Peter Ustinov
Peter Ustinov was a multifaceted British actor, writer, and director, born in London on April 16, 1921. He identified as "European" and was fluent in several languages, including English, French, and German, reflecting his diverse heritage. Ustinov's career began in the theatre, and he made significant contributions across film, stage, and television, with more than sixty film roles to his credit. He was also a successful playwright, known for works such as "The Love of Four Colonels" and "Romanoff and Juliet," both of which tackled themes related to the Cold War.
Throughout his life, Ustinov received numerous accolades, including two Academy Awards and three Emmys, recognizing his talents in various fields of entertainment. Beyond his artistic achievements, he was dedicated to humanitarian efforts, particularly with the United Nations Children's Fund. Ustinov was knighted in 1990 and left a legacy characterized by his sharp wit, moral integrity, and a profound appreciation for the human experience. His works often blend humor with deep reflections, showcasing his unique ability to engage with serious human issues while entertaining audiences.
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Peter Ustinov
Actor
- Born: April 16, 1921
- Birthplace: Swiss Cottage, London, England
- Died: March 28, 2004
- Place of death: Genolier, Vaud, Switzerland
Biography
Born in London, England, on April 16, 1921, Peter Ustinov was the only child of parents who combined Russian ancestry with other heritages. Ustinov declared that his national identity was “European,” but added, “I am eternally indebted to England, because it gave me a language I love to use.” In addition to English, he became fluent in French, German, Italian, Russian, and Spanish, and also spoke some Turkish and modern Greek. Peter Ustinov married three times and divorced twice. His third wife survived him. He had four children from his first two marriages.
After graduating from the Westminster School, he studied acting at the London Theatre Studio, began writing plays, and soon made his stage debut in London. As a soldier in World War II, he continued acting and writing. After the war, his career blossomed. He played more than sixty film roles and also acted on stage and on television.
Peter Ustinov found acting easy; writing, he thought, was “more mysterious, and more personal,” but more rewarding. Among his many plays were The Love of Four Colonels (pr. 1951) and Romanoff and Juliet (pr. 1956), two plays about the Cold War that enjoyed great box-office success in England and America. Like his drama, his fiction—two novels and two collections of short stories—combines serious questioning of human problems with wit and a refined sense of irony.
The critics’ reception of Peter Ustinov’s works sometimes tempered appreciation with a sense of unrealized potential. Keith Waterhouse wrote, “Mr. Ustinov, who can imitate just about anybody, has given us in The Loser a very skillful imitation of a novelist.” Richard Watts wrote of The Love of Four Colonels, “I wish Ustinov would pull himself together and try to organize his many talents, but, if he did, some of that wild, free imagination might leave him.” Perhaps Peter Ustinov’s most successful utilization of his many talents was in the 1962 film Billy Budd, in which he served as coadaptor, director, producer, and actor.
Late in life, Ustinov devoted much time and energy to the United Nations Children’s Fund. He received two Academy Awards and a nomination for another, three Emmys, and a Grammy. The Love of Four Colonels earned him the New York Drama Critics’ Award, and Romanoff and Juliet won him the British Critics’ Award. He was named Commander of the British Empire in 1975 and made a member of the Académie des Beaux-Arts in 1987. In 1990, he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II. Sir Peter Ustinov will be remembered for the extraordinary range of his talents, for his incisive wit, and for the fundamental decency of his moral vision.