10 Top Actors Who Turned Down Prestigious Awards
5. Peter O'Toole Didn't Want To Be A Knight
The legendary Peter O'Toole had a career in the acting world that exemplified how much prestige one can get from the arts without receiving the expected rewards - having been nominated for eight Oscars, and never winning a single one. It is safe to say that O'Toole was always on the precipice of being awarded but didn't quite reach it.
Alongside his lack of an Oscar win, it is surprising to learn that the legendary British actor was offered a knighthood in 1987, but turned the reward away. The Lawrence of Arabia star was the perfect candidate for such a position, but declined, citing political and personal reasons.
O'Toole was openly critical of contemporary politics, campaigning against the Korean and Vietnam war. His distaste for becoming a knight is something that was clearly very important to him.
The Icon of screen and stage received an honorary Oscar in 2003, and thanks to this had the opportunity to be celebrated. But ultimately his astonishing career speaks for itself, and a prestigious award compared to his body of work seems insignificant.