Peter O'Toole, 'Lawrence of Arabia' star, dies at 81

Peter O’Toole, ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ star, dies at 81

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Peter O’Toole, left, portrays England’s King Henry II, costarring with Richard Burton, who plays Thomas Becket, in “Becket,” released in 1964. O’Toole was nominated for his second Oscar for the role. (Paramount Pictures / Getty Images)

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Peter O’Toole and Romy Schneider on the set of “What’s New Pussycat?” written by Woody Allen in 1965. (Gamma-Keystone / Getty Images)

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Queen Elizaabeth, the Queen Mother of England, speaks to actor Peter O’Toole at the opening of “Lord Jim” at the Odeon Leicester Square in London. O’Toole had the title role in the Richard Brooks film based on Joseph Conrad’s novel. (Gamma-Keystone / Getty Images)

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Daliah Lavi and Peter O’Toole in a scene from “Lord Jim.” (Columbia Pictures / Getty Images)

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Audrey Hepburn and Peter O’Toole star in “How to Steal a Million,” a romantic comedy directed by William Wyler. (20th Century Fox / Getty Images)

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Peter O’Toole, Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton take a break during the filming of “Under Milk Wood,” about a day in the life of a Welsh fishing village. (Keith Hamshere / Getty Images)

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Peter O’Toole during an interview at his London home in December 1980, the year he starred in Richard Ross’ “The Stunt Man.” (Dave Caulkin / Associated Press)

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Actors Peter O’Toole, Amanda Plummer and John Mills, the cast of the Plymouth Theatre production of George Bernard Shaw’s “Pygmalion,” celebrate after the show at Sardi’s restaurant in New York on April 27, 1987. (Mario Suriani / Associated Press)

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Peter O’Toole and daughter Kate attend New York Mayor Ed Koch’s Salute to Theater Week at Gracie Mansion. (Ron Galella / WireImage)

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Actress Meryl Streep presents Peter O’Toole with an honorary Oscar at the 75th Academy Awards on March 23, 2003, in Los Angeles. It was the only Oscar O’Toole collected in his prestigious career, despite eight nominations. (Kevork Djansezian / Associated Press)

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Peter O’Toole arrives at the 79th Academy Awards Nominees Luncheon in Beverly Hills. He was nominated for leading actor for his performance in “Venus.” (Bryan Chan / Los Angeles Times)

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Jodie Whittaker, left, Peter O’Toole and Helen Mirren attend the Miramax Films pre-Oscar party for the “The Queen” and “Venus” on Feb. 22, 2007, in West Hollywood. (Evan Agostini / Getty Images)

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Actor Peter O’Toole with his daughter, Kate, during his hand- and footprint ceremony on Hollywood Boulevard on April 30, 2011. (Jason Redmond / Associated Press)

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Peter O’Toole arrives with his daughter, Kate, at the TCM Classic film Festival opening night and world premiere of the newly restored 1951 film “An American in Paris” on April 28, 2011, in Hollywood. (Gabriel Bouys / AFP / Getty Images)

By Steve Chawkins

Dec. 15, 2013 11:03 AM PT

Actor Peter O’Toole, the swashbuckling star who received eight Academy Award nominations over a distinguished film career, died Saturday in London, his agent, Steve Kenis, said in an email to The Times.

O’Toole was 81.

A cause of death was not immediately disclosed.

O’Toole’s career spanned more than 50 years, reaching worldwide fame in the 1962 David Lean epic “Lawrence of Arabia.”

He received his final Oscar nomination for lead actor in 2007 for “Venus,” a bittersweet British drama about an elderly London actor.

Michael D. Higgins, the president of Ireland, lauded the Irish-born O’Toole Sunday: “He was unsurpassed for the grace he brought to every performance on and off the stage,” Higgins said.

Click here for full obituary.

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