Peter O'Toole

by Robert Sellers

  The wake was anything but a sombre occasion, remembers Martin Bell, who gate-crashed the event. ‘It was celebratory.’ And a proper old Irish wake with people playing the fiddle and having a few jars and sharing stories and memories. At one point O’Toole’s devoted cat Sydney jumped into the open coffin and sat on his master’s chest for the whole evening as people passed by paying their last respects.

  By contrast the funeral service at Golders Green crematorium was low key, with just family and close friends in attendance, including Siân Phillips, to the surprise of many. In rehearsals for a play when the news of O’Toole’s death was announced, Siân felt she had no alternative but to go. ‘It was a big shock when he died,’ she told the press. ‘I somehow thought he would be there for ever.’

  Lorcan and his mother Karen Somerville also attended, as did Kate and Patricia. Addressing the congregation with a eulogy, Kate said: ‘The world has lost a great actor, but I’m not concerned with that. I simply have lost a great dad and the best friend I ever had. Daddy made me laugh more than anyone else I have ever met in my life. He was always there for me in times of crisis and frequently danced with me in times of joy and celebration.’ When Noël Coward’s ‘Someday I’ll Find You’ was played at the end of the service, Kate and Patricia waltzed down the aisle together to the delight of the other mourners, in much the same way O’Toole himself had celebrated the life of his mother by waltzing in the chapel at her funeral.

  In accordance with his last wish, O’Toole’s ashes were scattered on Eyrephort Beach near the home in Clifden where he spent some of the happiest times of his life.

  O’Toole was once asked what he might like written on his headstone. He didn’t have to think long. It arrived early in his life, in the sixties when he owned an old leather jacket of which he was inordinately fond. It was covered in Guinness, blood, you name it. One day Siân had had enough and sent it to the cleaners. It came back and pinned on it was a large notice: ‘Sycamore Cleaners. It distresses us to return work which is not perfect.’ O’Toole thought that was ideal for his final message. While in the end he never had a headstone, you can’t deny it stands as a fitting epitaph.

  BIBLIOGRAPHY

  Peter O’Toole: A Biography by Michael Freedland (W. H. Allen, 1983)

  Peter O’Toole by Nicholas Wapshott (New English Library, 1983)

  A Divided Life by Bryan Forbes (William Heinemann, 1992)

  What’s It All About? by Michael Caine (Random House, 1992)

  Loitering with Intent by Peter O’Toole (Pan Macmillan, 1993)

  The Making of David Lean’s Lawrence of Arabia by Adrian Turner (Dragon’s World, 1994)

  Power Play: The Life and Times of Peter Hall by Stephan Fay (Hodder & Stoughton, 1995)

  Denholm Elliott: Quest For Love by Susan Elliott with Barry Turner (Headline, 1995)

  Loitering with Intent: The Apprentice by Peter O’Toole (Pan Macmillan, 1996)

  Making an Exhibition of Myself: The Autobiography of Peter Hall (Oberon Books, 2000)

  Public Places: The Autobiography by Siân Phillips (Hodder and Stoughton, 2001)

  Alec Guinness: The Authorised Biography by Piers Paul Read (Simon and Schuster, 2003)

  Dirk Bogarde: The Authorised Biography by John Coldstream (Orion, 2004)

  Hal Wallis: Producer to the Stars by Bernard F. Dick (University Press of Kentucky, 2004)

  And the Stars Spoke Back by Frawley Becker (Scarecrow Press, 2004)

  Acting My Life by Ian Holm (Bantam Press, 2004)

  Ned Sherrin: The Autobiography (Sphere, 2006)

  Beyond The Epic: The Life and Films of David Lean by Gene D. Phillips (University Press of Kentucky, 2006)

  Huston, We Have a Problem: A Kaleidoscope of Filmmaking Memories by Oswald Morris (Rowman & Littlefield Education, 2006)

  Otto Preminger: The Man Who Would be King by Foster Hirsch (Knopf, 2007)

  David Lean: Interviews edited by Steven Organ (University Press of Mississippi, 2009)

  Who’s Going to Look at You?: My Journey from ‘no Hope Street’ to Coronation Street by Mark Eden (Matador, 2010)

  As Much As I Can: Peter Glenville’s Very British Life by Carol King (Peter Glenville Foundation, 2010)

  Sir John Gielgud: A Life in Letters edited by Richard Mangan (Arcade Publishing, 2011)

  The Richard Burton Diaries edited by Chris Williams (Yale University Press, 2012)

  Down Under Milk Wood by Andrew Sinclair (Timon Films, 2014)

  NOTES

  PROLOGUE

  Can you believe it author’s interview with Steve Railsback.

  It’s a bore Artsbeat New York Times blog, 6 June 2011.

  So in the end author’s interview with Johnnie Planco.

  He had the whole of the Oscar people author’s interview with Planco.

  ONE

  He used his Irishness author’s interview with Billy Foyle.

  a friend’s memory author’s interview with Michael Craig.

  He insisted on being Irish author’s interview with Michael Craig.

  I thought as a boy Marian Christy, Arts&Entertainment, September 1993.

  Jump, boy Peter O’Toole’s memoirs.

  which is probably now a housing estate author’s interview with Martin Bell.

  Everything they meant to me email response by Steve Kenis to http://salutsunderland.com/.

  I’m not from the working class Peter O’Toole’s memoirs.

  joyful Peter O’Toole’s memoirs.

  My mother was my literary conscience Peter O’Toole’s memoirs.

  rabbit hutches Parkinson, 1972.

  The sheenies hated the micks Peter O’Toole’s memoirs.

  My little mum Peter O’Toole’s memoirs.

  I remember looking up Peter O’Toole’s memoirs.

  Always where he shouldn’t be Peter O’Toole’s memoirs.

  C’mon, son Peter O’Toole’s memoirs.

  When he’d come home Peter O’Toole’s memoirs.

  That cost me Parkinson, 1972.

  with a mop of golden hair Peter O’Toole’s memoirs.

  You mention it Peter O’Toole’s memoirs.

  It is abusive behaviour author’s interview with Jane Merrow.

  flapping nuns Playboy interview, 1965.

  I loved every second Peter O’Toole’s memoirs.

  Then along came Hitler O’Toole and Roger Ebert, on-stage Q&A, Telluride film festival 2002.

  this profoundly strange Peter O’Toole’s memoirs.

  Finders keepers Peter O’Toole’s memoirs.

  Completely awed Peter O’Toole’s memoirs.

  It’s one of the most incredible experiences Peter O’Toole’s memoirs.

  popularly elected Peter O’Toole’s memoirs.

  when I was a Little Lord Fauntleroy Rolling Stone, 25 November 1982.

  a retired Christian O’Toole described himself thus in numerous interviews, including in the New York Times in 2007 and a TV interview with Charlie Rose on PBS in 2008.

  It was abominable TVGuide.com, 2008.

  They were shocked Playboy interview 1965.

  TWO

  His eye for photography author’s interview with Michael Redwood.

  It didn’t always work Peter O’Toole’s memoirs.

  Peter always used to ask me out author’s interview with Barbara Taylor Bradford.

  He had lanky hair author’s interview with Barbara Taylor Bradford.

  I preferred the sea Parkinson, 1972.

  How would you lift Peter O’Toole’s memoirs.

  I would stand alone Peter O’Toole’s memoirs.

  What was I doing Peter O’Toole’s memoirs.

  Well, I’m trying to be a journalist Peter O’Toole’s memoirs.

  a total waste Peter O’Toole’s memoirs.

  where it soon became clear Peter O’Toole’s memoirs.

  I wanted to be the event Peter O’Toole’s memoirs.

  But that had not been the case Peter O’Toole’s memoirs.

 
; of a delinquent fellow spirit Peter O’Toole’s memoirs.

  two yards and more Peter O’Toole’s memoirs.

  Why don’t you give it a crack Peter O’Toole’s memoirs.

  I had been awkward Peter O’Toole’s memoirs.

  read aloud to myself Peter O’Toole’s memoirs.

  Blowing things up British GQ, 2013.

  Did you ever find yourself Peter O’Toole’s memoirs.

  That’s your shop Peter O’Toole’s memoirs.

  Indeed not Peter O’Toole’s memoirs.

  Peter decided upon a whim author’s interview with Richard Oliver.

  So there it was. My life had completely changed Peter O’Toole’s memoirs.

  THREE

  buzzed with a confident energy Peter O’Toole’s memoirs.

  Though we weren’t reckoned for much at the time New York Times, 17 September 1972.

  It was because we all knew we had potential in Robert Sellers, Don’t Let the Bastards Grind You Down (Preface, 2011).

  RADA was a fairly conservative and traditional school author’s interview with Bryan Hands.

  That was the sort of theatre Kenneth Barnes represented author’s interview with Keith Baxter.

  But I think he knew talent when he saw it author’s interview with Sheila Allen.

  My god, what the hell does he know? author’s interview with Bryan Hands.

  He’d never take direction Michael Freedland, Peter O’Toole.

  That’s all right,’ said the teacher author’s interview with Malcolm Rogers.

  Even then Peter did not suffer fools gladly author’s interview with Malcolm Rogers.

  I was from Wales author’s interview with Keith Baxter.

  When Richard Burton strutted his Bastard on to the stage Peter O’Toole’s memoirs.

  lift his pint with an ease Peter O’Toole’s memoirs.

  but though I can see and hear all this Peter O’Toole’s memoirs.

  as big as it was friendly Peter O’Toole’s memoirs.

  Not in public, my boy Peter O’Toole’s memoirs.

  We had to man the pump at the stern Peter O’Toole’s memoirs.

  Hello, Peter, which hedge did you sleep under last night author’s interview with Malcolm Rogers.

  O’Toole, there are no small parts author’s interview with Malcolm Rogers.

  He was the one who turned the key Peter O’Toole’s memoirs.

  Tristram Jellinek was in it author’s interview with Malcolm Rogers.

  It was a real knockabout part author’s interview with Keith Baxter.

  So we’d been pounding the pavement hard for two hours author’s interview with Keith Baxter.

  The main thing I remember about Peter author’s interview with Pauline Devaney.

  And a bloody bandage author’s interview with Elizabeth Harris.

  Really to impress Sir Kenneth author’s interview with Malcolm Rogers.

  And apparently O’Toole came on author’s interview with Lisa Harrow.

  He cut a dashing figure author’s interview with Delia Corrie.

  Peter was not into getting on with people author’s interview with Pauline Devaney.

  an embracer author’s interview with Elizabeth Harris.

  Richard recognized in Peter author’s interview with Elizabeth Harris.

  We’ve got to leave now, Peter, how much money have you got? Richard Harris on David Letterman, 1994.

  When Peter or Albie were doing anything author’s interview with Elizabeth Harris.

  People already knew who they were author’s interview with William Gaskill.

  They were the two author’s interview with Malcolm Rogers.

  He was absolutely riveting Michael Freedland, Peter O’Toole.

  FOUR

  It always will be Peter O’Toole’s memoirs.

  There was so much energy pouring out from that stage author’s interview with John Cairney.

  We’ve got this young actor coming soon author’s interview with Edward Hardwicke.

  It said that he was related author’s interview with Edward Hardwicke.

  Peter said that when he first auditioned at RADA author’s interview with Edward Hardwicke.

  which I’m glad to say he never used on me author’s interview with John Cairney.

  smouldering with resentment for the aristocracy Washington Post, 1978.

  He was so depressed author’s interview with Phyllida Law.

  She invited Peter and me out to lunch author’s interview with Edward Hardwicke.

  an extraordinary personality author’s interview with Edward Hardwicke.

  a whirling windmill of passion and enthusiasm author’s interview with John Cairney.

  long gangling legs author’s interview with John Cairney.

  and very much the father of the company author’s interview with Susan Engel.

  a real catalyst Los Angeles Times, 2007.

  He couldn’t cope with his own sexuality author’s interview with Susan Engel.

  What are you playing, old son O’Toole on The Tonight Show in 2007.

  You don’t mind ducking under it O’Toole on The Tonight Show in 2007.

  That’s because they were always worried author’s interview with Edward Hardwicke.

  He’d go to bed plastered author’s interview with Sheila Allen.

  We made gallons of it Robert Sellers, Hellraisers (Preface, 2008).

  He cultivated the friendship Michael Freedland, Peter O’Toole.

  All the other actors were little tiny mice author’s interview with Susan Engel.

  Nat was a big guru for Peter author’s interview with Susan Engel.

  I had to biff him one author’s interview with Phyllida Law.

  I would think that was the case author’s interview with Phyllida Law.

  Peter came author’s interview with Phyllida Law.

  I felt like singing in Robert Sellers, Hellraisers (Preface, 2008).

  While the play itself got hammered author’s interview with Phyllida Law.

  What have these young actors in common? Encore magazine.

  and somehow found wherever this bizarre place Independent, 1995.

  I saw it for three weeks author’s interview with Susan Engel.

  And O’Toole has been my benchmark Independent, 2009.

  I can’t remember who wrote the script author’s interview with Susan Engel.

  It’s all right, darling author’s interview with Susan Engel.

  And Peter couldn’t stand this girl author’s interview with Susan Engel.

  He was so badly behaved at Bristol author’s interview with Phyllida Law.

  A young actor like he ought to be sacked Michael Freedland, Peter O’Toole.

  This was when Peter was doing awfully well at Bristol author’s interview with Phyllida Law.

  Often you’d follow O’Toole author’s interview with Sheila Allen.

  I don’t know that he really cared author’s interview with Sheila Allen.

  There was a quiet side to him author’s interview with Sheila Allen.

  Because Peter was always getting author’s interview with Patrick Dromgoole.

  You’re just a drunken twit author’s interview with Patrick Dromgoole.

  He was a very striking actor author’s interview with Patrick Dromgoole.

  a humbling and humiliating obituaries in the Independent and New York Times.

  I sat in the back of the stalls author’s interview with Sheila Allen.

  It was everything it was supposed to be Independent, 1995.

  You can smell their breath Esquire, 1963.

  Golden days in Michael Feeney Callan, Richard Harris: Sex, Death & the Movies: an Intimate Biography (Robson, 2003).

  Nobody knew how to deal with them author’s interview with Elizabeth Harris.

  FIVE

  ‘Griffith!’ he yelled. ‘It’s got to end! Independent, 1995.

  dazzled Siân Phillips’ autobiography.

  Siân once told me author�
�s interview with Michael Byrne.

  You look as though you’re in mourning for your sex life Siân Phillips’ autobiography.

  Siân was doing her best to quieten him down author’s interview with Elizabeth Harris.

  Of course, Richard and Peter took great exception author’s interview with Elizabeth Harris.

  Peter and Richard were incredibly good looking author’s interview with Elizabeth Harris.

  We didn’t want any of that Robert Sellers, Hellraisers (Preface, 2008).

  Well, we were doing that in the fifties Night and Day, April 2001.

  We’d get off at Sloane Square Night and Day, April 2001.

  They were the two foremost actors Oscar Lewenstein, Kicking Against the Pricks (Nick Hern Books, 1994).

  and please let it be me Oscar Lewenstein, Kicking Against the Pricks.

  I’d been at a party author’s interview with David Andrews.

  After that first rehearsal author’s interview with David Andrews.

  the curse of middle class inhibitions author’s interview with David Andrews.

  too much of a star performer author’s interview with David Andrews.

  Lindsay’s idea of the working class author’s interview with David Andrews.

  Peter hated Lindsay author’s interview with David Andrews.

  I’m furious author’s interview with David Andrews.

  who, in those days author’s interview with Bruce Montague.

  I hero-worshipped Peter author’s interview with David Andrews.

  My confidence growing author’s interview with David Andrews.

  I say, where can I find the boys author’s interview with David Andrews.

  They were so self-destructive author’s interview with David Tringham.

  We didn’t want in Robert Sellers, Hellraisers.

  We weren’t pause and think author’s interview with Elizabeth Harris.

  When my father collected Dame Edith author’s interview with Oliver Senton.

  Michael began to get extremely agitated author’s interview with David Andrews.

  I’d have made a wonderful pimp in Michael Caine, What’s It All About?.

  This for a start was a surprise in Michael Caine, What’s It All About?.

  my first step towards becoming a star in Michael Caine, What’s It All About?