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IMDbPro

Peter Ustinov(1921-2004)

  • Actor
  • Writer
  • Director
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Peter Ustinov circa 1954
During the early sixteenth century, idealistic German monk Martin Luther, disgusted by the materialism in the Catholic Church, begins the dialogue that will lead to the Protestant Reformation.
Play trailer2:52
Luther (2003)
35 Videos
99+ Photos
Peter Ustinov was a two-time Academy Award-winning film actor, director, writer, journalist and raconteur. He wrote and directed many acclaimed stage plays and led numerous international theatrical productions.

He was born Peter Alexander Freiherr von Ustinow on April 16, 1921 in Swiss Cottage, London, the son of Nadezhda Leontievna (née Benois) and Jona Freiherr von Ustinow. His father was of one-quarter Polish Jewish, one-half Russian, one-eighth Ethiopian, and one-eighth German descent, while his mother was of one-half Russian, one-quarter Italian, one-eighth French, and one-eighth German ancestry. Ustinov had ancestral connections to Russian nobility as well as to the Ethiopian Royal Family. His father, also known as "Klop Ustinov", was a pilot in the German Air Force during World War I. In 1919, Jona Freiherr von Ustinow joined his own mother and sister in St Petersburg, Russia, where he met his future wife, artist Nadia Benois, who worked for the Imperial Mariinsky Ballet and Opera House in St Petersburg.

In 1920, in a modest and discreet ceremony at a Russian-German church in St Petersburg, Ustinov's father married Nadia. In February 1921, when she was seven months pregnant with Peter, the couple emigrated from Russia in the aftermath of the Communist Revolution. Young Peter was brought up in a multilingual family. He was fluent in Russian, French, Italian and German, as well as English. He attended Westminster College (1934-37), took the drama and acting class under Michel St Denis at the London Theatre Studio (1937-39), and made his stage debut in 1938 at the Stage Theatre Club in Surrey. He wrote his first play at the age of 19. In 1939, he made his London stage debut in a revue sketch, then had regular performances with the Aylesbury Repertory Company. The following year, he made his film debut in Hullo, Fame! (1940).

From 1942-46, Ustinov served with the British Army's Royal Sussex Regiment. He was batman for David Niven, and the two became lifelong friends. Ustinov spent most of his service working with the Army Cinema Unit, where he was involved in making recruitment films, wrote plays and appeared in three films as an actor. At that time he co-wrote and acted in The Way Ahead (1944) (aka "The Immortal Battalion").

Ustinov had a stellar film career as actor, director, and writer. Among his numerous screen acting gems were his unparalleled, Academy Award-nominated interpretation of Nero in Quo Vadis (1951) and roles in Max Ophüls's masterpiece Lola Montès (1955), Barefoot in Athens (1966), The Comedians (1967), Robin Hood (1973) and Logan's Run (1976). He also wrote and directed such brilliant films as Billy Budd (1962), Lady L (1965) and Memed My Hawk (1984). He was awarded two Oscars for Best Supporting Actor, one for his role in Spartacus (1960) and one for his role in Topkapi (1964), and received two more Oscar nominations as an actor and writer. His career slowed down a bit in the 1970s, but made a comeback as Hercule Poirot in Death on the Nile (1978) by director John Guillermin. In the 1980s, Ustinov recreated Poirot in several subsequent television movies and theatrical films, including Evil Under the Sun (1982) and Appointment with Death (1988), while his cinema work in the 1990s also includes his superb performance as Professor Gus Nikolais in George Miller's excellent dramatic film, Lorenzo's Oil (1992), a character partially inspired by Hugo Wolfgang Moser, a research scientist who had been director of the Neurogenetics Research Center at the Kennedy Krieger Institute and Professor of Neurology and Pediatrics at Johns Hopkins University.

His expertise in dialectic and physical comedy made him a regular guest of talk show hosts and late-night comedians. His witty and multidimensional humor was legendary, and he later published a collection of his jokes and quotations summarizing his wide popularity as a raconteur. He was also an internationally acclaimed TV journalist. Ustinov covered over 100,000 miles and visited more than 30 Russian cities during the making of his well-received BBC television series Russia (1986).

In his autobiographies, "Dear Me" (1977) and "My Russia" (1996), Ustinov revealed his observations on his life, career, and his multicultural and multi-ethnic background. He wrote and directed numerous stage plays, successfully presenting them in several countries. His drama, "Photo Finish", was staged in New York, London and St. Petersburg, Russia, where Ustinov directed the acclaimed production, starring Elena Solovey and Pyotr Shelokhonov. Ustinov also served as a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF and a president of WFM, a global citizens movement. Ustinov served as Rector of Dundee University for six years. He was awarded the Benjamin Franklin Medal from the Royal Society of Arts in 1957 and was knighted in 1990.

From 1971 until his death in 2004, Ustinov's permanent residence was a château in Bursins, Vaud, Switzerland. He died of heart failure on March 28, 2004, in a clinic in Genolier, also in Vaud. His funeral service was held at Geneva's historic Cathedral of St. Pierre, and he was laid to rest in the village cemetery of Bursins. He was survived by three daughters (Tamara, Pavla, and Andrea) and one son (Igor). His epitaph may be gleaned from his comment, "I am an international citizen conceived in Russia, born in England, working in Hollywood, living in Switzerland, and touring the World".
BornApril 16, 1921
DiedMarch 28, 2004(82)
BornApril 16, 1921
DiedMarch 28, 2004(82)
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
  • Won 2 Oscars
    • 21 wins & 20 nominations total

Photos189

Kirk Douglas, Laurence Olivier, Charles Laughton, Peter Ustinov, and Sabine Bethmann in Spartacus (1960)
Peter Ustinov and Rosalie Crutchley in Quo Vadis (1951)
Peter Ustinov and Rosalie Crutchley in Quo Vadis (1951)
Peter Ustinov in Quo Vadis (1951)
Peter Ustinov in Quo Vadis (1951)
Robert Taylor, Peter Ustinov, Nicholas Hannen, Patricia Laffan, and Ralph Truman in Quo Vadis (1951)
Peter Ustinov, D.A. Clarke-Smith, Patricia Laffan, Ralph Truman, and Alfredo Varelli in Quo Vadis (1951)
Peter Ustinov, Strelsa Brown, Nicholas Hannen, and Patricia Laffan in Quo Vadis (1951)
Peter Ustinov, Nicholas Hannen, Patricia Laffan, and Ralph Truman in Quo Vadis (1951)
Peter Ustinov in Quo Vadis (1951)
Peter Ustinov in Quo Vadis (1951)
Peter Ustinov in Quo Vadis (1951)

Known for

Kirk Douglas, Laurence Olivier, Tony Curtis, John Gavin, Charles Laughton, Jean Simmons, and Peter Ustinov in Spartacus (1960)
Spartacus
7.9
  • Batiatus
  • 1960
Death on the Nile (1978)
Death on the Nile
7.2
  • Hercule Poirot
  • 1978
Jenny Agutter, Farrah Fawcett, Michael York, Roscoe Lee Browne, and Richard Jordan in Logan's Run (1976)
Logan's Run
6.8
  • Old Man
  • 1976
Billy Budd (1962)
Billy Budd
7.8
  • Edwin Fairfax Vere - Post Captain Royal Navy
  • 1962

Credits

Edit
IMDbPro

Actor

  • Peep and the Big Wide World
    • Narrated By (voice)
    • Short
  • Rosamunde Pilcher (1993)
    Rosamunde Pilcher
    • Hughie Mc Lellan (as Sir Peter Ustinov)
    • TV Series
    • 2003
  • Winter Solstice (2003)
    Winter Solstice
    • Hughie McLellan (as Sir Peter Ustinov)
    • TV Movie
    • 2003
  • Alfred Molina, Joseph Fiennes, Peter Ustinov, Claire Cox, and Jonathan Firth in Luther (2003)
    Luther
    • Frederick the Wise (as Sir Peter Ustinov)
    • 2003
  • Salem Witch Trials (2002)
    Salem Witch Trials
    • William Stoughton
    • TV Movie
    • 2002
  • Victoria & Albert (2001)
    Victoria & Albert
    • King William IV
    • TV Mini Series
    • 2001
  • Lambert Hamel in Deutschlandspiel (2000)
    Deutschlandspiel
    • Igor Maximytschew
    • TV Movie
    • 2000
  • Renée Zellweger and Chris O'Donnell in The Bachelor (1999)
    The Bachelor
    • Grandad
    • 1999
  • Ian Holm, Julia Ormond, Kelsey Grammer, Patrick Stewart, Paul Scofield, and Charles Dale in Animal Farm (1999)
    Animal Farm
    • Old Major (voice)
    • TV Movie
    • 1999
  • Whoopi Goldberg, Christopher Lloyd, Robbie Coltrane, Tina Majorino, and Martin Short in Alice in Wonderland (1999)
    Alice in Wonderland
    • Walrus
    • TV Movie
    • 1999
  • Samuel West in Stiff Upper Lips (1997)
    Stiff Upper Lips
    • Horace
    • 1997
  • The Phoenix and the Magic Carpet (1995)
    The Phoenix and the Magic Carpet
    • Grandfather
    • Phoenix (voice, as Sir Peter Ustinov)
    • 1995
  • The Old Curiosity Shop (1995)
    The Old Curiosity Shop
    • Grandfather
    • TV Movie
    • 1995
  • Susan Sarandon, Nick Nolte, and Zack O'Malley Greenburg in Lorenzo's Oil (1992)
    Lorenzo's Oil
    • Professor Nikolais
    • 1992
  • Peter Ustinov in Peter Ustinov on the Orient Express (1991)
    Peter Ustinov on the Orient Express
    • Peter Ustinov (as Sir Peter Ustinov)
    • TV Movie
    • 1991
  • The Orchestra (1990)
    The Orchestra
    • Video
    • 1990

Writer

  • Inside the Vatican (1993)
    Inside the Vatican
    • Writer (as Sir Peter Ustinov)
    • TV Mini Series
    • 1993
  • Peter Ustinov in Peter Ustinov on the Orient Express (1991)
    Peter Ustinov on the Orient Express
    • Writer
    • TV Movie
    • 1991
  • Beethovens Zehnte
    • based on the play "Beethoven's Tenth" by
    • TV Movie
    • 1988
  • Peter Ustinov in Russia (1986)
    Russia
    • Writer
    • TV Mini Series
    • 1986
  • La dixième de Beethoven
    • play
    • TV Movie
    • 1985
  • Abgehört (1984)
    Abgehört
    • play 'Overheard'
    • TV Movie
    • 1984
  • Peter Ustinov in Memed My Hawk (1984)
    Memed My Hawk
    • Writer
    • 1984
  • Foto Finis - Yaris Bitti (1977)
    Foto Finis - Yaris Bitti
    • play "Photo Finish"
    • TV Mini Series
    • 1977
  • Love, Life, Liberty & Lunch
    • writer
    • TV Special
    • 1976
  • Peter Ustinov: Rücksichten
    • Writer
    • TV Special
    • 1976
  • Ustinovs Ferngespräche
    • Writer
    • TV Movie
    • 1971
  • Endspurt (1970)
    Endspurt
    • play "Photo Finish"
    • TV Movie
    • 1970
  • Leonard Bernstein in New York Philharmonic Young People's Concerts (1958)
    New York Philharmonic Young People's Concerts
    • Writer
    • TV Series
    • 1970
  • Au théâtre ce soir (1966)
    Au théâtre ce soir
    • play "The love of four colonels"
    • TV Series
    • 1969
  • Hot Millions (1968)
    Hot Millions
    • writer
    • 1968

Director

  • Peter Ustinov in Memed My Hawk (1984)
    Memed My Hawk
    • Director
    • 1984
  • Love, Life, Liberty & Lunch
    • Director
    • TV Special
    • 1976
  • Peter Ustinov: Rücksichten
    • Director
    • TV Special
    • 1976
  • Die Zauberflöte (1974)
    Die Zauberflöte
    • theatre director
    • TV Movie
    • 1974
  • Hammersmith Is Out (1972)
    Hammersmith Is Out
    • Director
    • 1972
  • Lady L (1965)
    Lady L
    • Director
    • 1965
  • Billy Budd (1962)
    Billy Budd
    • Director (directed by)
    • 1962
  • Romanoff and Juliet (1961)
    Romanoff and Juliet
    • Director
    • 1961
  • Omnibus (1952)
    Omnibus
    • Director
    • TV Series
    • 1958
  • Private Angelo
    • Director
    • 1949
  • Vice Versa (1948)
    Vice Versa
    • Director
    • 1948
  • Secret Flight (1946)
    Secret Flight
    • Director
    • 1946

Videos36

Robin Hood: 40th Anniversary Edition
Clip 1:30
Robin Hood: 40th Anniversary Edition
Robin Hood: 40th Anniversary Edition
Clip 1:33
Robin Hood: 40th Anniversary Edition
Robin Hood: 40th Anniversary Edition
Clip 1:31
Robin Hood: 40th Anniversary Edition
Robin Hood: 40th Anniversary Edition
Clip 1:19
Robin Hood: 40th Anniversary Edition
Treasure of Matacumbe
Clip 1:29
Treasure of Matacumbe
Treasure of Matacumbe
Clip 1:04
Treasure of Matacumbe
Russia (clip)
Clip 6:39
Russia (clip)
Trailer
Trailer 2:56
Trailer
Trailer
Trailer 3:25
Trailer
Trailer
Trailer 4:26
Trailer
Trailer
Trailer 0:32
Trailer
Trailer
Trailer 1:29
Trailer

Personal details

Edit
  • Official site
    • Peter Ustinov Stiftung
  • Alternative name
    • Sir Peter Ustinov
  • Height
    • 5′ 9½″ (1.77 m)
  • Born
    • April 16, 1921
    • Swiss Cottage, London, England, UK
  • Died
    • March 28, 2004
    • Genolier, Vaud, Switzerland(heart failure)
  • Spouses
      Helene du Lau d'AllemansJune 17, 1972 - March 28, 2004 (his death)
  • Children
      Tamara Ustinov
  • Parents
      Jona von Ustinov
  • Relatives
      Nicholas Benois(Great Grandparent)
  • Other works
    Stage: Appeared (as "King Lear") in "King Lear" at Canada's Stratford Festival.
  • Publicity listings
    • 8 Print Biographies
    • 3 Interviews
    • 51 Articles
    • 3 Pictorials
    • 6 Magazine Cover Photos

Did you know

Edit
  • Trivia
    On 31 October 1984, he was waiting in the garden of Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi, to interview her for an Irish television documentary when she was assassinated by her Sikh bodyguards (Beant Singh, who was killed while trying to escape after his arrest, and Satwant Singh, sentenced to hang in 1988) as she was approaching Ustinov and his film crew.
  • Quotes
    A diplomat these days is nothing but a headwaiter who's allowed to sit down occasionally.

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