Many people have wondered if the actress Annette O’Toole, who has appeared in films and TV shows such as Superman III, It, and Smallville, is related to the legendary actor Peter O’Toole, who starred in classics such as Lawrence of Arabia, Becket, and The Lion in Winter. The rumor has persisted for years, especially since they share the same surname and have both worked in the entertainment industry. However, the truth is that Annette O’Toole and Peter O’Toole are not related at all. Here are some facts that prove it.
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Annette O’Toole’s Birth Name Was Annette Toole
According to Wikipedia, Annette O’Toole was born on April 1, 1952 in Houston, Texas, to Dorothy Geraldine (née Niland) and William West Toole Jr. Her mother taught dance, which O’Toole herself began learning at the age of three. She started taking acting lessons after her family moved to Los Angeles when she was 13. Her first television appearance was in 1967 on The Danny Kaye Show.
Her birth name was Annette Toole, not O’Toole. She added the apostrophe later in her career, possibly to avoid confusion with another actress named Annette Tool.
Peter O’Toole’s Birth Name Was Peter Seamus O’Toole
According to Wikipedia, Peter O’Toole was born on August 2, 1932 in Leeds, West Riding of Yorkshire, England, to Constance Jane Eliot (née Ferguson), a Scottish nurse, and Patrick Joseph “Spats” O’Toole, an Irish metal plater, football player, and bookmaker. He had an elder sister named Patricia and grew up in the south Leeds suburb of Hunslet. He was evacuated from Leeds early in the Second World War and went to a Catholic school for seven or eight years.
His birth name was Peter Seamus O’Toole, which he kept throughout his life. He attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and began working in the theatre, gaining recognition as a Shakespearean actor at the Bristol Old Vic and with the English Stage Company. He made his film debut in 1959 and achieved international fame playing T.E. Lawrence in Lawrence of Arabia in 1962.
Annette O’Toole and Peter O’Toole Have Different Family Backgrounds
Annette O’Toole’s parents were both American citizens of Irish descent. Her father was born in Texas and her mother was born in Illinois. ² She has two children from her first marriage to Bill Geisslinger, a fellow actor whom she married in 1983 and divorced in 1993. She also has two stepchildren from her second marriage to Michael McKean, a comedian and actor whom she married in 1999.
Peter O’Toole’s parents were both British citizens of Irish descent. His father was born in Galway and his mother was born in Glasgow. ³ He had one child from his first marriage to Siân Phillips, a Welsh actress whom he married in 1959 and divorced in 1979. He also had two children from his relationship with Karen Brown, a model whom he dated from 1982 to 1988.
Annette O’Toole and Peter O’Toole Have Never Worked Together
Despite their long and successful careers in film and television, Annette O’Toole and Peter O’Toole have never appeared together on screen or stage. They have also never publicly acknowledged any connection or friendship between them.
The closest they came to working together was when Annette O’Toole played Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy in the 1990 TV mini-series The Kennedys of Massachusetts, which also featured Peter O’Toole’s daughter Kate as Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. However, they did not share any scenes or interact with each other.
Conclusion
Annette O’Toole and Peter O’Toole are not related by blood or marriage. They have different birth names, family backgrounds, spouses, children, and careers. They have never worked together or expressed any kinship or affinity for each other.
The rumor that they are related is most likely based on their similar surnames and their involvement in the entertainment industry. However, this is not enough evidence to support such a claim.
