A tribute to Peter O\\\'Toole

Today I am writing about legendary actor who gave men and women immense pleasure to watch his acting in cinema world and theatre as well. He is Peter O'Toole, an Irish by birth, but brought up in England.
Being an honours graduate student and a young man of 22, I was a regular moviegoer to see English cinemas at Naz cinema hall in Gulistan area in Dacca in 1962-1963 on every Sunday. Practically, I was addicted to watching English cinema, to say the least. There was not an iota of doubt that in 60's a number of English films provided enjoyment to moviegoers. Earnest Hemingway's Snows on the Kilimanjaro, the Bridge on the River Kwai, Ballad of a Soldier and Lawrence of Arabia were box office hit cinemas. Of these cinemas I was fascinated by the superb acting by legendary actor Peter O'Toole as Lawrence of Arabia, who expired at 81 on December 14 last year. Lawrence of Arabia was released in 1963 in Dacca. Peter O'Toole was a major actor as Lawrence of Arabia. The British Royal Air Force Colonel Thomas Edward Lawrence played the major role in the First World War who led Arab rebellion against Ottoman Empire and broke apart the empire subsequently. Basically, T E Lawrence was an archaeologist graduating with first class honours in history, and he had training in Royal Air Force and ended his career as Air Force Colonel.
The blue-eyed handsome Peter O'Toole had his schooling in Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and began his career as an actor on theatre stage in England as a teenager. Son of an Irish bookkeeper O'Toole moved to Yorkshire with his father when he was a teenager. I have had the opportunity to see his movie Venus which also earned reputation as a classic movie. Peter O'Toole was crowned with Academy Oscar award in 1962 for his role as Lawrence of Arabia. That was his first recognition as the best actor. Until then many moviegoers did not know him. During his lifetime Peter O'Toole earned Academy Oscar award five times which possibly no actor or actress achieved. His performance was ranked number one on the Premiere magazine list of the greatest performances of all time. In January, 2007 Peter O'Toole was bestowed with Academy Honorary award which he initially refused to accept, but he accepted the award in 2003 which was presented by renowned American actress Meryl Streep who also won a number Academy awards. As an actress she is regarded as one of the greatest actresses of all time in movie world.
In a comment to CNN from London British film critic Richard Fitzwilliam said, Peter O'Toole "was an actor, admittedly, of uneven merit, but what you had was his phenomenal life force, almost a wayward genius". President of Ireland, Michael Higgins has this to say about Peter O'Toole: Ireland and the world, has lost one of the giants of film and theatre. While paying tribute to Peter O'Toole, the Washington Post said O'Toole became "an overnight sensation as Lawrence, with his almost pretty face and mesmerising blue eyes lighting up the screen." Pete O'Toole also earned Academy award for playing in the movie: Becket (1964), The Lion in Winter (1968) and Goodbye, Mr Chips (1969).
Peter O'Toole became so alcoholic that he ended his star career in the 70's, but made startling comeback in late 80's by playing a kind teacher in The Last Emperor (1987) and lit up the West End stage the following year as a boozehound journalist in the hit play Jeffery Bernard Is Unwell.
I salute Peter O'Toole for his excellent acting in Lawrence of Arabia.
Mohammad Amjad Hossain, a retired diplomat from Bangladesh and former President of Nova chapter of Prestigious Toastmaster International Club, writes from Virginia. Email: amjad.21@gmail.com