Person    | Male  Born 26/5/1913  Died 11/8/1994

Peter Cushing

Categories: Cinema, Theatre, TV & Radio

Countries: USA

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

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Peter Cushing

Commemorated ati

Peter Cushing

Peter Cushing, star of Hammer Films and many other motion pictures, 'A true g...

Read More

Other Subjects

Richard Briers

Richard Briers

Actor. Born Richard David Briers at the Nelson Hospital in Merton. After many stage appearances, he came to national recognition in the television sitcom 'Marriage Lines'. He is however best rememb...

Person, Cinema, Theatre, TV & Radio

1 memorial
Virginia McKenna

Virginia McKenna

Actor and wild-life campaigner.  Born Marylebone.  Briefly married to actor Denholm Elliott, then to actor Bill Travers 1957 until his death in 1994.  Played Violette Szabo, in the 1958 film 'Carve...

Person, Cinema, Animals, Theatre

1 memorial
Driving Miss Daisy

Driving Miss Daisy

Film starring Jessica Tandy and Morgan Freeman. The plot centres around an elderly Jewish woman and her African-American chauffeur. It explores racism, and anti-semitism in the American south. It w...

Media, Cinema

1 memorial
Michael Powell

Michael Powell

Born Michael Latham Powell at Howletts, Bekesbourne, near Canterbury, Kent. He left his job in banking to enter the film industry. As co-director to Alexander Korda on 'The Thief of Bagdad' he was ...

Person, Cinema

2 memorials
George Harrison

George Harrison

Musician and songwriter. Born Liverpool.  One of the four Beatles.  Died Los Angeles.

Person, Cinema, Music / songs, Seriously Famous

3 memorials

Previously viewed

Royal Naval Division - WW1

Royal Naval Division - WW1

SW1, Horse Guards Parade

Near the base of the four sides of the obelisk water jets into the basin below. The low wall around this fine, plain monument is decorate...

2 subjects commemorated, 3 creators
St Peters Eaton Square - Austin Thompson

St Peters Eaton Square - Austin Thompson

SW1, Eaton Square, St Peters

That last phrase "Pray for his soul..." is surely a quotation but we can't source it.

Civilian war dead | WW2
4 subjects commemorated