Peter Ustinov
Biography
Peter Ustinov was a British actor and writer who trained at the London Theatre Studio and made his stage debut in 1938. His screen debut came with One of Our Aircraft Is Missing (1942), and his first major success as a playwright came with The Love of Four Colonels in 1951. He won Academy Awards for his supporting roles in Spartacus (1960) and Topkapi (1964), and a Golden Globe for Quo Vadis (1951). His films included Blackbeard's Ghost (1968), Logan's Run (1976) and Hot Millions (1968), which he also wrote, as well as Billy Budd (1962), which he adapted, produced, directed and starred in. He voiced Prince John and King Richard in Robin Hood (1973) and played Hercule Poirot six times, beginning with Death on the Nile (1978) and Evil Under the Sun (1982).
82years old at death
- Born London Borough of Camden
- Died Genolier
- Star sign: AriesThe sign runs March 21 to April 19
- Also credited as Sir Peter Alexander Ustinov, Peter Alexander Ustinov and Sir Peter Alexander von Ustinov
Movie Career
- Films
- 38
- Career span
- 61 years1942 to 2003
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First role
Peter Ustinov made his first stage appearance on 18 July 1938 at the Barn Theatre in Shere, playing Waffles in Chekhov's The Wood Demon. Later that year he made his London stage debut at the Players' Theatre.
Behind the camera
In the 1960s, encouraged by Sir Georg Solti, Peter Ustinov directed operas such as Puccini's Gianni Schicchi, Ravel's L'heure espagnole, Schoenberg's Erwartung and Mozart's The Magic Flute. He also designed sets and costumes for Don Giovanni.
Behind the camera
In 1962, Peter Ustinov turned the Broadway play Billy Budd into a film. He wrote the screenplay, produced and directed it, and played Captain Vere.
Getting ready for a role
In 1939, Peter Ustinov took a role in White Cargo at the Aylesbury Rep, and for each performance he used a different accent.
A change of course
In the British Army during the Second World War, Ustinov was a private and acted as David Niven's batman, and he wrote the Niven film The Way Ahead. He debuted in One of Our Aircraft Is Missing (1942), speaking English, Latin and Dutch.
Peter Ustinov movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Most often with
Eric Till directed two of these films, Michael Curtiz two and Robert Stevenson two. Robert Morley appears in four of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Robert Morley's page
Maggie Smith's page
David Niven's page
Hugh Burden's page
Jonathan Cecil's page
John Carradine's page
Eric TillDirector, 2 films, 1968 to 2003
All films by Eric Till
Michael CurtizDirector, 2 films, 1954 to 1955
All films by Michael Curtiz
Robert StevensonDirector, 2 films, 1968 to 1975
All films by Robert Stevenson
Also two films together23 more actors
- James Earl JonesThe Last Remake of Beau Geste (1977) and The Comedians (1967)
- Roddy McDowallEvil Under the Sun (1982) and Charlie Chan and the Curse of the Dragon Queen (1981)
- Tony CurtisMurder in Three Acts (1986) and Spartacus (1960)
- Jack WardenThe Great Muppet Caper (1981) and Death on the Nile (1978)
- Elizabeth TaylorThe Comedians (1967) and Beau Brummell (1954)
- Michael YorkThe Last Remake of Beau Geste (1977) and Logan's Run (1976)
- Pete PostlethwaiteAlice in Wonderland (1999) and Animal Farm (1999)
- Andy DevineThe Mouse and His Child (1977) and Robin Hood (1973)
- Jean SimmonsSpartacus (1960) and The Egyptian (1954)
- Raymond HuntleyHot Millions (1968) and The Way Ahead (1944)
- Roscoe Lee BrowneLogan's Run (1976) and The Comedians (1967)
- John LaurieOne of Our Dinosaurs Is Missing (1975) and The Way Ahead (1944)
- Terry-ThomasThe Last Remake of Beau Geste (1977) and Robin Hood (1973)
- Jane BirkinEvil Under the Sun (1982) and Death on the Nile (1978)
- Diana RiggEvil Under the Sun (1982) and The Great Muppet Caper (1981)
- James DonaldBeau Brummell (1954) and The Way Ahead (1944)
- Leo GennQuo Vadis (1951) and The Way Ahead (1944)
- Barbara HicksEvil Under the Sun (1982) and Death on the Nile (1978)
- Johnny SekkaCharlie Chan and the Curse of the Dragon Queen (1981) and Ashanti (1979)
- Paul RogersBilly Budd (1962) and Beau Brummell (1954)
- George LindseyTreasure of Matecumbe (1976) and Robin Hood (1973)
- John RuddockQuo Vadis (1951) and The Way Ahead (1944)
- Joe DassinLady L (1965) and Topkapi (1964)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.
Box office
What Peter Ustinov's films earned in cinemas worldwide.
Combined worldwide box office
$290 million
15 of the 38 films have a worldwide figure.
Of the 38 films: 15 worldwide figure; 3 us gross only; 7 never in cinemas; 13 figure not found.
- 15Worldwide figure
- 3US gross only
- 7Never in cinemas
- 13Figure not found
Highest grossing
The eight biggest films earned 87% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.
- 1$60M20.7% of the total
- 2$37M12.7% of the total
- 3$33M11.4% of the total
- 4$31M10.8% of the total
- 5$29M10.2% of the total
- 6$25M8.6% of the total
- 7$21M7.3% of the total
- 8$15M5.2% of the total
$38.1 millionfrom the other 7 films with a worldwide figure, 13% of the total
Awards
Twelve awards and honors from 1958 to 1998, six of them major.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Academy Awards | |||
| 1965 | Best Supporting Actor | Topkapi | Won |
| 1961 | Best Supporting Actor | Spartacus | Won |
| Golden Globes | |||
| Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture | Quo Vadis | Won | |
| Emmy Awards | |||
| 1967 | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie | Hallmark Hall of Fame | Won |
| 1958 | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie | Won | |
| Berlin Film Festival | |||
| Silver Bear | Won | ||
| Other honors | |||
| 1998 | Bavarian TV Awards | Won | |
| 1998 | Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany | Won | |
| 1995 | Honorary doctorate of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel | Honorary | |
| 1987 | Golden Schlitzohr | Won | |
| 1984 | Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany | Won | |
| 1981 | Order of Karl Valentin | Won | |
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.