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Honorary Award winner Peter O'Toole with presenter Meryl
Streep.
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Seven-time Academy Award nominee Peter O'Toole has been
chosen to receive an Honorary Award by the Board of Governors of
the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
The Award, an Oscar® statuette, will
be presented at the 75th Anniversary Academy Awards on March 23.
The citation will read: "Peter O'Toole - whose remarkable talents
have provided cinema history with some of its most memorable characters."
"O'Toole's performances have ignited the screen for more than
four decades," said Academy President Frank Pierson. "He
has appeared in some of the most unforgettable roles in the history
of the medium. He's seven times been nominated as Best Actor, which
puts him in extremely rarified air for a performer. The Board of
Governors felt it was time for him to hold his own Oscar in his
hands."
O'Toole was nominated in the lead actor category for "Lawrence
of Arabia" (1962), "Becket" (1964), "The Lion
in Winter" (1968), "Goodbye, Mr. Chips" (1969), "The
Ruling Class" (1972), "The Stunt Man" (1980) and
"My Favorite Year" (1982).
Born in Ireland, O'Toole made his stage debut at 17 before attending
the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts. His first film role was a bit
part in the 1959 film "The Savage Innocents;" he played
"First Trooper."
Within three years, though, he was tapped for the role of T. E.
Lawrence in David Lean's desert epic, the role that made him an
international star.
O'Toole has appeared in some 50 films, including "Lord Jim,"
"The Night of the Generals," and "Man of La Mancha."
Honorary Awards are given by the Academy for "exceptional
distinction in the making of motion pictures or for outstanding
service to the Academy." Previous recipients over the Academy's
75-year history include Charles Chaplin (twice), D. W. Griffith,
Bob Hope (twice), Gene Kelly, Jean Renoir, Alex North, Federico
Fellini, Chuck Jones and Sidney Poitier.
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