The passing of film and stage legend Peter O’Toole, first immortalised in the 1962 film Lawrence of Arabia, has a history entwined with the game of rugby league.
O’Toole was evacuated from Leeds early in World War II and went to St Joseph’s Secondary School in Holbeck, Leeds.
Upon leaving school O’Toole obtained employment as a trainee journalist and photographer on the Yorkshire Evening Post.
Later he was called up for national service as a signaller in the Royal Navy.
O’Toole attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) from 1952 to 1954 on a scholarship.
At RADA, he was in the same class as Albert Finney.
Peter O’Toole grew up in Hunslet playing rugby league.
In his 1996 autobiography Loitering With Intent: The Apprentice he gained local fame as a speedy twelve-year-old back playing for a side known as the Raggy-Arsed Rovers.
As he explained, their rugby league balls were of a rather inconsistent quality; patchworks of leather pieces were inflated by a bicycle tyre inner-tube, newspapers or just rags.
At the worst, an unlucky player would ‘volunteer’ a shoe. To say the least, as O’Toole recounted them, his childhood games were rugby league at its rawest:
The autobiography states “Two or three matches between teams from various clusters of streets were played simultaneously. One sometimes found oneself straying into others’ matches. Goalposts were a premium. If the pair had already been snatched, often a player’s younger brother, ‘our kid’, would find himself elected as a post. Kit was irrelevant. A familiar figure with the ball, you supported him; an unfamiliar, you downed the bastard”.
Perhaps the Irish born actor can now join the Elite Actors XIII with that other famous deceased Irish actor Richard Harris, who played rugby league player Frank Machin in This Sporting Life.
Other notables in the XIII line-up could include another well-known actor in early British film Sydney Howard in the 1935 rugby league themed comedy film Where’s George?
Or the original Doctor Who actor William Hartnell, another to get his big break due to his rugby league links in This Sporting Life.
Storm Boy
Guest
I see Markus Zusak the author of The Book Thief was a rugby league player. http://collider.com/brian-percival-mark-zusak-the-book-thief-interview/
Larry Writer
Guest
Colin Welland who won an Oscar for writing the script of Chariots of Fire and starred in and wrote for Z Cars and appeared in Straw Dogs was a staunch league man who had much to do with establishing rugby league in London.
john badseed
Guest
Did you mention Shayne Hayne and 'The Heist'? How about his link to 'Shameless'? Or 'Take the Money and Run'?
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
Given your sport has the morals & integrity of an alley cat, your comments mean nothing. Stick to AFL buddy, another league hater is not appreciated on these threads.
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
What are you on about? Seriously, you guys need to grow a brain.
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
Glenn Innes my remarks were not to you. Had no issue with your comments.
Seamus
Guest
Hugh Jackman has been seen at Port Adelaide games with a scarf - Nicole Kidman at Swans games - doesn't mean they have any great loyalty - in fact it doesn't mean anything - pretty much like this article
Misto
Guest
Admit it the link was thin and a long bow by any stretch - next an article from Roy masters about the Wests magpies link to lee Harvey Oswald, the St George Dragon connection of how Neil Armstrong sought to go to the moon after accidentally seeing the dragons on TV one night and the NRL leading the world in the fight against domestic violence and improving race relations...
Misto
Guest
Envy is a mortal sin but I'm an AFL man...
Glenn Innes
Guest
Cathar - My god you are touchy - I never even mentioned Peter O'toole I simply gave my take on the film "This Sporting Life' which is significant because it is the only film I know of that has Rugby League central to it's plot and while it is not an absolute cinematic classic it certainly has artistic merit and is very well photographed, I simply stated the film is really about the difficulties violent young men often have once they move outside the arena that gives them a licence and indeed financial reward for their aggression.Indeed given the constant headlines about thuggish behavour of footballers (all codes) that appear in our newspapers the film (and obviously the book it was based on) seems as relevant as ever (which of course it is because Human nature doesn't change). The film is a sad one because the main character ages and loses his machismo on the playing field and you know that with that gone there is not much more to him so the rest of his life is going to be something of a struggle.If I highjacked your article it was not intended and I do apologize.
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
Seems the necessary prerequisite to watch a game of rugger, be pissed as fart prior, remember nothing then re-write the history of the game as a glorious pursuit :) Thanks for the laugh.
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
Excuse me but buzz off. If there was an article on world prime ministers or presidents who could join a world xi for cricket then yes, for a bit of fun, John Howard could be included given his passion for cricket. If someone did an article on well-known St George Illawarra Dragon supporters, then John Howard could be included in a well-known XIII for supporters, nthen it could be fun for Dragon supporters to debate the merits of including Howard. I just don't understand you inability at a bit of fun and the understanding of 'link'. O'Toole went to a few Wakefield games after his role, so their is a 'link'. Is it a crime to have a bit of fun with such links? I couldn't care less how many times he watched league, but as what I'd imagine a Southern based very busy actor of stage & film, he managed to get to some very high profile games when Trinity went to London, suggests he knew the game and kept in touch. Again, how much I couldn't care less. Link, link, link is what this is about you angry little person. So I can't help your inability to understand this so just take your dislike of my article, and perhaps the sport of rugby league and go away please. Don't apprecaite this highjacking of my article.
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
Huge Jackman, through his link with following Manly, Simon Baker, member of the Eels and played as a youngster in Ballina. Sure there can be a few with links as either fans, members, juniors etc. That's the whole point of the article. It was not some malicious attempt to discredit union though the trolls are somewhat spitting the usual bile. Not apprecaited and really makes one wonder the worth of writing articles when all you get, esp in the league section, are some pretty nasty dismissive and downright rude comments. I don't go on other sports threads and write with bile.
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
Oh shoot me then. Though better not say that as rugby union people have a habit of aligning with regimes, facism etc
loosehead
Guest
So its a possible future "Elite Thirteen" spanning over decades with players who aren't even born yet who possibly might become elite actors as well. So why didn't you explain yourself more clearly then.
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
Once again, the article was about interesting links with the game. Never said these actors are hardcore folowers & players of the game. I don't understand how this ruffles feathers. Who is to say what actors may have links with the game, the actors 13 could continue into the future. But it appears the union fans think this is a nconspiracy to mislead. Shall we join O'Toole & Harris and sing "oh glory rugger, glory to our wonderful and pure history such it's made in heaven" ..... Please.
clipper
Guest
I agree there are links, but to say Richard Harris could make up the X111 is like saying Anthony Hopkins could make a first 15 line up of real serial killers - why not have Arthur Lowe or Glenda Jackson in the X111 line up as well - afther all they all were actors in This Sporting Life, doing what actors do - act.
loosehead
Guest
But you still have not responded to the question of who are the rest of the "Elite actors thirteen" and I hardly think Ahn Do and Ian Roberts qualify as elite actors.
Glenn Innes
Guest
This Sporting Life is not really about Rugby League but it certainly has some strong links to the game as the film was based on novel released in 1960 written by a former Rugby League player David Storey.I have never read the book but I have seen the film. The film itself is not about Rugby League (and I am not sure it displays the sport in a positive manner) the main charachter is presented as something of a thug - the one trait that attracts the Wakefield team owner to gives him a go at the sport. Off the field where his violent nature is more a liability than an asset he is portrayed as more or less a loser and the film is not a happy one far from it - without revealing too much of the plot the theme is pretty obvious - a life based around physical intimidation is going to be an unhappy one because you will age very prematurely. An interesting thing about the film from a purely Rugby League perspective is the huge crowds Wakefield Trinity drew back in those days - the film is quite good but if you are looking for a film that proselytises the virtues of Rugby League you will be disappointed.
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
Given it's a league article, no thanks!