Peter Cushing - Biography

Last Editor: BLARSON77				Peter Cushing Biography -   Name : Peter Cushing Date of birth : 26 May 1913 Place of birth : Kenley, Surrey, England, UK Date of death : 11 August 1994 Place of death : Canterbury, Kent, England, UK. (prostate cancer) Birth name : Peter Wilton Cushing Height : 5' 8

Peter Cushing Trivia -

Turned down the role of Dr. Sam Loomis in Halloween (1978). 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. Considered The Blood Beast Terror (1968) to be the worst film he ever made. 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. 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. 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. 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?" His sketch of Sherlock Holmes became the official logo for the Northern Musgraves, a British Sherlock Holmes society. 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. During a television interview he confessed that fellow actor Christopher Lee had telephoned him earlier that evening to "Wish me luck!" 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. 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. George Lucas originally planned to use archival footage of Cushing from Star Wars, for insertion into Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. This would have made Episode III his final, albeit posthumous, collaboration with Christopher Lee. However, none of the footage was suitable to Lucas's needs. This may be because Tarkin only appears in a long shot, of which Cushing only appears in a handful, due to the pain associated with wearing his boots. Therefore, Wayne Pygram was cast, and made to wear prosthetic make-up so that he would resemble Cushing. Prior to being cast as Tarkin in Star Wars (1977), George Lucas considered using him as Obi-Wan Kenobi (which ultimately went to Alec Guinness). Turned down the role of Dr. Sam Loomis in Halloween (1978).

Peter Cushing Detailed Biography -

Peter Cushing (May 26, 1913 - August 11, 1994) was a British actor, perhaps best known today for his role as Grand Moff Tarkin in the film Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. Cushing is also remembered for his work in the Hammer Horror films -- particularly his recurring roles as Dr Frankenstein in Hammer's Frankenstein films, and as Professor van Helsing in Hammer's Dracula films (opposite Christopher Lee as Dracula). In the mid-1960s, he played the eccentric human scientist Dr. Who in two movies (Dr. Who and the Daleks and Daleks - Invasion Earth 2150 AD) based on the television series Doctor Who. He was one of many stars to guest on the Morecambe and Wise show -- the standing joke in his case being the idea that he was never paid for his appearance.