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Peter O'Toole

Acting Born Aug 2, 1932 Died Dec 14, 2013 Leeds, West Riding of Yorkshire, England 140 credits

Biography

Peter O'Toole was a British-Irish actor born on August 2, 1932, in Leeds, West Riding of Yorkshire, England. He attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and began working in the theatre, gaining recognition as a Shakespearean actor. O'Toole made his West End debut in The Long and the Short and the Tall in 1959 and played the title role in Hamlet in the National Theatre's first production in 1963. He made his film debut in 1959 and achieved international recognition for his role in Lawrence of Arabia, released in 1962. O'Toole is known for his work in the theatre and film, with a career spanning multiple decades and numerous credits.

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Career

Career overview

Peter O'Toole began his acting career in the theatre, gaining recognition as a Shakespearean actor at the Bristol Old Vic and with the English Stage Company. He made his West End debut in The Long and the Short and the Tall in 1959. O'Toole also played the title role in Hamlet in the National Theatre's first production in 1963.

O'Toole made his film debut in 1959 and achieved international recognition for his role in Lawrence of Arabia, released in 1962. This film brought him his first nomination for an award, although the specific award is not specified.

O'Toole's acting career spanned many years, with a total of 139 known credits. He continued to work in the film and theatre industries, establishing himself as a talented and accomplished actor.

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Frequent co-stars

Career timeline

TFI Unplugged
Henry Fonda for PresidentLove Left the Masquerade: Peter Medak's Cinema of Pretenders
Peter O'Toole: Along the Sky Road to Aqaba
Hannibal Hopkins & Sir Anthony
Omar Sharif: Citizen of the World
Hangover in Death Valley
Diamond Cartel
Katherine of Alexandria
Talking Pictures
Outlaws - For Greater GloryEldoradoPeter O'Toole: Live from the TCM Classic Film Festival
Eager to Die
Iron RoadIron RoadBehind The Scenes of Caligula
Dean SpanleyChristmas Cottage
RatatouilleThe TudorsStardust
One Night with the KingVenus
CasanovaMystic IndiaLassie
Troy
The Ellen DeGeneres ShowHitler: The Rise of EvilBright Young ThingsAugustus: The First EmperorAugustus: The First Emperor
Global HeresyThe Final Curtain
The Making of Lawrence of Arabia
HellraisersThe Sinister Saga of Making The Stunt Man
The Early ShowJoan of ArcJeffrey Bernard Is UnwellJeffrey Bernard Is Unwell · DirectorJeffrey Bernard Is Unwell · Producer
Coming HomePhantomsComing Home
The ViewFairyTale: A True Story
The Daily ShowGulliver's TravelsAn Evening with Spike Milligan
Die Harald Schmidt ShowHeavy Weather
The Rainbow Thief
Late Show with David LettermanThe Seventh Coin
The Tonight Show with Jay LenoCivviesRebecca's Daughters
Isabelle EberhardtKing Ralph

Full filmography

  • TFI Unplugged (2026) as Self (Archive Footage)
  • Henry Fonda for President (2025) as Self (archive footage)
  • Love Left the Masquerade: Peter Medak's Cinema of Pretenders (2025) as Archive
  • Peter O'Toole: Along the Sky Road to Aqaba (2022) as Self (archive footage)
  • Hannibal Hopkins & Sir Anthony (2021) as Self (archive footage)
  • Omar Sharif: Citizen of the World (2020) as Self - Actor (archive footage)
  • Hangover in Death Valley (2018) as Narrator (voice)
  • Diamond Cartel (2015) as Tugboat
  • Katherine of Alexandria (2014) as Gallus
  • Talking Pictures (2013) as Self (archive footage)
  • Outlaws - For Greater Glory (2012) as Father Christopher
  • Eldorado (2012) as Narrator (voice)
  • Peter O'Toole: Live from the TCM Classic Film Festival (2012) as Self
  • Eager to Die (2010) as Lord Pelican
  • Iron Road (2009) as Lionel Relic
  • Iron Road (2009) as Relic
  • Behind The Scenes of Caligula (2009)
  • Dean Spanley (2008) as Fisk Senior
  • Christmas Cottage (2008) as Glen
  • Ratatouille (2007) as Anton Ego (voice)
  • The Tudors (2007) as Pope Paul III
  • Stardust (2007) as King
  • One Night with the King (2006) as Samuel, the Prophet
  • Venus (2006) as Maurice
  • Casanova (2005) as Giacomo Casanova
  • Mystic India (2005) as Narrador
  • Lassie (2005) as The Duke
  • Troy (2004) as Priam
  • The Ellen DeGeneres Show (2003) as Self
  • Hitler: The Rise of Evil (2003) as President Paul von Hindenburg
  • Bright Young Things (2003) as Colonel Blount
  • Augustus: The First Emperor (2003) as Augustus Caesar
  • Augustus: The First Emperor (2003) as Augustus Caesar
  • Global Heresy (2002) as Lord Foxley
  • The Final Curtain (2002) as JJ Curtis
  • The Making of Lawrence of Arabia (2001) as Self (archive footage)
  • Hellraisers (2000) as Self
  • The Sinister Saga of Making The Stunt Man (2000)
  • The Early Show (1999) as Self
  • Joan of Arc (1999) as Bishop Cauchon
  • Jeffrey Bernard Is Unwell (1999) as Jeffrey Bernard
  • Jeffrey Bernard Is Unwell (1999) Director
  • Jeffrey Bernard Is Unwell (1999) Producer
  • Molokai: The Story of Father Damien (1999) as William Williamson
  • The Manor (1999) as Mr. Ravenscroft
  • Coming Home (1998) as Colonel Edgar Carey-Lewis
  • Phantoms (1998) as Dr. Timothy Flyte
  • Coming Home (1998) as Colonel Edgar Carey-Lewis
  • The View (1997) as Self
  • FairyTale: A True Story (1997) as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
  • The Daily Show (1996) as Self
  • Gulliver's Travels (1996) as King of Lilliput
  • An Evening with Spike Milligan (1996) as Himself
  • Die Harald Schmidt Show (1995) as Self
  • Heavy Weather (1995) as Clarence, Earl of Emsworth
  • The Rainbow Thief (1994) as Prince Meleagre
  • Late Show with David Letterman (1993) as Self - Guest
  • The Seventh Coin (1993) as Emil Saber
  • The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (1992) as Self
  • Civvies (1992) as Barry Newman
  • Rebecca's Daughters (1992) as Lord Sarn
  • Isabelle Eberhardt (1991) as Maj. Lyautey
  • King Ralph (1991) as Sir Cedric Charles Willingham
  • Wings of Fame (1990) as Cesar Valentin
  • The Nutcracker Prince (1990) as Pantaloon (voice)
  • Crossing to Freedom (1990) as John Sidney Howard
  • On a Moonlit Night (1989) as Prof. Yan McShoul
  • The Dark Angel (1989) as Silas Ruthyn
  • High Spirits (1988) as Peter Plunkett
  • Bernardo Bertolucci and the Making of 'The Last Emperor' (1988) as Self
  • The Last Emperor (1987) as Reginald Johnston (R.J.)
  • The Dark Angel (1987) as Uncle Silas Ruthyn
  • Club Paradise (1986) as Anthony Cloyden Hayes
  • North and South (1985) as Sam Trump
  • The Ray Bradbury Theater (1985) as John Hampton
  • Creator (1985) as Dr. Harry Wolper
  • Supergirl: The Making of the Movie (1985) as Self / Zaltar
  • Supergirl (1984) as Zaltar
  • Kim (1984) as Lama
  • Sherlock Holmes and the Valley of Fear (1983) as Sherlock Holmes (voice)
  • Svengali (1983) as Anton Bosnyak
  • Sherlock Holmes and the Baskerville Curse (1983) as Sherlock Holmes (voice)
  • Sherlock Holmes and a Study in Scarlet (1983) as Sherlock Holmes (voice)
  • Pygmalion (1983) as Professor Henry Higgins
  • Is There One Who Understands Me? The World of James Joyce (1983)
  • Sherlock Holmes and the Sign of Four (1983) as Sherlock Holmes (voice)
  • Wogan (1982) as Self
  • My Favorite Year (1982) as Alan Swann
  • Man and Superman (1982) as Jack Tanner
  • Wetten, dass..? (1981) as Self
  • Masada (1981) as General Cornelius Flavius Silva
  • The Stunt Man (1980) as Eli Cross
  • Strumpet City (1980) as Jim Larkin
  • Caligula (1979) as Tiberius
  • Zulu Dawn (1979) as Lord Chelmsford
  • Power Play (1978) as Colonel Zeller
  • Foxtrot (1976) as Liviu
  • Rogue Male (1976) as Sir Robert Thorndyke
  • Man Friday (1975) as Robinson Crusoe
  • Rosebud (1975) as Larry Martin
  • The Public's Right to Know (1974) as Self
  • The American Film Institute Salute to ... (1973) as Self
  • Under Milk Wood (1972) as Captain Tom Cat
  • The Ruling Class (1972) as Jack 14th Earl of Gurney
  • Man of La Mancha (1972) as Don Quixote De La Mancha / Miguel de Cervantes / Alonso Quijana
  • Murphy's War (1971) as Murphy
  • Brotherly Love (1970) as Sir Charles Ferguson
  • Wind, Sand and Star: The Making of a Classic (1970)
  • Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1969) as Arthur Chipping
  • Stiletto (1969) as Man at the Premiere (uncredited)
  • The Dick Cavett Show (1968) as Self - Guest
  • The Lion in Winter (1968) as Henry II
  • Great Catherine (1968) as Capt. Charles Edstaston
  • Casino Royale (1967) as Scottish Piper (uncredited)
  • The Night of the Generals (1967) as General Tanz
  • Present Laughter (1967) as Garry Essendine
  • How to Steal a Million (1966) as Simon Dermott
  • The Bible: In the Beginning... (1966) as The Three Angels
  • Lord Jim (1965) as Lord Jim
  • Lord Jim (1965) Associate Producer
  • The Sandpiper (1965) as (voice) (uncredited)
  • What's New Pussycat? (1965) as Michael James
  • The Party's Over (1965) Producer
  • Becket (1964) as King Henry II of England
  • Wind Sand and Star (1963)
  • The Greatest All-Star Advertial of All Time (1963) as Self
  • The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962) as Self
  • The Merv Griffin Show (1962) as Self
  • Lawrence of Arabia (1962) as T.E. Lawrence
  • Operation Snatch (1962) Producer
  • The Savage Innocents (1960) as First Trooper
  • The Day They Robbed the Bank of England (1960) as Capt. Monty Fitch
  • Kidnapped (1960) as Robin MacGregor
  • The Castiglioni Brothers (1958) as Mario
  • Armchair Theatre (1956) as Paddy
  • The Adventures of the Scarlet Pimpernel (1955) as First Soldier
  • The Oscars (1953) as Self
  • Today (1952) as Self
  • Sunday Night Theatre (1950) as Rene Latour
  • The Ed Sullivan Show (1948) as Self