Peter Ustinov
Biography
Sir Peter Alexander Ustinov CBE was born in Camden, London, England, United Kingdom on April 16, 1921, and died on March 28, 2004, at the age of 82. Known professionally as Sir Peter, he was an English actor, writer, and dramatist. In addition to his work in acting, he was a filmmaker, theatre and opera director, stage designer, author, screenwriter, comedian, humourist, newspaper and magazine columnist, radio broadcaster, and television presenter. He was a fixture on television talk shows and lecture circuits, a respected intellectual and diplomat, and served as a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF and President of the World Federalist Movement. Over his life, he won numerous awards, including two Academy Awards, and accumulated 219 known credits in acting.
Career overview
Sir Peter Alexander Ustinov CBE was born in Camden, London, England, United Kingdom, on April 16, 1921. He passed away on March 28, 2004, at the age of 82. Known professionally as Sir Peter, his career encompassed a remarkable range of disciplines within the entertainment and cultural sectors. He was an English actor, writer, and dramatist, as well as a filmmaker, theatre and opera director, stage designer, author, screenwriter, comedian, humourist, newspaper and magazine columnist, radio broadcaster, and television presenter.
Throughout his career, Ustinov established himself as a noted wit and raconteur, becoming a fixture on television talk shows and lecture circuits. In addition to his extensive work in the arts, he was a respected intellectual and diplomat. He served in various academic posts, as a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF, and as President of the World Federalist Movement.
Over the course of his life, Ustinov was the recipient of numerous accolades. His achievements included winning two Academy Awards. Within his extensive body of work, his known credits include 219 entries listed under acting on the Movie Database, reflecting a prolific presence in film and television.
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Career timeline
Full filmography
- Morceaux de Cannes (2021)
- Parkinson at 50 (2021) as Self (archive footage)
- Hollywood Invasion (2011) as self
- Max par Marcel: Lola Montès (2009) as Self (archive footage)
- Peter Ustinov: The Parkinson Interviews (2004) as Self
- Luther (2003) as Frederick
- Salem Witch Trials (2003) as William Stroughton
- Winter Solstice (2003) as Hughie McLellan
- Winter Solstice (2003)
- Charlie Chaplin: The Forgotten Years (2003) as Self
- Schönbrunn - Well of Beauty (2002) as Presenter
- Gero von Boehm begegnet... (2002) as Self
- Das Leben – ein Karussell: Max Ophüls und sein Werk (2002) as self
- Aeschbacher (2001) as Self
- Victoria & Albert (2001) as König William IV.
- Jukebox Heroes (2001) as Self
- Victoria & Albert (2001) as William IV
- The Ten Commandments of Creativity (2000) as Self
- My Khmer Heart (2000) as Self
- Beckmann (1999) as Self
- Alice in Wonderland (1999) as Walrus
- The Bachelor (1999) as Grandad
- Animal Farm (1999) as Old Major (voice)
- Majestät brauchen Sonne (1999) as (uncredited voice)
- The Johannes B. Kerner Show (1998) as Self
- Sabine Christiansen (1998) as Self
- Hier und heute (1998) as Self
- Alekan le magnifique (1998) as Self
- Stiff Upper Lips (1998) as Horace Wiggins
- Im Dialog (1997) as self
- HARDtalk (1997)
- An Evening with Peter Ustinov (1996) as Self
- Die Harald Schmidt Show (1995) as Self
- Lebens-Künstler (1995) as Self
- Queen: Champions of the World (1995) as Self
- The Phoenix and the Magic Carpet (1995) as Grandfather / Phoenix (voice)
- The Old Curiosity Shop (1995) as Grandfather
- Peter and the Wolf (1995) as Narrator
- Paths of the Gods (1995) as Self - Presenter
- Salzburg Marionette Theatre: The Marriage of Figaro (1995) as Narrator
- Salzburg Marionette Theatre: Don Giovanni (1995) as Narrator
- Salzburg Marionette Theatre: The Abduction from the Seraglio (1995) as Narrator
- Salzburg Marionette Theatre: Così fan tutti (1995) as Narrator
- Salzburg Marionette Theatre: The Magic Flute (1994) as Narrator
- The Bible According to Hollywood (1994) as Self
- Lorenzo's Oil (1992) as Professor Nikolais
- DAS! (1991) as Self
- Boulevard Bio (1991) as Self (archive footage)
- The Trouble With Agatha Christie (1991) as Self - Actor
- Zeil um Zehn (1990) as Self
- There Was a Castle with Forty Dogs (1990) as Il veterinario
- Max Ophüls - Den schönen guten Waren (1990) as Self
- Around the World in 80 Days (1989) as Wilbur Fix
- Blauer Panther (1989) as Self
- The French Revolution (1989) as Vicomte de Mirabeau
- The French Revolution (1989) as André-Boniface-Louis Riquetti, vicomte de Mirabeau (« Les Années Lumière »)
- Granpa (1989) as Granpa (voice)
- Saturday Night Clive (1989)
- Appointment with Death (1988) as Hercule Poirot
- Children of Ghana (1988) as Voice-over (English)
- Peep and the Big Wide World (1988) as Narrator (voice)
- The Secret Identity of Jack the Ripper (1988) as Self - Host
- An Audience with Peter Ustinov (1988) as Self
- Beethovens Zehnte (1988) as Beethoven
- Seitenblicke (1987) as self
- F1 Review 1987 (1987) as Narrator
- Showgeschichten (1986) as Self
- Murder in Three Acts (1986) as Hercule Poirot
- Dead Man's Folly (1986) as Hercule Poirot
- Riders of the Wind (1986) as Self - Narrator (voice)
- Thirteen at Dinner (1985) as Hercule Poirot
- La Dixième de Beethoven (1985) Author
- Goldene Kamera (1984) as Self
- Memed My Hawk (1984) as Abdi Aga
- Memed My Hawk (1984) Director
- Memed My Hawk (1984) Writer
- Memed My Hawk (1984) Producer
- Abgehört (1984) as Genosse Kuruk
- Harty (1983) as Self
- Wogan (1982) as Self
- Champs-Elysées (1982) as Self
- Timewatch (1982) as Self - Narrator (voice)
- Evil Under the Sun (1982) as Hercule Poirot
- Night of 100 Stars (1982) as Self
- Imaginary Friends (1982) as Philip Lester
- The Making of Agatha Christie's 'Evil Under the Sun' (1982) as Hercuele Poirot
- Venezia, carnevale, un amore (1982)
- Wetten, dass..? (1981) as Self
- Doctor Snuggles (1981) as Doctor Snuggles (voice)
- The Great Muppet Caper (1981) as Truck Driver
- Grendel Grendel Grendel (1981) as Grendel (voice)
- Charlie Chan and the Curse of the Dragon Queen (1981) as Charlie Chan
- Heut' abend (1980) as Self
- Strumpet City (1980) as King Edward VII
- NDR Talk Show (1979) as Self
- Bavarian Film Awards (1979) as Self
- Ashanti (1979) as Suleiman
- Tarka the Otter (1979) as Narrator (voice)
- We'll Grow Thin Together (1979) as Victor Lasnier
- Death on the Tagus (1979) as Self
- Nuclear Nightmares (1979) as Himself
- Einstein's Universe (1979) as Himself
- Through Joy and Beyond (1979) as C. S. Lewis (voice)
- An Audience with... (1978) as Self
- Death on the Nile (1978) as Hercule Poirot
- The Thief of Baghdad (1978) as The Caliph
- Halfway Up the Tree (1978) Theatre Play
- Metamorphoses (1978) as Narrator (voice)
- Death on the Nile: Making of Featurette (1978) as Self / Hercule Poirot
- Auf los geht's los (1977) as Self
- Jesus of Nazareth (1977) as Herod the Great
- Double Murder (1977) as Harry Hellman
- Summa Summarum - Sondersendung zu Heinz Rühmanns 75. Geburtstag (1977)
- The Last Remake of Beau Geste (1977) as Sergeant Markov
- The Mermaid Frolics (1977) as Self
- The Purple Taxi (1977) as Taubelman
- The Mouse and His Child (1977) as Manny the Rat (voice)
- The Muppet Show (1976) as Self - Special Guest Star / Dr. Felix Ogelbaum
- Cérémonie des César (1976) as Self - Host
- Cérémonie des César (1976) as Self - President
- Music & Guests (1976) as Self
- The Secret Policeman's Ball (1976) as Self
- Treasure of Matecumbe (1976) as Dr. Snodgrass
- Logan's Run (1976) as Old Man
- Not an Evening like any Other (1976) as Antiquiätenhändler 'Billy's Kunstshop'
- Apostrophes (1975) as Self
- Les Rendez-vous du dimanche (1975) as Self
- Numéro un (1975) as Self
- One of Our Dinosaurs Is Missing (1975) as Prince John/ Hnup Wan ''Hunp''
- Spécial cinéma (1974) as Self
- 3 nach 9 (1974) as Self
- Dinah! (1974) as Self
- Die Montagsmaler (1974) as Self
- Robin Hood (1973) as Prince John - A Lion / King Richard (voice)
- Je später der Abend (1973) as Self
- Julie's Christmas Special (1973) as Self / Santa Claus
- Short Cut to Haifa (1972) as Israeli Truck Driver
- Clochemerle (1972) as Narrator
- The Marshal of Madrid (1972)
- Hammersmith Is Out (1972) as Doctor
- Hammersmith Is Out (1972) Director
- Film '72 (1971) as Self
- V.I.P. Schaukel (1971) as Self
- Die Zauberflöte (1971) Director
- Anneliese Rothenberger gibt sich die Ehre (1971) as Self
- Gideon (1971) as Gideon
- Babar Comes to America (1971) as Narrator (voice)
- A Storm in Summer (1970) as Abel Shaddick
- Viva Max! (1969) as General Maximilian Rodrigues De Santos
- L'Amour des 4 colonels (1969) Writer
- The Dick Cavett Show (1968) as Self - Guest
- Hot Millions (1968) as Marcus Pendleton / Caesar Smith
- Hot Millions (1968) Writer
- Blackbeard's Ghost (1968) as Captain Blackbeard
- Klapzubova jedenáctka (1968) as reporter
- The Story of Babar, the Little Elephant (1968) as Narrator / All voices (voice)
- Diaghilev: The Years Abroad (1968) as Presenter
- Omnibus (1967) as Self
- The Comedians (1967) as Ambassador Manuel Pineda
- The Comedians in Africa (1967) as Self (uncredited)
- NET Playhouse (1966) as Self
- Barefoot in Athens (1966) as Socrates
- Lady L (1965) as Prince Otto of Bavaria
- Lady L (1965) Director
- Lady L (1965) Writer
- John Goldfarb, Please Come Home! (1965) as Fawz
- Die Drehscheibe (1964) as Self
- The Wednesday Play (1964) Writer
- Thursday Theatre (1964) Writer
- Topkapi (1964) as Arthur Simon Simpson
- Zwischenstation (1964) as Self
- Pour le plaisir (1964) as Self
- Lieder, Arien und Geschichten (1964) as Self
- The Peaches (1964) as Narrator (voice)
- The Danny Kaye Show (1963) as Self
- Everyman (1963) as Narrator (English)
- Women of the World (1963) as English Narration (voice)
- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962) as Self
- The Merv Griffin Show (1962) as Self
- Das Profil (1962) as Self
- Billy Budd (1962) as Edwin Fairfax Vere, Post Captain
- Billy Budd (1962) Screenplay
- Billy Budd (1962) Director
- Billy Budd (1962) Producer
- The Mike Douglas Show (1961) as Self
- Romanoff and Juliet (1961) as The General
- Romanoff and Juliet (1961) Writer
- Romanoff and Juliet (1961) Director
- Spartacus (1960) as Lentulus Batiatus
- Spartacus (1960) Screenplay
- The Sundowners (1960) as Rupert Venneker
- The David Susskind Show (1959) as Self
- Small World (1958) as Self
- Tonight Starring Jack Paar (1957) as Self
- Aktuelle Schaubude (1957) as Self
- DuPont Show of the Month (1957) Writer
- Theatre Night (1957) as Self — Introduction
- Theatre Night (1957) Writer
- The Spies (1957) as Michel Kiminsky
- The Man Who Wagged His Tail (1957) as Mr. Bossi
- Tony Awards (1956) as Self - Host / Presenter
- Tony Awards (1956) as Self - Co-Host/Presenter
- Tony Awards (1956) as Self - Host
- Tony Awards (1956) as Self - Presenter
- The Steve Allen Show (1956) as Self - Guest
- The Steve Allen Show (1956) as Self
- Cinépanorama (1956) as Self
- The Legend of the Good Beasts (1956) as The Storyteller
- Was bin ich? (1955) as Self
- Folio (1955)
- We're No Angels (1955) as Jules
- Lola Montès (1955) as Circus Master
- The Moment of Truth (1955) as The Marshall
- The Moment of Truth (1955) Writer
- The Egyptian (1954) as Kaptah
- Beau Brummell (1954) as George, Prince of Wales
- The Oscars (1953) as Self
- Omnibus (1952) as Dr. Samuel Johnson
- Omnibus (1952) as Marshal
- Omnibus (1952)
- Omnibus (1952) Director
- Omnibus (1952) Writer
- The Magic Box (1952) as Industry Man
- Le Plaisir (1952) as Narrator (uncredited) (voice) (English edit)
- Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951) as Socrates
- Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951) as Abel Shaddick
- Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951) as Gideon
- Quo Vadis (1951) as Nero
- Hotel Sahara (1951) as Emad
- What's My Line? (1950) as Self - Mystery Guest
- What's My Line? (1950) as Self
- Sunday Night Theatre (1950) Writer
- Odette (1950) as Lt. Alex Rabinovich
- Under Capricorn (1949) Screenplay
- Private Angelo (1949) as Pvt. Angelo
- Private Angelo (1949) Producer
- Private Angelo (1949) Director
- Private Angelo (1949) Screenplay
- Bambi (1948) as Self
- Vice Versa (1948) Producer
- Vice Versa (1948) Director
- Vice Versa (1948) Writer
- School for Secrets (1946) Director
- School for Secrets (1946) Writer
- School for Secrets (1946) Producer
- The True Glory (1945) as Commentator
- Golden Globe Awards (1944) as Self - Presenter
- Golden Globe Awards (1944) as Self - Host
- The Way Ahead (1944) as Rispoli
- The Way Ahead (1944) Screenplay
- The New Lot (1943) as Keith
- The New Lot (1943) Writer
- The Goose Steps Out (1942) as Krauss
- One of Our Aircraft Is Missing (1942) as The Priest
- Let the People Sing (1942) as Dr. Bentika
- After Mein Kampf (1940) as Marinus van der Lubbe
- This Week