'Lawrence of Arabia' star Peter O'Toole dead at 81

‘Lawrence of Arabia’ star Peter O’Toole dead at 81

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Peter O’Toole, left, portrays England’s King Henry II, costarring with Richard Burton, who plays Thomas Becket, in “Becket,” released in 1964. O’Toole was nominated for his second Oscar for the role. (Paramount Pictures / Getty Images)

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Peter O’Toole and Romy Schneider on the set of “What’s New Pussycat?” written by Woody Allen in 1965. (Gamma-Keystone / Getty Images)

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Queen Elizaabeth, the Queen Mother of England, speaks to actor Peter O’Toole at the opening of “Lord Jim” at the Odeon Leicester Square in London. O’Toole had the title role in the Richard Brooks film based on Joseph Conrad’s novel. (Gamma-Keystone / Getty Images)

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Daliah Lavi and Peter O’Toole in a scene from “Lord Jim.” (Columbia Pictures / Getty Images)

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Audrey Hepburn and Peter O’Toole star in “How to Steal a Million,” a romantic comedy directed by William Wyler. (20th Century Fox / Getty Images)

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Peter O’Toole, Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton take a break during the filming of “Under Milk Wood,” about a day in the life of a Welsh fishing village. (Keith Hamshere / Getty Images)

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Peter O’Toole during an interview at his London home in December 1980, the year he starred in Richard Ross’ “The Stunt Man.” (Dave Caulkin / Associated Press)

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Actors Peter O’Toole, Amanda Plummer and John Mills, the cast of the Plymouth Theatre production of George Bernard Shaw’s “Pygmalion,” celebrate after the show at Sardi’s restaurant in New York on April 27, 1987. (Mario Suriani / Associated Press)

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Peter O’Toole and daughter Kate attend New York Mayor Ed Koch’s Salute to Theater Week at Gracie Mansion. (Ron Galella / WireImage)

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Actress Meryl Streep presents Peter O’Toole with an honorary Oscar at the 75th Academy Awards on March 23, 2003, in Los Angeles. It was the only Oscar O’Toole collected in his prestigious career, despite eight nominations. (Kevork Djansezian / Associated Press)

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Peter O’Toole arrives at the 79th Academy Awards Nominees Luncheon in Beverly Hills. He was nominated for leading actor for his performance in “Venus.” (Bryan Chan / Los Angeles Times)

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Jodie Whittaker, left, Peter O’Toole and Helen Mirren attend the Miramax Films pre-Oscar party for the “The Queen” and “Venus” on Feb. 22, 2007, in West Hollywood. (Evan Agostini / Getty Images)

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Actor Peter O’Toole with his daughter, Kate, during his hand- and footprint ceremony on Hollywood Boulevard on April 30, 2011. (Jason Redmond / Associated Press)

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Peter O’Toole arrives with his daughter, Kate, at the TCM Classic film Festival opening night and world premiere of the newly restored 1951 film “An American in Paris” on April 28, 2011, in Hollywood. (Gabriel Bouys / AFP / Getty Images)

By From Associated Press

Dec. 15, 2013 10:36 AM PT

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Peter O’Toole, the charismatic actor who achieved instant stardom as Lawrence of Arabia and was nominated eight times for an Academy Award, has died. He was 81.

O’Toole’s agent Steve Kenis says the actor died Saturday at a hospital following a long illness.

O’Toole began his acting career as one of the most exciting young talents on the British stage. His 1955 “Hamlet,” at the Bristol Old Vic, was critically acclaimed.

He got his first Oscar nomination for 1962’s “Lawrence of Arabia,” his last for “Venus” in 2006. With that he set the record for most nominations without ever winning, though he had accepted an honorary Oscar in 2003.

A reformed — but unrepentant — hell-raiser, O’Toole long suffered from ill health. Kenis announced the death in an email Sunday.

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