Peter O'Toole, who plays "Lawrence of Arabia", died

Peter O'Toole, who plays "Lawrence of 

Arabia", died

Peter O'Toole, l'interprète magnétique de T. E. Lawrence dans le film de David Neal, "Lawrence d'Arabie". | AP/ANONYMOUS

Man of the theater and cinema, the Irishman Peter O'Toole died at the age of 81. Unforgettable interpreter of Lawrence of Arabia, Peter O'Toole died "peacefully", Saturday, Dec. 14, in a London hospital, following a long illness. "It was unique in the best sense and a giant in his field," responded his agent in the press release announcing his death Sunday. "Ireland and the world lost one of the giants of cinema and theater," lamented the Irish President Michael Higgins. British Prime Minister David Cameron has also paid tribute to the actor: "His performance in my favorite movie, Lawrence of Arabia, was amazing"

The daughter of actor, actress Kate O'Toole, said the family had received many testimonies of "love and affection" and that would be organized soon "a ceremony filled with songs and joy as he wished. "

The name and the magnetic gaze of Peter O'Toole remain forever associated with the role of Lawrence of Arabia. In the film of David Lean (1962), the actor plays Colonel and British writer T. E. Lawrence, utopian who dreamed of unifying the Arabian Peninsula. Epic of more than 3 hours, Lawrence of Arabia depicts the hopes and disappointments of this cartographer installed in Cairo, the British had sent servicessecrets among Arab tribes to foment their revolt against the Ottoman Empire.

Carried by the epic music composed by Maurice Jarre Lawrence of Arabia marked the history of adventure cinema. Long , Peter O'Toole boasted of being " the only actor in the world to hold the saddle on a camel galloping ."

Read or reread our archive on the restoration of the film Lawrence of Arabia.

HONORARY OSCAR IN 2003

Son of a bookmaker born in Connemara but high in the north of England , Peter O'Toole was first started a career as a journalist auYorkshire Evening News at the age of 14 years and radio of the Royal Navy . At 17, he discovered the theater in London, never to leave the scene or camera . The theater is in the Shakespearean repertoire Peter O'Toole excels and built its reputation . Cinema, the international success of Lawrence of Arabia has opened the doors to an international career. Peter O'Toole played in a considerable number of films, including What's New Pussycat? ( Clive Donner , 1965) , How to steal a million dollars? (William Wyler, 1966) or The Last Emperor ( Bernardo Bertulocci , 1987). More recently, he played the role of Pope Paul III in the television series The Tudors (2008).

Nominated eight times for an Oscar in the category of best actor between 1962 and 2006, the Irishman has never won the statuette. But he finally got in 2003 an honorary Oscar for lifetime achievement. It was marked other awards, including a Bafta for Lawrence of Arabia in 1962, the Golden Globe for Best Actor for Becket in 1964 and an Emmy Award for Joan of Arc in 1999.