RIP, Peter O'Toole...

[J.T.B.]

I can't remember the first time I saw Peter O'Toole in a movie, but the first time I really remember noting him by name was the mini-series Masada in 1981. He owned very scene. My Favorite Year became a movie I can enjoy over and over. I also love Lord Jim and The Lion in Winter. But the 1989 70mm re-release of Lawrence of Arabia was one of the most important movie-going experiences of my life.

A real larger-than-life star, which, to me at least, seems pretty rare these days.

Perhaps the greatest talk show entrance ever:

[yt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K561m7Nq7kk[/yt]

 

[CaptMurdock]

One of his performances that was my favorite is from My Favorite Year ... "I'm not an actor, I'm a movie star!"

Rest in peace.

"Usually it take me two or three takes to warm up, but tonight I predict I'll get it on the first take."

"We always get it on the first take. We have to. This is live television."

"Live? What does 'live' mean?"

"It means that at the moment you're leaping and cavorting on that stage, twenty million people are watching it on the television."

"Wait a minute! You mean it all just goes into the camera lens and spills out into people's houses?? Why didn't anybody have the goodness to explain this to me before?!"

Truly a great performance, and a great movie.

 

[gblews]

One of his performances that was my favorite is from My Favorite Year ... "I'm not an actor, I'm a movie star!"

Rest in peace.

"Usually it take me two or three takes to warm up, but tonight I predict I'll get it on the first take."

"We always get it on the first take. We have to. This is live television."

"Live? What does 'live' mean?"

"It means that at the moment you're leaping and cavorting on that stage, twenty million people are watching it on the television."

"Wait a minute! You mean it all just goes into the camera lens and spills out into people's houses?? Why didn't anybody have the goodness to explain this to me before?!"

So great. I was hooked from O'Tool's first scene, where he rolls over in bed in the morning and stares blankly at the woman lying next to him. He lets out the tiniest of wheezes that gets louder and louder until it leads into a wild fit of hacking, flim filled coughing. Some said he was merely playing himself but if so, he did it brilliantly.

RIP.

 

[Bisz]

Great video...speaks for itself. As do their mellifluous voices...

Nice find. Both fantastic actors who are missed. Rest in Peace.

 

[Greg Cox]

Note: TCM has scheduled a Peter O'Toole marathon on December 29th. They're showing Lawrence of Arabia, Goodbye Mr. Chips, My Favorite Year, and a previously-recorded interview with O'Toole.

 

[Gary Mitchell]

^ Thanks Greg.

 

[auntiehill]

I saw that interview--if it's the one from the film festival TCM had a year or so ago; he was obviously in frail health at the time but had some remarkable stories to tell.

He was such a treasure. *sigh*

 

[Random_Spock]

Great video...speaks for itself. As do their mellifluous voices...

[yt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOU3gDncP4k[/yt]

Nice video.

RIP Peter O' Toole. You'll be missed .

 

[Keith1701]

Well, phooey. Another great one is gone.

He was a great actor. R.I.P. My prayers go out to the family.

 

[Keith1701]

He will be missed!!!!

 

[Shaka Zulu]

Given his propensity for reckless living, that he made it to 81 is remarkable in a way; I suspect a lot of commentators in the 1970s wouldn't have bet on that. He recovered from the 70s burnout, though never quite reaching the heights of the 1960s; but given how high those were, perhaps that was inevitable.

RIP.

Out of curiosity, how reckless was his living?