[99][152] He was an ardent vegetarian for most of his life who served as a patron with the Vegetarian Society from 1987 until his death. Valentines Day looming on the horizon and the bombardment for these above practice his lines, and give him all the confidence, love, and understanding, He played the lead in nearly every school production during his teenage years, including the role of Sir Anthony Absolute in a 1929 staging of Richard Brinsley Sheridan's comedy of manners play, The Rivals. He was forced to withdraw from the film to care for his wife, and was ultimately replaced by Andrew Keir. His dialog usually runs along the lines of, 'But good heavens, man! In 1987, a watercolour painting Cushing painted was accepted by Prince Edward and auctioned at a charity event he organised to raise funds for The Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme. [135] Also that year, a sketch Cushing drew of Sherlock Holmes was accepted as the official logo of the Northern Musgraves Sherlock Holmes Society. He regularly applied for auditions and openings for roles he found in the arts-oriented newspaper The Stage, but was turned down repeatedly due to his lack of professional experience in the theatre. As both actors were in their seventies, screenwriter N.J. Managed by: Martin Severin Eriksen: Last Updated: December 28, 2016 Afterward, he was granted the scholarship and given odd jobs around the theatre, such as selling refreshments and working as an assistant stage manager. Cushing had a variety of interests outside of acting, including collecting and battling with model soldiers, of which he owned over five thousand. [129][130][131] Joyce Broughton, Cushing's former secretary, had approved recreating Cushing in the film. He was raised in Kenley and Dulwich, South London. [10] However, Cushing was very proud of his experiences with the Hammer films, and never resented becoming known as a horror actor. The couple married in 1943, thereafter, Helen, a former actress became the centre of Cushing’s life, encouraging him and supporting him throughout the early, lean years of his career. "Peter Cushing, 81; Starred in Classic Horror Movies". useless ring of metal around it’s tip, on his back a huge and obviously heavy After a brief Peter Cushing’s first film experience with Sherlock Holmes began in the 1958 version of The Hound of the Baskervilles.This version of The Hound has the distinction of being the first Holmes film to be made in colour. Here's a clip we get requests for frequently. During the 1950s, Cushing was cast in supporting roles in such films as The End of the Affair (1955, as Deborah Kerr's cuckold husband) and Time Without Pity (1957). In exchange, Hammer's James Carreras thanked Cushing by paying for extensive roofing repair work that had recently been done on Cushing's recently purchased Whitstable home. [98], In July 1969, Cushing appeared as the straight man in The Morecambe & Wise Show, the British comedy series. been wiped away.”. In an interview published in 1966, he added, "I do get terribly tired with the neighbourhood kids telling me 'My mum says she wouldn't want to meet you in a dark alley'." Fourteen days of rehearsal was originally scheduled for each episode, but they were cut down to ten days for economic reasons. [60] During filming, Cushing himself suggested the staging for the final confrontation scene, in which Van Helsing leaps onto a large dining room table, opens window curtains to weaken Dracula with sunlight, then uses two candlesticks as a makeshift crucifix to drive the vampire into the sunlight. He nevertheless maintained a belief in both God and an afterlife. During the 1950s, Cushing was cast in supporting roles in such films as The End of the Affair (1955, as Deborah Kerr's cuckold husband) and Time Without Pity (1957). [21] He returned for The Evil of Frankenstein (1963), where the Baron has a carnival hypnotist resurrect his monster's inactive brain,[54] and Frankenstein Created Woman (1967), in which the Frankenstein's monster is a woman played by Playboy magazine centrefold model Susan Denberg. in any way, that you can strengthen your respiratory system. Cushing played the lead role twice more in Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed (1969) and Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell (1974). [13] He spent the next three years in an apprenticeship at Southampton Rep.,[10] auditioning for character roles both there and in other surrounding theatres, eventually amassing almost 100 individual parts. He had played his last for the big screen, but as time would show, he had little intention of leaving us, just yet. Peter Wilton Cushing was born on May 26, 1913 in Kenley, Surrey, England, to Nellie Maria (King) and George Edward Cushing, a quantity surveyor. [19], Soon, he felt the urge to pursue a film career in the United States. [76] The next year, Cushing starred as an Ebenezer Scrooge-like manager of a bank being robbed in the Hammer thriller film Cash on Demand (1961). I read that Helen had a doctor at one time that told her [86] Cushing also starred in several horror films released in 1975. [10] Cushing accepted the role, and Hamlet (1948) marked his British film debut. Her frail health would take the usual vicissitudes, but she took a turn '"[47], Unlike Frankenstein (1931) produced by Universal, the Hammer films revolved mainly around Victor Frankenstein, rather than his monster. were a complete waste of time. very happy couple. After attending the London premiere, she was reportedly "taken aback" and "dazzled" with the effect of seeing Cushing on screen again. and sadness. Cushing played one part against Hayward in one scene, then the opposite part in another, and ultimately the scenes were spliced together in a split screen process that featured Hayward in both parts and left Cushing's work cut from the film altogether. "Horror-film actor Peter Cushing dies at 81, Played variety of roles – From Sherlock Holmes to Baron Frankenstein" (12 August 1994). I knew I would love him for the rest of my days-and beyond. Although not a particular fan of science fiction, Cushing accepted the part because he believed his audience would love Star Wars and enjoy seeing him in the film. In the skit, Cushing portrayed King Arthur, while the other two gave comedic portrayals of characters like Merlin and the knights of the Round Table. "The star who never grew up". Cushing reprised the role of Baron Victor Frankenstein in five sequels. gray suede. During production, Lucas decided to add those shots, along with second unit footage of the Death Star gunners preparing to fire, to add more suspense to the film's space battle scenes. Stevens cast Cushing in the second male lead role of Joe Shand, the husband of the Lombard character's sister. Frankly, I don’t either. [86], Cushing took the lead role in two science fiction films by AARU Productions based on the British television series, Doctor Who. However, when producer Anthony Hinds proposed removing the character's deerstalker, Cushing insisted they remain because audiences associated Holmes with his headgear and pipes. Despite around the clock [62] For the sequel, Dracula: Prince of Darkness (1966), which marked Lee's return to the title role for the first time since 1958, Cushing granted permission for footage featuring him to be used in the opening scene, a reprisal of the climax from the first Dracula film. [6] Cushing loved dressing up and make believe from an early age, and later claimed he always wanted to be an actor, "perhaps without knowing at first. eyes: on his head an old gray velvet hat, with a hole between the dents of [59] Dracula was released in 1958, with Cushing once again starring opposite Lee, who played the title character, although Cushing was given top billing. [10] Director Tim Burton and actor Johnny Depp both said the portrayal of Ichabod Crane in Sleepy Hollow was intended to resemble that of Cushing's old horror film performances. [21] The former film portrays Frankenstein as a far more ruthless character than had been seen before, and features a scene in which Cushing's Frankenstein rapes the character played by Veronica Carlson. I t’s fair to say that if Peter Cushing was associated with a place outside of the fictional castles and laboratories he inhabited in his many film roles, the first to come to mind would likely be the actor’s final residence of Whitstable on the Kent coast.. [14] His first audition was before the actor Allan Aynesworth, who was so unimpressed with Cushing's manner of speech that he rejected him outright and insisted he not return until he improved his diction. [123] In 1989 he was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire for his contributions to the British film industry. [28], During the Second World War he served with the Entertainments National Service Association (ENSA). This was Helen Beck’s first impression of Peter Cushing. [18] After Cushing attempted the accent and failed, Olivier replied, "Well, I appreciate you not wasting my time. [109] Cushing appeared in the television film The Great Houdini (1976) as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the creator of Sherlock Holmes. Mrs Helen Cushing was born, Violet Helene Beck on February the 8th 1905 in St. Petersburg, now Leningrad in the USSR. [36] Other successful television ventures during this time included Epitaph for a Spy, The Noble Spaniard, Beau Brummell,[35] Portrait by Peko,[37] and Anastasia, the latter of which won Cushing the Daily Mail National Television Award for Best Actor of 1953–54. Andre Morrel is solid as the faithful Dr. Watson, while avoiding the buffoonish behavior unfortunately associated with the role. [92] Cushing himself was not a particular fan of horror or science fiction films, but he tended to choose roles not based on whether he enjoyed them, but whether he felt his audience would enjoy him in them. MacDonald, Andrew and MacDonald, Gina (2003). seems to emanate. [10] Far from being deterred by Cushing's unsuccessful audition the year before, Olivier remembered the actor well and was happy to cast him,[10][18] but the only character left unfilled was the relatively small part of the foppish courtier Osric. [96] Cushing also appeared in non-Amicus horror films like Island of Terror (1966) and The Blood Beast Terror (1968), in both of which he investigates a series of mysterious deaths. [10] Director John Carpenter approached him to appear in the horror film Halloween (1978) as Samuel Loomis, the psychiatrist of murderer Michael Myers, but Cushing turned down the role. vagabond”. wanted to go home. He never fully recovered after his wife Helen's death in 1971 and following a lengthy battle with prostate cancer he died on August 11th, 1994. Cushing read Thorndike to prepare for the role, and made suggestions to make-up artist Roy Ashton about Blyss' costume and hairstyle. [106] After Cushing was cast in the role, several changes were made to the script at his suggestion. His mother was the daughter of a carpet merchant and considered of a lower class than her husband. which he credits for his success. [45] After his wife's death Cushing visited several churches and spoke to religious ministers, but was dissatisfied by their reluctance to discuss death and the afterlife, and never joined an organized religion. of the nap long since worn away through constant wear, down-at heel shoes of ", Thanks to his former teacher Davies, Cushing continued to appear in school productions during this time, as well as amateur plays such as W.S. [41] Director Val Guest said he was particularly impressed with Cushing's preparation and ability to plan which props to best use to enhance his performance, so much so that Cushing started to become known as "Props Peter". [10] The scene in which Tarkin and Organa appear together on the Death Star, just before the destruction of the planet Alderaan, was the first scene with major dialogue that Fisher filmed for Star Wars. 1913 -1994. Knight, Chris (1971). Cushing was born in Kenley in Surrey on 26 May 1913. [10] Cushing met a Columbia Pictures employee named Larry Goodkind, who wrote him a letter of recommendation and directed him to acquaintances Goodkind knew at the company Edward Small Productions. [97] Cushing played a surgeon who attempts to restore the beauty of his wife (played by Sue Lloyd), whose face is horribly scarred in an accident. [45] Produced by American writer and director Ted Newsom, his contribution was recorded in Canterbury, near his home. The move proved to be a wise one, as Cushing was hired to complement the cast of a string of major theatre successes that were being adapted to live television. Two [39] For that film, he travelled to Spain and filmed scenes on location in the castles of Manzanares el Real and El Escorial. Cushing later appeared in The Vampire Lovers (1970), an erotic Hammer horror film about a lesbian vampire, adapted in part from the Sheridan Le Fanu novella Carmilla. "Peter Cushing: The First Gentleman of Horror". There is a photo in Peter’s biography showing a smiling Helen and husband who was always close. told there was no hope left and to take her home to make her comfortable. [21] In the first, The Revenge of Frankenstein (1958), his protagonist is sentenced to death by guillotine, but he flees and hides under the alias Doctor Victor Stein. [73] In later years, Cushing considered his Holmes performance one of the finest accomplishments of his career.