Ten fun facts about Peter Ustinov

Fact 1
A noted wit and raconteur, he was a fixture on television talk shows and lecture circuits for much of his career.

Fact 2
He was also a respected intellectual and diplomat who, in addition to his various academic posts, served as a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF and President of the World Federalist Movement.

Fact 3
He was also renowned as a filmmaker, theatre and opera director, stage designer, author, screenwriter, comedian, humorist, newspaper and magazine columnist, radio broadcaster and television presenter.

Fact 4
He displayed a unique cultural versatility that has frequently earned him the accolade of a Renaissance man.

Fact 5
Ustinov was nicknamed “Klop” (which in Russian means “bed-bug”) when he was young.

Fact 6
Ustinov was the winner of numerous awards over his life, including two Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actor, Emmy Awards, Golden Globes and BAFTA Awards for acting, a Grammy Award for best recording for children, as well as the recipient of governmental honors from, amongst others, the United Kingdom, France and Germany.

Fact 7
He was of Russian, German, Jewish and Ethiopian noble descent.

Fact 8
He could arguably be considered the first man of known Russian descent to have won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.

Fact 9
Miklós Rózsa, composer of the music for Quo Vadis and of numerous concert works, dedicated his String Quartet No. 1, Op. 22 (1950) to Ustinov.

Fact 10
In 2003 Durham University changed the name of its Graduate Society to Ustinov College in honor of the significant contributions Contents