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He219
03-29-2004, 05:44 AM
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Sir Peter Ustinov Dies Aged 82
Last Updated: 29 Mar 2004 02:38 AM


LONDON (*******) - Oscar-winning British actor Peter Ustinov, renowned as being one of the world's most entertaining raconteurs and mimics, has died at the age of 82.

"He died last night in Switzerland," his London agent, Steve Kenis, said on Monday. "I shall remember him for always seeing the bright side of everything."

Just 18 months ago, Ustinov told ******* in an interview he was happy to work until he dropped "as long as I can be guaranteed that I won't know in advance when it's going to happen."

Ustinov, who spoke more than half a dozen languages, won Oscars (news - web sites) for his roles in the films "Spartacus" and "Topkapi."

But he led a richly varied life as a playwright, novelist, film director and goodwill ambassador for the U.N. Children's Fund.

Born in London of Russian parentage, Ustinov was a London revue star as a teenager and wrote his first play at 19. He made his first feature film at 25.

He starred in, produced and directed his own plays in London, New York, Berlin, Paris and Rome. He wrote novels to fill in time whilst hanging around on Hollywood film sets.

He interviewed a string of world leaders, was garlanded with international honors and ranked as one of the finest mimics in the business.

On stages across Europe, the United States and Australia, he captured by caricature an international Who's Who of characters, insisting: "I don't rehearse the faces at all. I just feel like the people."

Ustinov was the first to admit that laughter had been a life-long drug, confessing: "I was irrevocably betrothed to laughter, the sound of which has always seemed to me to be the most civilized music in the world."

He was once asked what would be his ideal epitaph.

With a familiar twinkle in his eye, he swiftly decided on the perfect inscription for his tombstone: "Keep off the grass."

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20040329/en_nm/people_ustinov_dc_3

DeltaWhisky58
03-29-2004, 07:28 AM
A great loss - RIP.

Kitsune
03-29-2004, 07:40 AM
Tuly. :(

He was very popular here in Germany (spoke very well German, too).
Sad to see him go.

intelligenzija
03-29-2004, 07:42 AM
he was a great actor! RIP

csqnsas
03-29-2004, 07:45 AM
RIP

He was called up in WWII . If you want a laugh read his auto-biog.

He was tasked with 'attacking' a Home guard post with the rest of his company. All the 'others' used standard WWII UK tactics. Walking right up the road. Umpire declares all dead. Sir Peter goes to the first house in a row of terraces. Askes to go in, go's in and out the back . Next house asks to go in the back door goes in and out the front door. Did this all the way through the town without being seen, right upto the "Enemy" HQ.

Walks in,points rifle at Col Blimp saying "you are my prisoner" Col Blimp goes red and says no . Sir peter shoots him with a blank from 4 feet. Col Blimp refused to die saying '' Germans are bad shots" the tries to interrogate Sir Peter. So Sir Peter who spoke about 7 languages only replys in German. Col Blimp has no idea what to do and accuses him of being mad.

Best thing was on seeing the Army psycologist (by the way Sir Peter had already made a fortune writing plays and books) Army pysc's first questions include .

Question. How much do you earn?

Answer. About 10 dollars a week. ( A pvts pay was about 25 cents a week then).

Reply. You are a liar and are mad??.

Great bloke and will missed.

Kitsune
03-29-2004, 11:11 AM
Born in London of Russian parentage
Father was Russian, mother German, raised in Britain. Spoke several languages. A true European.

aeternum
03-29-2004, 11:15 AM
Yes indeed, he was a great European! RIP

cbreedon
03-29-2004, 11:18 AM
very humorous and insightful man.

Sad to see him gone :(

Catch22
03-29-2004, 11:19 AM
Sad news indeed. :(
Loved his books - especially "Old man and Mr.Smith"

Midav
03-29-2004, 01:04 PM
What a shame :(

RIP

Kitsune
03-29-2004, 01:07 PM
I told rubbish :oops: : Father German (with Russian ancestors), mother French (with Italian and Ethiopian[!] ancestors), procreated in St.Peterburg, born in London...thats correct now (I hope)

HELEX
03-29-2004, 05:37 PM
"Terrorism is the war of the poor against the rich, war is the Terrorism of the rich against the poor."

Sir Peter Ustinov