Peter O'Toole 1932-2013

Peter O'Toole, the charismatic actor for whom stardom exploded with his performance in "Lawrence of Arabia," and who was nominated eight times for an Academy Award, died Saturday, Dec. 14, 2013, after a long illness.  He was 81.

By CBSNews.com senior producer David Morgan

Peter O'Toole

Seamus Peter O'Toole was born Aug. 2, 1932, the son of an Irish bookie. After a youthful stint in newspaper work in Yorkshire and serving in the military, O'Toole received a scholarship after auditioning for the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.

He later went to the Bristol Old Vic, receiving acclaim for his "Hamlet" in 1955, and a performance in 1959 at London's Royal Court Theatre in "The Long and The Short and The Tall."

Though he had parts in a few films in the early 1960s, including "Kidnapped" and "The Night They Robbed the Bank of England," O'Toole's career changed forever after he was selected to star as T.E. Lawrence in David Lean's epic, "Lawrence of Arabia."

"Lawrence of Arabia"

Peter O'Toole and Anthony Quinn in "Lawrence of Arabia." O'Toole's sensitive portrayal of the complex Lawrence earned him his first Academy Award nomination.

"Lawrence of Arabia"

Peter O'Toole and Omar Sharif in "Lawrence of Arabia."

"Lawrence of Arabia"

In David Lean's sumptuous 70mm production, Peter O'Toole was a striking figure in the vast desert blankness -- tall, handsome, with brilliant blue eyes that burned in the sun. 

"Lawrence of Arabia"

T.E. Lawrence (Peter O'Toole) leads an attack on a railroad train in David Lean's epic, "Lawrence of Arabia." The film won seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture. 

"Becket"

Peter O'Toole as King Henry II and Richard Burton as Thomas Becket in the historical drama, "Becket" (1964). The film was nominated for 12 Oscars, including a Best Actor nods for both O'Toole and Burton.

"Lord Jim"

Peter O'Toole as a merchant seaman (with Daliah Lavi) in the 1965 screen adaptation of Joseph Conrad's "Lord Jim."

"What's New, Pussycat?"

Peter O'Toole played a hopelessly un-monogamous man in the comedy "What's New, Pussycat?" (1965), costarring Romy Schneider and Woody Allen. 

"What's New, Pussycat?"

Peter O'Toole is entangled for Ursula Andress, for one, in the comedy "What's New, Pussycat?"

"How to Steal a Million"

Peter O'Toole and Audrey Hepburn share a rare moment not involved in art forgery in the 1966 comedy, "How to Steal a Million." 

"The Bible: In the Beginning"

Peter O'Toole made an angelic appearance in the religious epic, "The Bible: In the Beginning" (1966).  

"The Night of the Generals"

In "The Night of the Generals" (1967), Peter O'Toole played a German officer caught up in an investigation into the murder of a female agent in Nazi-occupied Poland. 

"The Lion in Winter"

In the 1968 film of James Goldman's play, "The Lion in Winter," Peter O'Toole returned to the character of King Henry II, engaged tooth-and-nail with his Queen, Eleanor of Aquitaine (Katharine Hepburn). 

"Man of La Mancha"

Peter O'Toole as Don Quixote in the film version of the Broadway musical, "Man of La Mancha." 

"The Ruling Class"

"The Stunt Man"

In the 1980 comedy "The Stunt Man," Peter O'Toole played a scheming film director who, it seems, would stop at nothing to get the shot. 

"My Favorite Year"

Peter O'Toole starred as Allan Swann, an aging Hollywood movie star roped into making a live appearance in a 1950s TV variety show, in "My Favorite Year" (1982). Mark Linn-Baker is the young, starstruck assistant whose job is to keep Swann off the bottle.  

"My Favorite Year"

Peter O'Toole as Allan Swann, in a clip from the star's swashbuckling Hollywood past, in "My Favorite Year." 

"Supergirl"

Peter O'Toole as Zaltar, and Helen Slater as Kara Zor-El, in the 1984 comic book fantasy, "Supergirl." 

"The Last Emperor"

Peter O'Toole played Reginald Johnston, the Scottish tutor of China's Emperor Puyi, in Bernardo Bertolucci's epic, "The Last Emperor." 

"The Last Emperor"

Peter O'Toole as the tutor Reginald Johnston, with the young Puyi (Tijger Tsou) in Bernardo Bertolucci's "The Last Emperor." 

"Phantoms"

Peter O'Toole and Rose McGowan in the sci-fi/horror film, "Phantoms" (1998). Written by Dean Koontz, it told of a Colorado community wiped out by something evil. 

Academy Award

"Troy"

Peter O'Toole as Priam, the King of Troy, in Wolfgang Petersen's 2004 epic, "Troy."

"Venus"

Vanessa Redgrave and Peter O'Toole in "Venus" (2006). O'Toole received an eighth Best Actor Oscar nomination playing an aging actor who takes a surprising interest in a girl a couple of generations younger (Jodie Whittaker). 

"The Tudors"

Peter O'Toole played Pope Paul III in the cable TV series, "The Tudors," starring Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Natalie Dormer. 

"Lawrence of Arabia"

Peter O'Toole as T.E. Lawrence.

By CBSNews.com senior producer David Morgan