Legendary actor Peter O'Toole has passed away at the age of 81. The world "legend" gets thrown around a lot, but in this case it fits O'Toole perfectly. A star of the stage and big screen, O'Toole made his big breakthrough in 1962's Lawrence of Arabia, considered by many to be one of the greatest films ever made. While he'll always be remembered most for his performance in that film, he earned eight Oscar nominations throughout his career, never coming away with a victory. O'Toole remained active, and when the Academy tried to give him an honorary Oscar in 2003 he flatly declined it at first, saying that he would win one on his own. Even though he eventually accepted it, I admired him greatly for that, especially when he was nominated yet again in 2006 for Venus, which along with the biting satire The Ruling Class remain my favorite O'Toole performances ever. His refusal to be put out to pasture harkening back to his defiant, hard-partying early days
O'Toole retired from acting last year, leaving behind a legacy that is undeniable. We send our condolences to O'Toole's family and friends for their loss.
Flashback: Peter O'Toole Finally Receives an Oscar by EntertainmentTonight
