1987 Ustinov In Russia - Peter Ustinov (Michael O’Mara Books Ltd) Hardback Good unclipped jacket super pictures. Very interesting book by a very clever man
Sir Peter Ustinov (16 April 1921 – 28 March 2004) was an acclaimed British actor, filmmaker, playwright, author, raconteur, and humanitarian. Famous for his remarkable intellect and sharp wit, he was often celebrated as a true 20th-century "Renaissance man".
Early Life & Background
Ancestry: Ustinov was born in London, England, into an exceptionally cosmopolitan family. His background encompassed Russian, German, Polish, French, Italian, and Ethiopian heritage. His father, Jona von Ustinov, was a press officer and MI5 agent, and his mother, Nadia Benois, was an artist and ballet designer.
Education & Languages: Raised in a multilingual household, Ustinov became fluent in several languages, including English, French, German, Italian, and Russian. He trained as an actor at the London Theatre Studio and made his professional stage debut at age 17 in 1938.
World War II: During WWII, Ustinov served in the British Army's Royal Sussex Regiment, during which he acted as a batman for his lifelong friend, actor David Niven.
Stage & Screen Career
Ustinov enjoyed a career spanning nearly six decades in theater, film, and television.
Key Film Roles
Academy Award Winner: He won two Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actor for his roles in:
Spartacus (1960) as Lentulus Batiatus.
Topkapi (1964) as Arthur Simon Simpson.
Iconic Character Portrayals:
Emperor Nero in Quo Vadis (1951), which earned him an Oscar nomination and a Golden Globe.
Hercule Poirot: He became world-famous for playing Agatha Christie's Belgian detective in six films, starting with Death on the Nile (1978) and Evil Under the Sun (1982).
Directing & Writing
Playwright: He authored over 20 plays, including successful productions such as The Love of Four Colonels and Romanoff and Juliet.
Filmmaker: He wrote, directed, and starred in the critically acclaimed film adaptation of Herman Melville's Billy Budd (1962), receiving a BAFTA nomination for Best British Screenplay.
Author: Ustinov penned novels, essay collections, and his best-selling autobiography, Dear Me (1977).
Humanitarian Work & Public Life
UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador: From 1969 until his death, Ustinov dedicated much of his time as a Special Envoy/Ambassador at Large for UNICEF, advocating for vulnerable children around the world. He was awarded the UNICEF Medal for Distinguished Service in 1993.
World Federalism: He was a strong advocate for global unity and served as President of the World Federalist Movement.
Academia: He served as Chancellor of Durham University from 1992 to 2004. In his honor, the university named Ustinov College after him.
Honours & Later Life
Knighthood: Ustinov was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1975 and was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1990.
Personal Life & Death: He lived in Switzerland for much of his later life. He passed away from heart failure on March 28, 2004, at the age of 82.
