O'Toole, Peter (Seamus)

Irish-born British actor. He made his name in the title role of Lawrence of Arabia (1962), and then starred in such films as Becket (1964) and The Lion in Winter (1968). He moved effortlessly from comic to dramatic roles – from the philanderer of What's New Pussycat? (1965) to his King Henry II of The Lion in Winter. He was also a prolific stage actor from the late 1950s.

Subsequent appearances include Goodbye Mr Chips (1969), The Ruling Class (1972), The Stuntman (1980), My Favourite Year (1982), and Venus (2006). He was nominated eight times for the Academy Award for Best Actor and he received an honorary Academy Award for lifetime achievement in film in 2003.