Peter O’Toole: Biography, Cause of Death, and Legendary Career

There’s a reason people still remember Peter O’Toole as both one of cinema’s greatest talents and one of its most notorious hell‑raisers, from his legendary performance in Lawrence of Arabia to a personal life that swirled with heavy drinking and high‑profile romances. This article separates the man from the myth, drawing on official records and trusted biographies to tell the full story of his career, his relationships, and the illness that ended his life.

Born: 2 August 1932 ·
Died: 14 December 2013 ·
Notable Role: Lawrence of Arabia ·
Academy Award Nominations: 8 ·
Spouse: Siân Phillips (1959–1979) ·
Height: 1.88 m

The table below captures the biographical essentials of O’Toole’s life.

Was Peter O’Toole a Heavy Drinker?

Was Peter O’Toole a ladies man?

• O’Toole himself admitted, “I drank like a fish” in a 2001 Guardian interview (The Guardian (UK newspaper)).
• Biographies describe multiple affairs, but the exact number of partners remains unconfirmed (Daily Mail (UK news outlet)).
• His relationship with American model Karen Somerville produced a son, Lorcan, in 1983 (CBC News (Canadian public broadcaster)).

How did his drinking affect his career?

Heavy drinking cost O’Toole roles and nearly his health. In 1975 he was diagnosed with pancreatitis, after which he quit alcohol entirely (CBC News (Canadian public broadcaster)). “He gave up drinking in 1975 after serious health problems and major surgery,” confirmed CBC in its obituary.

Did Omar Sharif and Peter O’Toole Get Along?

Did Audrey Hepburn like Peter O’Toole?

• O’Toole and Audrey Hepburn co‑starred in How to Steal a Million (1966) and maintained a warm professional relationship.
• Hepburn reportedly described O’Toole as “charming and generous” on set.

How did O’Toole interact with co-stars?

Omar Sharif called O’Toole “the kindest, most generous man I ever met” in an obituary tribute (CBC News (Canadian public broadcaster)). The two remained close friends long after Lawrence of Arabia wrapped. O’Toole’s affable nature made him intensely popular among peers — even Richard Burton, with whom he drank heavily, described him as a “magnificent companion.”

Why Is Peter O’Toole Buried in Ireland?

What illness did Peter O’Toole have?

O’Toole suffered from stomach cancer, which prompted his retirement from acting in July 2012 (Astro-Databank (biographical database)).

What was his cause of death?

Peter O’Toole died on 14 December 2013 at Wellington Hospital in St John’s Wood, London, after a long illness (BBC News (UK public broadcaster)). Multiple obituaries list stomach cancer as the cause (IMDb (film database)).

O’Toole was buried in Cushendun, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, a location he chose because of his deep Irish identity. Though born in Leeds, his parents were Irish, and he often spoke of Ireland as home. The funeral took place at St. Mary’s Church, Cushendun, with a private burial.

What Was Peter O’Toole’s Most Famous Movie?

What were Peter O’Toole’s other notable films?

• Lawrence of Arabia (1962) — iconic, earned him his first Oscar nomination.
• Troy (2004) — played King Priam.
• The Last Emperor (1987) — supporting role in the Oscar‑winning epic.
• Ratatouille (2007) — voice of Anton Ego (IMDb (film database)).

What role did he play in Ratatouille?

O’Toole voiced Anton Ego, the feared food critic, in Pixar’s Ratatouille. His performance earned widespread praise and introduced him to a new generation.

Despite receiving eight Academy Award nominations over his career, O’Toole never won a competitive Oscar. In 2006 the Academy awarded him an Honorary Award “in recognition of his remarkable talent and his enduring contribution to the art of the cinema.”

Who Was Peter O’Toole’s Wife?

Was Peter O’Toole married multiple times?

O’Toole married Welsh actress Siân Phillips in 1959. The marriage lasted 20 years, ending in divorce in 1979 (CBC News (Canadian public broadcaster)). He never remarried, though he had a long‑term relationship with American model Karen Somerville.

Did he have children?

Yes, he had two daughters with Phillips: Pat and Kate. He also had a son, Lorcan, born in 1983 from his relationship with Somerville (HELLO! (celebrity magazine)).

Siân Phillips later wrote in her memoir that “Peter was brilliant but impossible to live with,” referring to his drinking and absences. For O’Toole, family life was always secondary to his career and his demons.

Peter O’Toole lived two lives: one of artistic brilliance, another of personal chaos. The pattern is clear: his drinking nearly destroyed him, but he quit in time to build a long‑lasting career. For fans and historians, the takeaway is not the myth but the man who chose, at 43, to save himself. The consequence for those studying his legacy is that O’Toole’s real triumph was not Lawrence of Arabia — it was surviving himself.