Peter O'Toole RIP: His 5 Best Roles

4. Alan Swann - My Favourite Year

Possibly one of the finest examples of his acting flexibility to that point, My Favourite Year allowed O'Toole to show off his knack for comedy acting. The film told the story of an up-coming comedy writer getting the opportunity to work with a slightly washed-up actor by the name of Alan Swann, played by O'Toole.

From the second he arrives on screen, you're compelled to sit and smile in anticipation of what he'll do next. In particular, the scene introducing Swann's arrival in front of a live audience for the first time in 28 years is a phenomenally hilarious display of comedic know-how. He's frantic, he's over-the-top, and he still somehow seems to exude a sense of class; more or less the essence of what we'd think of when it comes to over the hill English stage actors. Plus, he delivers the immortal line "I'm not an actor, I'm a movie star!" with all the due pomp and hissy-fit tantrum that it deserves. But it's also important to not that were there was the campy comedic side to his performance, it also came with a much more solemn side. Swann has been estranged from his daughter for years, and appears to have a serious alcohol problem, but ultimately uses his reintroduction to the acting world as a confidence booster to repair the damage done on both fronts. Such is the brilliance of O'Toole's humorous performance, that his softer side appears all the more endearing for the contrast.