Actor. Born Peter Wilton Cushing in Kenley, Surrey. After playing small roles on stage, he went to America where he performed in several films, including one with Laurel and Hardy. Returning to Britain he played various roles, including a small part in Olivier's film of Hamlet. Eventually he got work on television and appeared as Winston Smith in the 1954 production of George Orwell's 1984. The play was performed live and caused much controversy, which didn't prevent it from being performed for a second time.
His greatest successes were in the cinema, where he appeared in many of the Hammer films playing Dr Van Helsing and Baron Frankenstein. He also played the lead in both film versions of Dr Who. In later years he achieved international fame playing Grand Moff Tarkin in the first of the Star Wars films. The death of his wife affected him badly, and he later implied that he had attempted suicide by running up and down stairs in order to induce a heart attack.
The Look at Life episode 'Model World' has a sequence in which Cushing is shown playing, on his own, with his extensive collection of models (soldiers in battle settings, animals in farm settings, etc.).
He was very well-liked and respected by his fellow actors who report him being a gentleman with a perfectionist approach to his work.
Credit for this entry to: Alan Patient of www.plaquesoflondon.co.uk
