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.
