Peter O’Toole has become the first actor in history to turn down an honorary Oscar. From ITV:
Peter O’Toole has turned down the offer of an honorary Oscar because he still hopes to win the real thing.
The actor, who has been nominated for seven Academy Awards without success, said he was “enchanted” by the gesture, but asked for it to be deferred for a decade.
“Since I’m still in the game and might win the lovely bugger outright, would the Academy please defer the honour until I am 80?” he said in hand-written letter to organisers.
That’s a fantastic attitude, and quite frankly he’s got bags of talent in him, way more than a hundred other actors who are in the blockbusters right now. I’m sure he really could win it on merit. However, looks like he won’t get the award deferred.
But Academy president Frank Pierson said it was a one-off opportunity. “We will have the Oscar for him and if he cares to pick it up, that would be great,” he said, adding that the Academy was “bemused and sorry” by O’Toole’s stance.
That’s a bit harsh. I always wonder how people can accept such honorary awards when they are still acting. Surely it’s an award for when they stop. What if they do another ten films and they’re the best ever? Give them another honorary or lifetime achievement award? He went on to say:
“The award is for achievement and contribution to the art of the motion picture, not for retirement.”
Well then doesn’t that mean he’s just as deserving in another ten years, or magically by then his achievements and contributions aren’t so good? I think this shows a lot of heart and belief in himself from O’Toole. Great man, great actor.
Rich, you know in the end that we will discuss it. :-)
By the way, did you design this new thing? It’s kewl!
I know guys, I read the post. Still you’ve started, wait for it…discussing it! Superb, just what a movie discussion site should be about. If we were solely reporting the news as it happened we’d switch off the comments.
JohnW – perfect, you’ve put it in perspective. I’d actually say 64 and 68 were his best chances, but you’re spot on, there’s been too much competition there.
:-)
Hiya JownW.
I actually looked it up before you posted it and I agree, he was up against other brilliant performances although I didnt see all those other films. But I thought had they decided to give it to him, it would have been in 1968, for “The Lion in the Winter”.
OK, well let’s see who he was up against in those 7 times. (And yes, I do have too much time on my hands, although my boss wouldn’t agree).
1962: Nominated for his role in Lawrence of Arabia. Lost to Gregory Peck for To Kill A Mockingbird.
1964: Nominated for his role in Becket. Lost to Rex Harrison for My Fair Lady.
1968: Nominated for his role in The Lion In Winter. Lost to Cliff Robertson for Charly Gordon.
1969: Nominated for his role in Goodbye, Mr Chips. Lost to John Wayne for True Grit.
1972: Nominated for his role in The Ruling Class. Lost to Marlon Brando for The Godfather.
1980: Nominated for his role in The Stunt Man. Lost to Robert de Niro for Raging Bull.
1982: Nominated for his role in My Favourite Year. Lost to Ben Kingsley for Gandhi.
So every time he was nominated (perhaps with the exception of 1968) he was head-to-head with some amazing films/performances. You could argue that he should have received it in 1962, but Peck’s performance was equally worthy.
I no longer look to the Oscars to make it known that a certain actor is very good. Peter O’ Toole has proved his acting mettle for donkey’s years, to not be recognised after having been nominated 7 times is a farce.
Er, yeah, Richard. It wasn’t just posted in January of this year. It was January of 2003. This is an old story, and I believe that Peter O’Toole did actually accept the Oscar in the end.
He is a great actor, and did deserve the award, even if he’d rather have got it for a specific performance.
That would be for movie discussion. My apologies if you posted it on your movie discussion site in January and I missed it. However it is an interesting story and worthy of discussion, particularly as O’Toole has said “another ten years”.
Hey Richard,
I don’t know why you posted this as the article is dated January 23rd, 2003. He already got the honorary Oscar two years ago.
although the academy tends to give out awards based purely on previous performances, movies they should have won for, i’ll be that the fascination hollywood has with youth will prevent any oscar nomination, let alone award for the guy. he certainly isn’t going to win an oscar for a fucking lassie movie.