ACTOR · BORN 1932 · DIED 2013
Peter O'Toole
- Born
- 2 August 1932
- Died
- 14 December 2013
97 archived facts 5 topics 1 source Last reviewed Sep 2026
Peter O'Toole: 27 Facts About Characters and Roles
- #017
Peter O'Toole was nearly cast as Professor Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady (1964), since Rex Harrison was thought to be too old for the part. O'Toole's salary demands, however, were more than producer Jack L. Warner was willing to pay. The role therefore remained with Harrison.
- #025
After Richard Harris's death, his family hoped Peter O'Toole would take on the role of Professor Albus Dumbledore in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004). The role went to Michael Gambon instead. O'Toole was a close friend of Harris, and his family therefore saw him as a suitable successor.
- #027
Peter O'Toole turned down the lead role in Doctor Zhivago (1965) because, after the experience of Lawrence of Arabia (1962), he did not want to work with David Lean again. The decision reflects the difficult working relationship between O'Toole and the director. The role eventually went to Omar Sharif.
- #031
Richard Harris's family asked Peter O'Toole to take over the role of Dumbledore in the Harry Potter films in Harris's place. O'Toole was proud of the offer but declined, saying he was too tired for such a commitment. He also added that he would not be able to get insurance because of his age.
- #032
Peter O'Toole was considered to play the Eighth Doctor in Doctor Who: The Movie (1996). He was also considered for the character of Borusa and was keen on the role, but the character was cut from the script. The situation shows O'Toole's interest in science fiction.
- #040
Peter O'Toole was approached for the role of Dillinger/Sark in Tron (1982), but after reading the script he became far more interested in playing the character Tron. The situation is an indication of O'Toole's engagement with projects and his creative choices.
- #057
Peter O'Toole was initially cast as Torquemada in The Pit and the Pendulum (1991), but he later left the project. The role was given to Lance Henriksen. The reasons for O'Toole's departure from the project are unknown.
- #059
Peter O'Toole was Terry Gilliam's first choice for the lead role in The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1988). However, the role eventually went to John Neville. O'Toole's absence from this project can be seen as a significant missed opportunity in his career.
- #064
Peter O'Toole was offered the role of Grigori Rasputin in the 1971 film Nicholas and Alexandra but turned it down; Tom Baker was eventually cast. The reasons for O'Toole's refusal are unknown.
- #068
Peter O'Toole was among the names mentioned for the character played by Cyril Cusack in the 1966 film Fahrenheit 451. In François Truffaut's science-fiction classic, set in a dystopian world where firemen burn books, Cusack's role is a significant one, and O'Toole's consideration for it shows how seriously producers of the period regarded him as an actor.
- #069
Peter O'Toole was among the actors considered for the role of Dr. Sam Loomis in the 1978 horror classic Halloween. Directed by John Carpenter, the film is regarded as a pioneer of the slasher genre; Loomis is the psychiatrist trying to stop serial killer Michael Myers, and the part ultimately went to Donald Pleasence. O'Toole's consideration for the role shows the range of his career.
- #070
Peter O'Toole was among the actors mentioned for the role of Clay Shaw, played by Tommy Lee Jones in Oliver Stone's 1991 film JFK. The film deals with the assassination of US President John F. Kennedy, and Shaw is the businessman alleged to have been connected to the assassination. O'Toole's consideration for the role is evidence of his strong presence in political dramas.
- #073
Peter O'Toole was among those considered for the role of Fagin in the 1968 musical film Oliver! Adapted from Charles Dickens's novel, the production won many Oscars, including Best Picture; Fagin is the old man who has orphaned children steal for him, and the part ultimately went to Ron Moody. O'Toole's consideration for the role shows the confidence in his musical ability.
- #076
Peter O'Toole was Billy Wilder's first choice to play Sherlock Holmes in the 1970 film The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes, but the role went to Robert Stephens. Wilder's choice shows how respected an actor O'Toole was at the time and that he was seen as tailor-made to portray an iconic character like Holmes.
- #079
Peter O'Toole was set to star alongside Toshirō Mifune in "Will Adams," to be directed by John Huston, written by Dalton Trumbo and produced by Eugene Frenke and Jules Buck. The film was announced with the tagline "A bold adventurer defies the traditions of a mighty empire." The project never came to fruition, however, and no film starring O'Toole and Mifune together was ever made.
- #080
Peter O'Toole was considered for the role of Fielding, played by James Fox, in David Lean's 1984 film A Passage to India. The film was adapted from E.M. Forster's novel of the same name and dealt with themes of racism and justice during the British Raj. O'Toole's consideration for the role is an indication of his success in period dramas.
- #081
In 2005, actor Kevin Quarmby, who later trained as a Shakespeare scholar, wrote a detailed account of Peter O'Toole's eccentric behaviour in the lead role of the 1980 Old Vic production of Macbeth. This account lays bare O'Toole's unusual and unpredictable performances on the stage. O'Toole's interpretation of Macbeth reflects the boldness and originality of his approach to Shakespeare.
- #084
Peter O'Toole was Harry Saltzman's first choice for the breakthrough role played by Albert Finney in the 1960 film Saturday Night and Sunday Morning. Saltzman would later become famous as the producer of the James Bond films. Finney's performance is regarded as an important example of the British New Wave. O'Toole's consideration for the role shows how highly he was regarded by the era's leading producers.
- #085
Peter O'Toole was initially considered for the role of Robert Blakeley, played by Michael Caine, in the 1972 film X, Y & Zee. The film is a drama about marital turmoil and infidelity. O'Toole's consideration for the role shows the wide range in which he was regarded as a character actor.
- #087
Peter O'Toole was initially considered for the role of Joe Baker, played by Dean Martin, in the 1971 film Something Big. The film was a Western comedy and held an important place in Martin's career. O'Toole's consideration for the role shows that his comedic ability was also recognised.
- #088
Peter O'Toole was Sam Spiegel's first choice for the role of Jason 'Jake' Rogers, played by James Fox, in the 1966 film The Chase. The film was a drama directed by Arthur Penn and starring names such as Marlon Brando and Robert Redford. O'Toole's consideration for the role shows how sought after he was by the era's most important producers.
- #089
Peter O'Toole was initially announced for the role of Sir Harald Alabaster, played by Jeremy Kemp, in the 1995 film Angels and Insects. The film was a drama set in Victorian England and dealing with class differences. O'Toole's consideration for the role is a continuation of his success in period films.
- #091
Peter O'Toole was considered for the role of Sean O'Casey, played by Rod Taylor, in the 1965 film Young Cassidy. The film dealt with the life of the Irish playwright Sean O'Casey. O'Toole's consideration for the role shows his potential to play a character that overlapped with his Irish identity.
- #092
Peter O'Toole was initially considered for the role of Malcolm, played by Freddie Jones, in the 2000 film Married 2 Malcolm. The film was a comedy-drama about an old man who marries a young woman. O'Toole's consideration for the role shows his mastery of playing older characters.
- #093
Peter O'Toole turned down the role of Sir Michael Barrington, played by Timothy Dalton, in the 1977 film Sextette. The film was a comedy starring Mae West and was her last film. O'Toole's rejection of the role shows his meticulousness in choosing projects and how he steered his career.
- #094
Peter O'Toole was considered for the role of Charlie Venner, played by Del Henney, in the 1971 film Straw Dogs. The film was a violence-themed thriller directed by Sam Peckinpah. O'Toole's consideration for the role shows his interest in dark and disturbing characters.
- #096
Peter O'Toole was initially announced to star in the 1982 film Killing 'em Softly. The film was a thriller about a serial killer. The project never came to fruition, however, and O'Toole's role in the film was never realised.
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