Quotes
 As far back as I can remember, I had a passion for `dressing up` and playing games of `Let`s Pretend`, which are, of course, the basic principals of acting, and if you are lucky enough, you get paid for so doing, hard work though it may be. I don`t think there is really a favorite, I`m very fond of film making as a whole and as a medium and of course, there are some that I`ve enjoyed making more than others but I`ve enjoyed making all of them.
(brainyquote.com)
[on the wig he had to wear for _Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell (1974)_] "It made me look like Helen Hayes".
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I didn`t set out to make this kind of picture. It just came my way. But its been going on for me for 16 years now and its wonderful for an actor to work consistently. There seems to be an insatiable audience for this type of film.
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I`m always glad to be offered roles, but wouldn`t take any role as this could do you more harm than good, but I`ve been at what they call `on the top` as far as being known for twenty years.
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You see I don`t like to be really too commercial about things but in this business you`ve just got to be commercial otherwise the films don`t make money and you don`t make films and as a long as a commodity is selling it`s silly to kill it dead.
(brainyquote.com)
I hope this doesn`t sound pompous but I don`t think of myself as famous, whatever fame I`ve got has come through what I`ve done and associations of things I`ve done.
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It gives me the most wonderful feeling. These dear people love me so much and want to see me. The astonishing thing is that when I made the Frankenstein" and "Dracula" movies almost 30 years ago the young audiences who see me now weren`t even born yet. A new generation has grown up with my films. And the original audiences are still able to see me in new pictures. So, as long as these films are made I will have a life in this business -- for which I`m eternally grateful." (from a 1985 "Starlog" interview)
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Today`s youth cannot miss something they have never known, but I fear that there are no current fictional characters whose impact and influence will last with such abiding affection into their `sore and yellow` as this splendid man`s creations have in mine!
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People look at me as if I were some sort of monster, but I can`t think why. In my macabre pictures, I have either been a monster-maker or a monster-destroyer, but never a monster. Actually, I`m a gentle fellow. Never harmed a fly. I love animals, and when I`m in the country I`m a keen bird-watcher. - ABC Film Review (Nov 1964)
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Since Helen passed on I can`t find anything; the heart, quite simply, has gone out of everything. Time is interminable, the loneliness is almost unbearable and the only thing that keeps me going is the knowledge that my dear Helen and I will be united again some day. To join Helen is my only ambition. You have my permission to publish that... really, you know dear boy, it`s all just killing time. Please say that. - Radio Times 1972
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There are all sorts of reasons why I don`t do much work in the theatre, the main one being that after two performances I feel I`ve given all I can. I hate repetition, I really do. It`s like asking a painter to paint he same picture every day of his life.
(brainyquote.com)
When Helen passed on six years ago I lost the only joy in life that I ever wanted. She was my whole life and without her there is no meaning. I am simply killing time, so to speak, until that wonderful day when we are together again.
Television is rather a frightening business. But I get all the relaxation I want from my collection of model soldiers.
In the early days I played a lot of comedy in the theater and on television. But once an actor becomes well known in any kind of part, he tends to get stereotyped. After I played Frankenstein, I was only thought of in that light. Of course, some actors are better at drama and some are better at comedy. But they can certainly have a stab at both. An actor should be able to do it all.
There are all sorts of reasons why I don`t do much work in the theater, the main one being that after two performances I feel I`ve given all I can. I hate repetition, I really do. It`s like asking a painter to paint he same picture every day of his life.
An actor`s job is to entertain and I`m glad to say that my films succeeded in that respect.
"Strangely enough, I don`t like horror pictures at all. I love to make them because they give pleasure to people, but my favourite types of films are much more subtle than horror. I like to watch films like Bridge Over the River Kawi, The Apartment or lovely musicals." - (1980s)
My criterion for accepting a role isn`t based on what I would like to do. I try to consider what the audience would like to see me do and I thought kids would adore Star Wars.
"You cannot make a film like this without integrity. To make the audiences believe in you, you must believe utterly in what you are doing." - (1972)
There is little chance for a person to exercise the imagination today in this complex, programmed society we have.
"You have to have a sense of humour, darling, to be alive. Even a bit mad. It helps to be mad." - (1991)
[on the wig he had to wear for Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell (1974)] It made me look like Helen Hayes.
I hate the word `hate`.
Teeth are a vitally important part of an actor`s equipment. I have over 30 toothbrushes at home and always keep a good supply at the studio.
If I played Hamlet, they`d call it a horror film.
Who wants to see me as `Hamlet`? Very few. But millions want to see me as Frankenstein so that`s the one I do.
Trivia
George Lucas originally planned to use archival footage of Cushing from Star Wars (1977) for insertion into Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005). This would have made Episode III Cushing's final, albeit posthumous, collaboration with Christopher Lee. However, none of the footage was suitable to Lucas' needs. This may be because Tarkin only appears in long shots, due to the pain associated with wearing the boots Cushing was wearing. Therefore, Wayne Pygram was cast, and made to wear prosthetic make-up so that he would resemble Cushing.
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Isn't it odd that Vincent Price and Christopher Lee were born on the same day (27th May) and Peter Cushing was born on the 26th.
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He was so ubiquitous on live television in Britain in the early 1950s that one popular comedian joked: "You know what television is, don`t you? It`s Peter Cushing with knobs.".
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Only one of the main characters from Star Wars not to appear in the sequels (for the obvious reason).
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Appeared in Hamlet (1948) as Osric. This was also his first film with Christopher Lee. Alec Guinness also played Osric in John Gielgud`s 1934 theatrical production. Cushing, Lee and Guinness all later appeared in the Star Wars films.
(imdb.com)
Cushing reprised his role, with dialog, from his last film Biggles (1986) in the video for the movie`s theme song "No Turning Back" by The Immortals. He appears at the end to tell the camera: "I`m a restless sort of guy." Technically, this makes it his last performance and his last line of dialog.
(imdb.com)
Wrote to BBC program "Jim`ll Fix It" (1975) asking that a new rose be bred and named after his late wife. Jimmy Savile agreed and the process was filmed ending with the creation of a new strain of yellow rose being presented to Peter.
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Described by many presenters as the best interviewee they had.
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In his later years, he and Joyce DeWitt of "Three`s Company" (1977) fame became trans-Atlantic pen pals, when the two became part of the voice-over ensemble for the animated film "Walpurgis Night" . Peter recorded his role in England, while Joyce later commenced recording in California, alongside his old friend Ferdy Mayne. It was during this time that Joyce, being a fan of both classic films and Shakespeare`s works, and Peter, an admirer of the American West, enjoyed their friendship by post.
(imdb.com)
Prior to casting Cushing as Grand Moff Tarkin in Star Wars (1977), George Lucas considered using him as Obi-Wan Kenobi (a role that ultimately went to Alec Guinness).
(imdb.com)
Carrie Fisher said in an interview that doing her scenes with him in the Star Wars (1977) were difficult for two reasons: she thought the lines were ridiculous and she found Peter to be so polite and charming off camera that it was hard to project the sense of disdain that her character, Princess Leia, held for his character, Tarkin.
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Was good friends with Christopher Lee. After he died, Lee said in an interview that he never felt closer and more open to any of his other friends than he felt to Peter.
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During a television interview he confessed that fellow actor Christopher Lee had telephoned him earlier that evening to "Wish me luck!"
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He was preferred to original "Doctor Who" (1963) lead actor William Hartnell as star of Dr. Who and the Daleks (1965) because he was more widely recognized by American audiences.
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His sketch of Sherlock Holmes became the official logo for the Northern Musgraves, a British Sherlock Holmes society.
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Was guest of honor at the Famous Monsters of Filmland Convention in New York City in 1975. After receiving a thunderous ovation from those in attendance, he looked at everyone and said, "Have you ever felt unloved?"
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Withdrew from the film Blood from the Mummy`s Tomb (1971) due to the death of his wife. His role was assumed by Andrew Keir.
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He was an artist, skilled in drawing and painting; as a young struggling actor, he supplemented his income by selling scarves that he hand-painted and later, as an established actor, had showings of his water colors.
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The costume boots they gave Cushing for Star Wars (1977) were too small and hurt his feet. Cushing told George Lucas this, and asked if he could wear slippers instead. Lucas agreed, and shot Cushing from the waist up for nearly all his scenes to compensate for Cushing`s slippers.
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Considered The Blood Beast Terror (1968) to be the worst film he ever made.
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Turned down the role of Dr. Sam Loomis in Halloween (1978).
(imdb.com)
Spouse: Violet Helene Beck (10 April 1943 - 14 January 1971) (her death)
(imdb.com)
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