In Memorium: Peter O'Toole and Joan Fontaine

This past weekend we lost two great actors - Joan Fontaine and Peter O'Toole. Both were award-winning actors with long and prestigious careers. Read on for the roles and films they are most known for:

Peter O'Toole (1932-2013)

For all of Peter O'Toole's film success he never won an Academy Award even though he was nominated eight times. He was, however, awarded an Honorary Academy Award in 2003. 

-- Lawrence of Arabia (1962) -- The sweeping epic story of T.E. Lawrence earned O'Toole is first Oscar nomination (he ultimately lost to Gregory Peck for his role in To Kill a Mockingbird).

-- The Lion in Winter (1968) -- O'Toole portrays Richard II as he fights his sons and his wife to hold on to his throne. He was nominated for this role and also for again playing Richard II in Becket (1964).

-- My Favorite Year (1982) -- O'Toole plays an Erol Flynn like former matinee idol with a drinking problem making an appearance on a 1950s variety show who has difficulty not getting his young watcher in trouble. Another great Oscar nominated performance.

-- Venus (2006) -- In one of his last starring roles, O'Toole plays an aging actor who becomes smitten with his friend's much younger great niece.

From the library collection:

DVDs: Peter O'Toole's film appearances

Books: Biographies of the late actor's life

Joan Fontaine (1917-3013)

Joan Fontaine was a three time Oscar nominated actress, winning her only Academy Award for Suspicion, her second film with Alfred Hitchcock. Fontaine was the younger sister of Gone With the Wind star Olivia de Havilland.

-- Rebecca (1940) -- Fontaine starred as the unnamed heroine of Daphne DuMarier's classic book. This role earned her her first Oscar nomination. This also marked Hitchcock's American directorial debut.

-- Suspicion (1941) -- This was Fontaine's second time working with Alfred Hitchcock and also starred Cary Grant as a charming playboy who convinces Fontaine's character to run away and marry him. She slowly begins to have suspicions about her new husband. 

-- Jane Eyre (1943) -- Fontaine stars, along with Orson Welles, in this telling of the Charlotte Bronte novel.

-- Ivanhoe (1952) -- This film, based on Sir Walter Scott's novel of the same name, also stars Robert Taylor and Elizabeth Taylor.

From the library collection:

DVDs: Joan Fontaine's film appearances

Books: Biographies of the late actor's life

-- Post by Tracy