Irish star Peter O'Toole has reluctantly agreed to receive an honorary award at this year's Academy Award ceremony.
According to show producer Gil Cates, Academy officials convinced the 70-year-old Irish actor that the honorary statuette, presented for career achievement, would not signal the end of his career.
Last month O'Toole sent a handwritten open letter to the Academy stating he was "enchanted" by the gesture, but asking if they would defer the honour until he is 80 as he is still in with a chance of winning an Oscar outright.
The Irish actor has been nominated for best actor seven times for films including 'Lawrence of Arabia' (1962), 'The Lion in Winter' (1968), and 'Goodbye, Mr. Chips' (1969) - but never won.
The Oscar ceremony will take place at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles on March 23.
