One of the great British actors of all time has been keeping himself quiet on-screen lately but unfortunately veteran Peter O’Toole has now made the decision to retire from the film industry.

In a statement, the Lawrence of Arabia star revealed that he had grown tired of working in film and theatre during recent years and had now made the decision to leave it all behind.

“It is time for me to chuck in the sponge. To retire from films and stage. The heart for it has gone out of me – it won’t come back. My professional acting life, stage and screen, has brought me public support, emotional fulfilment and material comfort. It has brought me together with fine people, good companions with whom I’ve shared the inevitable lot of all actors – flops and hits. However, it’s my belief that one should decide for oneself when it is time to end one’s stay. So I bid the profession a dry-eyed and profoundly grateful farewell.”

79 year-old O’Toole was Oscar-nominated eight times in an incredible film career which stretched back to the early 1960s, making him the most-nominated actor never to win an accolade. He was also nominated for the likes of The Lion in Winter (1968), Goodbye Mr Chips (1970) and Venus (2006).