors of his generation, but of all time.
10 Caligula (1979)
Peter O'Toole as Tiberius
Caligula It was among the most controversial films of the 1970s, as its overt sexual content led to calls for obscenity with the film's financier. Penthouse even going to court to defend the film (via The Washington Post.) The release of the film caused a huge uproar and was banned in several countries due to its strong sexual content. A dramatization of the rise and fall of the Roman emperor Caligula (Malcolm McDowell), it was a film that did not shy away from sexual excesses and heavy political tensions during his reign.
Caligula
it has since become a cult classic.
Having already achieved the status of a Hollywood icon, Having Peter O'Toole as the Roman emperor Tiberius helped add an air of legitimacy to this film. many are considered a mix of historical fiction and straight-up pornography. Caligula has since become a cult classic and 178 minutes Ultimate Cut of the film, released in 2021 and containing never-before-seen footage, was well received. As the most controversial and graphic film in O'Toole's filmography, Caligula it has since been hailed as a pioneering release that pushed the boundaries of what could be depicted in mainstream cinema.
9 What's new, Pussycat? (1965)
Peter O'Toole as Michael James
It was an interesting early release in his career, though screenwriter and co-star Woody Allen went on to produce more acclaimed work. What's new, Pussycat? This raunchy comedy paired Allen with such famous performers as Peter Sellers and Peter O'Toole and The iconic theme song written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David and performed by Tom Jones. As the story of a playboy who decides to meet and marry the love of his life, this outrageous comedy explored the neurosis of womanizing and the awkward confusion of young, sexually active, attractive people in typical Allen fashion.
O'Toole played Michael, a young playboy who calls every woman he meets.cat” to avoid having to remember their names. While there are plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, and it's nice to see O'Toole in this kind of lighthearted fun, What's new, Pussycat? he lacked the power of his best work. There's a lot to enjoy here, but no Lawrence of Arabiaeven Annie Hall for that.
8 The Ruling Class (1972)
Peter O'Toole as Jack Gurney, 14th Earl of Gurney
Ruling Class It was a truly wild and underrated cult classic that stood out as a unique, funny and dark reflection of the British class system. With Peter O'Toole, the 14th Grunie, a paranoid schizophrenic who believes he is Jesus Christ, Ruling Class was a commercial failure when it was first released, but has since become a cult classic. A powerful satirist of aristocracy, O'Toole perfectly characterized the chaos of a refined nobleman who inherited his father's estate.
In a shameless bit of theatrics, O'Toole played his mentally unstable character while donning a luscious blonde wig and portraying himself as the reincarnation of God himself. As Gurney's family tries to steal his inheritance from under him, themes around the fickle nature of family loyalty begin to emerge. As a satirical commentary on people being forced into inappropriate roles, Ruling Class It deserves to be recognized as one of O'Toole's best films.
7 Goodbye Mr. Chips (1969)
Peter O'Toole as Arthur “Chips” Chipping
Peter O'Toole gave a musically elegant and enigmatic performance Goodbye, Mr. Chips opposite 1960s singing sensation Petula Clark. As Arthur “Chips” Chipping, O'Toole played a Latin and Greek teacher at Brookfield School, a public school just outside of London. As a faithful molder of young minds, Mr. Chips has gone through ups and downs after his colleague and future wife tragically died, leaving him heartbroken by the wasted young lives he witnessed killed in the war.
O'Toole also displayed his musical talent as he sang many beautiful songs.
with Great chemistry between O'Toole and Clarke, Goodbye, Mr. Chips It was a poignant school story that allowed the actor to ditch the usual flare for a more grounded and sensitive performance. O'Toole wrote many beautiful songs, including “Where Did My Childhood Go?” With a 100% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes, Goodbye, Mr. Chips It was a real gem among O'Toole's impressive body of work.
6 Venus (2006)
Peter O'Toole as Maurice Russell
Peter O'Toole earned his eighth and final Academy Award nomination for his outstanding late-career performance. Venus. Like Future's feature debut Doctor Who star Jodie Whittaker, this heartwarming drama saw O'Toole play an older actor whose life is upended by a plucky teenager played by Whittaker. With great chemistry between the pair, this humane and tender exploitation of adulthood at the opposite ends of life felt heartwarming and poignant.
while Venus was a sensitive and life-affirming story, but also a dark comedy about an older man finding himself smitten with a woman too young for him. If the script wasn't so well written and the performances didn't feel so real and compelling, the concept might feel out of place. as One of O'Toole's most notable roles in his career, Venus Worth checking out for those only familiar with his films as a younger man.
5 My Favorite Year (1982)
Peter O'Toole as Alan Swann
Peter O'Toole's often underappreciated comedic talents were best exemplified by his Oscar nomination. My Favorite Year. Like Alan Swann, the alcoholic drunken acting star, O'Toole captured the hilarious unpredictability of a career drinker. Mark Linn-Baker stars as a young comedy writer tasked with keeping Swann awake until her appearance on a live variety show. My Favorite Year continued to laugh from beginning to end.
My Favorite Year It was set in 1954 and was a heartfelt ode to the early days of television and the often crazy and random challenges of live broadcasting. O'Toole was utterly believable as a washed-up ex-star whose best days are behind him. There was both humor and sadness in his need to be constantly drunk. With a unique sense of humor, high performance and a fast-paced script, My Favorite Year It was the perfect vehicle for O'Toole's talents.
4 Beckett (1964)
Peter O'Toole as Henry II of England
Beckett It was the first two films of the 1960s in which Peter O'Toole was nominated for an Oscar for his portrayal of King Henry II of England. This historical drama cataloged the tumultuous relationship between the King and his friend, the bishop Thomas Becket, and was based on the 1959 play. Becket, or the Glory of God By Jean Anouilh. While this visually stunning story lost the Academy Award for best picture My Fair LadyIt won the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay.
carried forward by Two tour-de-force performances from O'Toole and Richard Burton as the title character, Beckett it has all the makings of a true classic and deserves more attention from modern audiences. As a story of cooperation, honor, and God, Becket was a slow-moving drama that built toward an epic conclusion. It was a testament to acting legends O'Toole and Burton that they shared the screen with such dignity, that no one mammoth performer outshone the other.
3 Ratatouille (2007)
Peter O'Toole as Anton Ego
Peter O'Toole's career has been a wide and varied journey in modern cinema, even including a memorable performance in a Pixar film. Ratatouille. O'Toole portrayed Anton Ego, a cynical and unpleasant food critic whose opinions on struggling chef Alfredo Linguini's restaurant could make or break his faltering business. However, foodie Remy is a rat whose cooking ignites Anton's taste buds as he nostalgically remembers his mother's cooking.
O'Toole's raw and proper voice was the perfect accompaniment to lean, angular features and tough, uncompromising opinions. Ratatouille It stands among Pixar's best films and has received widespread critical acclaim, boasting a narrative that is equally enjoyable for both adult and child audiences. The presence of O'Toole in the voice cast added air and prestige to this family-friendly film and Ratatouille It took home the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.
2 The Lion in Winter (1968)
Peter O'Toole as Henry II of England
Just four years after playing King Henry II, he won widespread acclaim BeckettPeter O'Toole once again took on the role of a 12th-century king in an Oscar-nominated performance. Lion in winter. This time the narrative focused on King Henry's attempt to establish a line of succession during a family gathering at Christmas 1183. However, his efforts lead to personal and political upheaval as conflict arises between him and his estranged wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine (Katharine Hepburn). , their three surviving sons, the King of France and Alais, the king's half-sister and mistress.
Lion in winter
It also drew attention as Anthony Hopkins' debut feature film.
Lion in winter It was an intense historical drama based on a play by James Goldman. while O'Toole unfortunately lost the Oscar to Cliff Robertson CharlieHepburn won Best Actress and became the first three-time Academy Award winner in that category. In general, Lion in winter What made this a smart, melodramatic and engaging monarchy film was the tense historical and political drama, elevated by O'Toole and Hepburn's stunning lead roles.
1 Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
Peter O'Toole as TE Lawrence
When I think of Peter O'Toole's career, one movie comes to mind more than anything else, and that was it Lawrence of Arabia. As a director Great work by David Lean, Lawrence of Arabia It was an epic exploration of what real British army officer TE Lawrence experienced in the Ottoman provinces of Hejaz and Greater Syria during the First World War. With stunning visuals and a compelling portrayal of an almost legendary figure, Lawrence of Arabia not only at the pinnacle of O'Toole's work, but among the greatest films ever made.
A masterpiece of acting, direction, editing, cinematography and production design, Lawrence of Arabia has earned iconic status as one of the purest examples of what filmmaking can achieve. It was a thematically rich story of the British empire in a time of great change, as Lawrence grappled with the violence of war and his fractured identity as a native Englishman forging new alliances with Arab desert tribes. More than any other performance, Lawrence of Arabia demonstrated why Peter O'Toole is considered a symbol of cinema.
Source: Washington Post