O'Toole did win an honorary Oscar in 2002 that was inscribed "Whose remarkable talents have provided cinema history with some of its most memorable characters." He originally intended to turn it down feeling that the lifetime award signaled the end of his career. He wrote the Academy a letter stating that he was "still in the game" and would like more time to "win the lovely bugger outright." It was only after the Academy informed him that they were bestowing the award on him whether he came to collect it or not that he relented.
 
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