HOLLYWOOD—Legendary actor Peter O’Toole passed away on Saturday, December 14 at the Wellington Hospital in London. O’Toole was 81 years-old. The actor was surrounded by family at the time of his passing.

He recently retired from acting last year, no longer having the desire for the art.  O’Toole has been nominated eight times for an Academy Award, without winning. His last nomination came in 2006 for his performance as Best Actor for “Venus.” O’Toole did receive an honorary Oscar in 2003 from the Academy.

He was born in 1932 and attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. He received acclaim for his work as T.E. Lawrence in “Lawrence of Arabia” which earned the actor his first Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. He received several more nominations for Best Actor for his work in “Becket,” “The Lion in Winter,” “Goodbye, Mr. Chips,” “The Ruling Class,”  “The Stunt Man,” “My Favorite Year.”

Throughout his career, O’Toole won an Emmy Award for his work in “Joan of Arc,” a BAFTA award for Best Supporting Actor “The Last Emperor” and four Golden Globes. He is survived by his daughters Patricia and Kate and his son, Lorcan.