Peter Wilton Cushing, OBE was an English actor, known for his many appearances in Hammer Films, in which he played the distinguished-looking but sinister scientist Baron Frankenstein and the vampire hunter Dr. Van Helsing, amongst many other roles, often appearing opposite Christopher Lee, and occasionally Vincent Price. A familiar face on both sides of the Atlantic, his most famous roles outside of "Hammer Horror" include his many appearances as Sherlock Holmes, as Grand Moff Tarkin in Star Wars and as the mysterious Doctor in Dr. Who and the Daleks and Daleks - Invasion Earth 2150 AD in... 1965 and 1966, two cinema films based on the television series Doctor Who. Cushing was born in Kenley, Surrey, a son of George Edward Cushing and Nellie Marie Cushing. He was raised in Kenley and in Dulwich, South London. Cushing left his first job as a surveyor's assistant to take a scholarship at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. After working in repertory theatre in Worthing, West Sussex, he left for Hollywood in 1939, debuting in The Man in the Iron Mask, then returned in 1941 after roles in several films.
more