The Night Peter O'Toole Took Me Disco Dancing in Puerto Vallarta Herta Feely - The Guardian
go to original October 17, 2016

Peter O’Toole as Robinson Crusoe in Man Friday. Photograph: Moviestore/Rex/Shutterstock

In 1974, when exotic travel could be had for little cost, I found myself in Puerto Vallarta, then a sleepy town hugging the Pacific. At the time, I was working as a waitress so that I could earn enough money to return to university, which I did in 1975 at the University of California, Berkeley.

It wasn’t long before I learned that Peter O’Toole was on location shooting Man Friday (he played the role of Robinson Crusoe). Though young and impressionable, I wasn’t just any old fan. I adored the actor. How could anyone ever forget those piercing blue eyes and his flowing Lawrence of Arabia garb? Or his fabulous acting in The Ruling Class?

A bit more sleuthing uncovered his nightly visits to the popular Carlos O’Brien’s restaurant. Throughout my stay I headed there regularly on the off chance of running into him. On the beach, I’d imagine my brief encounter with the world-class actor: “Mr O’Toole,” I’d say gazing into his dreamy eyes, “I’m sure you hear this all the time, but in my case it’s absolutely true: you are my favourite actor in the world.” My imagination never moved beyond this moment because it was the stuff of fantasy.

Finally, my last night arrived without so much as a glimpse. Time to become more proactive. I ran around the restaurant begging each waiter to inform me should Peter O’Toole come around. I drank a margarita and waited. At midnight a waiter scurried over. “He’s here!”...

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