Monday, December 16, 2013
PETER O'TOOLE: AN ENCOUNTER
Sad to hear of Peter O'Toole's death, this morning. We ran into the actor in a tiny grocery store on the west coast of Ireland back, I guess, in the late 70s or early 80s. We were on tour in a rented car, and had stopped there for I no longer know what when the actor breezed in with a young man in tow, shopping for supplies for a boat trip out to one of the remote islands off the coast. Impulsively, and with genuine generosity, he invited us to join them for the ride. Those famous blue eyes glowed with the promise of sheer pleasure. Foolishly--because it would surely have been a memorable experience, we declined. We were perhaps a little shy. We were in a hurry to arrive at our next stop. We were taken aback by the sudden invitation. A shame. We might have sacrificed a night at the next B&B, but we would have gained what would surely have been a truly remarkable memory. One of the many opportunities we allowed to pass us by, for being focused on the future instead of the present moment...
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2 comments:
What an interesting encounter. I'm sure much imbibing and crazy laughter would have ensued had you chosen that wild path.
I bumped into he and Mel Brooks at a cast and crew lunch during the making of My Favorite Year that Mel produced. He was very open and friendly with all at the table. Mel was equally affable and kind keeping the table in stitches throughout the meal. O'toole spoke about Ireland and how he loved his residence on Sky Road, just outside Clifden in Connemara in County Galway, Ireland, and invited me to paint a Sky on his ceiling there if I was ever in Ireland. I took his number and had lunch to discuss the project with him and girl friend Karen Brown later in the week. It never materialized but he was a very charming man and so unlike many in Hollywood who's self importance erodes natural exchanges.
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