Thursday, April 24, 2014

U is for Peter Ustinov




BORN: April 16, 1921

DIED: March 28, 2004

AGED: 82 yrs from heart failure

MARRIED: 3 times

He had an interesting lineage-Russian, German, French, Spanish etc.... This man was no dummy! He was fluent in many languages. He was not only an actor but a director, writer and an interviewer. He made a great Hercule Poirot. He was in India sitting in the gardens waiting for Indira Ghandi as he was going to interview her and as she was making her way to him she was assassinated. Wow I think this is the only coloured image I have of my list.

OSCARS: Spartacus, Topkapi

FILMS:  Quo Vadis, We're No Angels, Billy Bud, Death On The Nile


34 comments:

  1. He was there when Indira Ghandi was assassinated? Wow. What a terrifying moment.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. yes it was. he was siting in one part of the garden and she was making her way to him when she was gunned down. He did not witness it due to all the trees and stuff but he definitely heard it

      Delete
  2. An interviewer? That's an interesting combination, actually. I assume he interviewed people and wrote it up and published it somewhere?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. He did publish more than one book but I can't think of them off the top of my head. he was a man of many talents

      Delete
  3. I am also amazed by the snippet about Indira Ghandi - you learn something new every day! David Suchet is still my favourite Poirot though.
    Anabel at Anabel's Travel Blog

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's funny because i remember when she was assassinated and was surprised he was there and he was being interviewed.

      Delete
    2. I just don't remember that at all though I remember the assassination. Weird!

      Delete
  4. Amazing facts you've dug up. You must have done a ton of research!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ok I actually know most of the stuff I wrote. I had to look up the exact dates and make sure what i remembered was correct from all the books I have read. In this case I remember this quite clearly when this happened and watched him being interviewed

      Delete
  5. He was definitely a great Poirot! I had no idea about him being about to interview Ghandi when she was assassinated. Wow!

    ReplyDelete
  6. He would've been an interesting guest at a dinner party, I bet. He looked like he had a great sense of humor.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You bet and he was at many dinner parties because he was a great recanteur

      Delete
  7. I love his Poirot! Definitely my favorite of his :) that story about Indira Gandhi is insane!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Also, what's the name of that documentary you mentioned on my blog? I'd love to check it out.

      Delete
    2. The episode was on History decoded or mysteries at the museum! I believe that is it! I just watched it the other night and it is a series. They spoke about that beautiful object that is linked to El Dorado. They wanted to figure out how that object was made and what happened to that tribe. It was not on the history channel but on Detour

      Delete
  8. I can't imagine knowing so many languages. He must have been brilliant.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. He was considered brilliant and in so many things not just acting

      Delete
  9. Although his name is like a household name to me, I can't recall ever actually seeing him in anything!

    Thanks for visiting the UR site today!

    River Fairchild – A to Z April Challenge
    Untethered Realms

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Spartacus is one film and he was on many shows and documentaries. You probably have seen him in a movie but can't recall which one

      Delete
  10. This man must have had major game to be married three times haha.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Wow – that is so romantic and yet so sad that she was assassinated on her way to him. Very interesting post.
    Deb@ http://debioneille.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh I was shocked when I heard the news and I was also shocked that he was waiting to interview her

      Delete
  12. I loved Ustinov's sad face. He's done such great work, but I think I like him most in movies such as Spartacus and The Egyptian and Lola Montes. And he was great on The Muppet Show.

    See ya 'round the web. All Things Kevyn.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. He could act with his little pinky:) I forgot that he was on the Muppet Show-that was my dad's favourite:)

      Delete
  13. Uh-oh, that's sad. He looks smart! : )

    ReplyDelete
  14. I'm drawing a blank; I know him as an actor, but I'm not sure what I saw him acting in.

    betty

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh I bet you have seen him in a movie because he was such a great character actor

      Delete
  15. Doesn't look happy in the photo...what a scowl! Funny...I'm more familiar with the name, than with the man.
    Shells–Tales–Sails

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think he is supposed to have a contemplative look:) I am certain you have seen him in a movie or on TV

      Delete
  16. He was a fantastic actor!

    Damyanti, Co-host A to Z Challenge April 2014, My Latest post

    Twitter: @AprilA2Z
    #atozchallenge

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That he was and a great story teller! Very gifted

      Delete