Dead at 81, O'Toole's name in a film that was currently showing would bring us teens rushing with our dates to Metro, Regal or New Empire in Bombay's downtown. Too young for hotels and too old for Irani restaurant "family rooms" these theatres were our romantic haunts.
His Lawrence of Arabia, Thomas Becket and Goodbye Mr. Chips held the Bombay Goan crowd in raptures. In fact being described now, he had the very nature of our Goan professors, doctors and lawyers of the day. He drank to excess but acted superbly. They drank in excess but did their respective professions as proud as he did his. He was nominated for Oscars more than anybody else but never got one. Our profs, docs and shysters were revered by their students, patients and clients but were never officially recognized much. Perhaps the authorities were afraid that the liquor would show when they came up on stage to accept the award. Peter O'Toole famously said about his being often nominated but never winning the Oscar "always a bridesmaid, never a bride". A great actor. A great Goan. Sent from Samsung Mobile
