Peter O’Toole dies in London’s Wellington hospital at 81

Peter O’Toole died on Saturday at the age of 81, his agent has said.

The actor was being treated at London’s Wellington hospital after a long illness, his agent added.

Peter O’Toole’s daughter Kate said the family was overwhelmed “by the outpouring of real love and affection being expressed towards him, and to us”.

He received an honorary Oscar in 2003, having initially turned it down.

In a letter Peter O’Toole asked the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to delay it until he was 80, saying he was “still in the game and might win the bugger outright”.

When he finally clasped his statuette, Peter O’Toole said: “Always a bridesmaid, never a bride, my foot.”

Peter O’Toole’s agent said he was “one of a kind in the very best sense and a giant in his field”.