His best performances to date: Lawrence of Arabia. Here, he’s the embodiment of beauty. In this epic drama, they portend military genius, moral ferment, and quite possibly madness.

Becket. As a feverishly exasperated King Henry II, O’Toole’s the one who yells the famous question: “Will no one rid me of this meddlesome priest?” He’s talking about the Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas a Becket, of course, played by his pubmate Richard Burton.

How to Steal a Million. Enjoy two of the prettiest screen stars of all-time playing kissy-face: O’Toole and Audrey Hepburn.

The Night of the Generals. In this murder mystery set in World War II, O’Toole’s role as a deranged Nazi officer gives the actor full licence to twitch, stammer and reel.

The Lion in Winter. O’Toole is Henry II again — scheming and squabbling with his headstrong wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine, played by Katharine Hepburn.

The Ruling Class. O’Toole’s the 14th Earl of Gurney, a demented Englishman who believes he’s Jesus. How does he know, one woman asks. “Simple,” replies the Earl. “When I pray to Him, I find I am talking to myself.”

So to Venus. Watch O’Toole play an over-the-hill stage actor who falls in love with a teenage girl, and see why he will give Oscar front-runner Forest Whitaker (Idi Amin in The Last King of Scotland) a run for his money. And you’ll also see why this fan has learned to give up the death watch and simply enjoy a great performer and survivor.

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