Peter Cushing Biography

(English Actor Known for His TV Series ‘BBC Sunday-Night Theatre’)

Birthday: May 26, 1913 (Gemini)

Born In: Kenley, England, United Kingdom

Peter Wilton Cushing was a prolific British actor, who redefined the genre of horror movies through his iconic portrayal of characters including Baron Frankenstein and Dr Van Helsing. He appeared in over 100 movies in a career spanning six decades and is most remembered for the horror movies made by the Hammer Film Productions, such as 'The Curse of Frankenstein' (1956) and the 'Horror of Dracula' (1958). He came into international limelight with his performance as Grand Moff Tarkin in 'Star Wars' (1977). He also appeared in numerous TV, stage, and radio productions. Early in his career, Cushing was mostly involved in classical theatre and occasional feature films. The turning point came in 1954, with a TV production of ‘1984’, George Orwell's classic adapted for the BBC.. By this time, Cushing was almost middle aged but his best was yet to come. He was frequently cast opposite his friend Sir Christopher Lee. The pair ushered in a new wave of horror pictures and appeared together more than a dozen times over the next 20 years. He was devoted to his wife Helen Cushing and her death put a dampener on his spirit but he continued to act through the 1980s and gained worldwide fame. He published two volumes of memoirs, besides privately publishing a phonetic history of Britain. Cushing died of prostate cancer in 1994. In 2016, he was "resurrected" with the use of CGI and a stand-in actor for the film 'Rogue One: A Star Wars Story', a move that courted controversy because of its philosophical implications.
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Quick Facts

British Celebrities Born In May

Also Known As: Peter Wilton Cushing

Died At Age: 81

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Helen Cushing

father: George Edward Cushing (1881–1956)

mother: Nellie Marie (1882–1961)

siblings: George

Actors British Men

Height: 6'0" (183 cm), 6'0" Males

Died on: August 11, 1994

place of death: Canterbury, England, United Kingdom

Notable Alumni: Guildhall School Of Music And Drama, Shoreham College

More Facts

education: Guildhall School Of Music And Drama, Shoreham College

  • 1

    What were some of Peter Cushing's most famous movie roles?

    Some of Peter Cushing's most famous movie roles include Grand Moff Tarkin in "Star Wars," Dr. Frankenstein in various Hammer Horror films, and Van Helsing in "Dracula" films.
  • 2

    Did Peter Cushing ever play any roles in television shows?

    Yes, Peter Cushing appeared in several television shows throughout his career, including roles in "Doctor Who," "The Avengers," and "Sherlock Holmes."
  • 3

    How did Peter Cushing approach his acting career?

    Peter Cushing was known for his dedication to his craft and his meticulous approach to each role. He was highly respected for his professionalism and commitment to his work.
  • 4

    What impact did Peter Cushing have on the horror genre?

    Peter Cushing is considered a legend in the horror genre, known for his iconic performances in classic horror films. He helped define the image of characters like Dr. Frankenstein and Van Helsing.
  • 5

    Did Peter Cushing have any notable collaborations with other actors or filmmakers?

    Peter Cushing had many successful collaborations throughout his career, most notably with fellow actor Christopher Lee in numerous Hammer Horror films. His work with director Terence Fisher also left a lasting impact on the genre.
Childhood & Early Life
Peter Cushing was born in Surrey, England on May 26, 1913, to George Edward and Nellie Marie Cushing, and was younger of the two brothers.
There were several stage actors in Cushing's family, including his paternal grandfather Henry William Cushing, his paternal aunt Maude Ashton, and his step-uncle Wilton Herriot.
He began his education in Dulwich before attending the Shoreham Grammar School in Shoreham-by-Sea but he soon felt homesick and returned home after only a term.
He then attended the Purley County Secondary School but except for art, he didn't have much interest in other subjects. He played the lead in nearly every school production during his teenage.
Cushing's father was against him becoming an actor and so got him a job as a surveyor's assistant in the drawing department of the Couldsdon and Purley Urban District Council's surveyor's office, in 1933. Cushing remained there for three years without any promotion.
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Career
Peter Cushing eventually applied for and received a scholarship at the 'Guildhall School of Music and Drama' in London. In 1936, he made his stage debut with the Worthing Repertory Company.
He remained with the company for three years. In 1939, his father bought him a one-way ticket to Hollywood and he moved there with only £50 in his pocket.
Starting with a comedy movie starring Laurel and Hardy, he did a few bit roles here and there. 'Vigil in the Night', released in 1940, was the first film that brought some semblance of attention and critical praise for Cushing.
Soon, he grew homesick again and decided to return to England. Before that, however, he moved to New York, where he voiced a few radio commercials and joined a theatre company. He made his Broadway debut with 'The Seventh Trumpet' in 1941 but it received poor reviews.
He returned to England during World War II, where he joined the 'Entertainments National Service Association' (ENSA), which performed plays for British troops. While appearing in Noel Coward's 'Private Lives', he fell in love with his co-star Helen Beck and married her. He then struggled to find work for years.
In 1947, he accepted the relatively small part of the foppish courtier Osric in Laurence Olivier's 'Hamlet'. The movie bagged the Academy award for the Best Picture and earned Cushing praise for his performance.
Struggle to find work, however, continued. Finally, Helen encouraged him to seek roles in TV. Cushing was hired for a string of roles and over the next three years, he became one of the most popular names in British television.
His biggest TV success was the lead role of Winston Smith in '1984', a 1954 TV adaptation of George Orwell's classic novel of the same name, which earned him a BAFTA award for best actor. In the following two years, he appeared in 31 TV plays and two serials, besides winning several awards.
Cushing soon returned to the big screen with films such as 'The Black Knight' (1954), 'The End of the Affair' (1955), and 'Magic Fire' (1956). He was then cast in the lead role in 'The Curse of Frankenstein' (1957), the first of the 22 films he would make with the Hammer Productions, then a small company. Cushing's 'Hamlet' co-star, Christopher Lee, played the monster in the film and the two actors became lifelong friends. The film was an overnight success, bringing fame to both men.
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Hammer then adapted Bram Stoker's classic vampire novel 'Dracula' (1958) and cast Cushing in the role of the vampire's adversary Doctor Van Helsing. He once again starred opposite Lee.
His non-Hammer productions included 'John Paul Jones' (1959), 'The Flesh and the Fiends' (1959), and 'Fury at Smugglers' Bay'(1961).
In 1965, Cushing gave his final stage performance of the decade in the play 'Thark'. In the same year, he starred in two films based on cult British TV series 'Doctor Who'. He later starred in the 15-episode BBC TV series 'Sherlock Holmes', which was aired in 1968.
Cushing also appeared in films by the independent Amicus Productions, such as Dr. Terror's House of Horrors (1965), 'The Skull' (1965), and 'Torture Garden' (1967).
In 1972, he appeared in 'Dracula A.D. 1972', a Hammer modernisation of the story. His other movies during this period included 'The Vampire Lovers' (1970), 'Fear in the Night' (1972), 'The Satanic Rites of Dracula' (1973), and 'The Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires' (1974).
In 1971, he lent his voice for audiobooks for the Royal National Institute for the Blind. His recorded works included 'The Return of Sherlock Holmes'.
In 1975, anxious to return to the stage, Cushing performed in the play 'The Heiress'. The same year, he starred in the 'Land of the Minotaur', and 'The Ghoul'.
In 1976, Cushing played the character of Grand Moff Tarkin, a high-ranking Imperial governor and commander of the planet-destroying battlestation, the Death Star, in 'Star Wars'. The movie was released in 1977 and gave Cushing the highest amount of visibility of his entire career.
In 1984, Cushing played Sherlock Holmes for the last time in TV film 'The Masks of Death'. The final notable roles of Cushing's career were 'Top Secret!'(1984), 'Sword of the Valiant' (1984), and 'Biggles: Adventures in Time' (1986).
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His final acting job was narration for the Hammer Films documentary 'Flesh and Blood: The Hammer Heritage of Horror' (1994), recorded only a few weeks before his death.
For the 2016 film 'Rogue One', released 20 years after Cushing's death, CGI and digitally-repurposed-archive footage were used to "resurrect" the actor, which generated controversy.
Major Works
He gained widespread appreciation for his portrayal of Baron Frankenstein in the 'Frankenstein' film series and of Doctor Van Helsing in the 'Dracula' film series
Family & Personal Life
Peter Cushing and his wife Helen were married for 28 years, until her death in 1971. The two were devoted to each other and after her death, he lost interest in work and his projects became more and more modest.
He was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1982 but went on to live another 13 years without any operative treatment.
He died of prostate cancer on 11 August 1994, at the age of 81, at the Pilgrims Hospice in Canterbury.
Facts About Peter Cushing

Peter Cushing was an avid collector of toy soldiers. He enjoyed meticulously painting and arranging the figures in elaborate battle scenes.

Cushing was known for his love of gardening and often spent hours tending to his plants and flowers
He found solace and relaxation in the simple act of nurturing his garden.

Despite his reputation for playing sinister characters on screen, Cushing was known for his kindness and generosity off camera.

Cushing had a great sense of humor and loved to pull pranks on his co-stars and friends
He enjoyed keeping the atmosphere light on set with his playful antics.

In addition to his acting talents, Cushing was also a skilled artist and enjoyed drawing and sketching in his free time.

He found inspiration in the world around him and often used his art as a form of self-expression.

Awards

BAFTA Awards
1956 Best Actor Winner

See the events in life of Peter Cushing in Chronological Order

How To Cite

Article Title
- Peter Cushing Biography
Author
- Editors, TheFamousPeople.com
Website
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URL
https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/peter-cushing-38271.php

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