Tributes pour in as legendary Lawrence of Arabia star Peter O'Toole dies

The acclaimed leading man died at the Wellington hospital in London following a long illness; he was 81.

16:00 16 December 2013

Actor Peter O’Toole, who shot to fame in David Lean’s 1962 Lawrence of Arabia and who received a total of eight Oscar nominations has died at the age of 81 in a hospital in London following a long illness.

As tributes pour to honour the late actor, his daughter Kate said: "His family are very appreciative and completely overwhelmed by the outpouring of real love and affection being expressed towards him, and to us, during this unhappy time. Thank you all, from the bottom of our hearts."

Among the first ones to pay tribute include the president of Ireland, Michael Higgins. He said: “Ireland, and the world, has lost one of the giants of film and theatre."
"In a long list of leading roles on stage and in film, Peter brought an extraordinary standard to bear as an actor.”

Prime Minister David Cameron also paid tribute saying that the actor’s work in his breakout film Lawrence of Arabia was “stunning”.

After turning it down when it was originally offered to him citing that he was “still in the game” to “win it out right”, the veteran star begrudgingly accepted a lifetime achievement Oscar last decade.

O'Toole is survived by his two daughters, Pat and Kat, from his marriage to actress Sian Phillips and his son, Lorcan, by Karen Brown.