| Relationships | Son of Jona Freiherr von Ustinov (press officer at the German Embassy in London, and of Russian, Polish Jewish, German and Ethiopian descent) and Nadezhda Leontievna Benois (painter and ballet designer of French, German, Italian and Russian descent).
Grandson of Baron Plato von Ustinov (Russian noble) and Magdalena Hall (of German-Ethiopian-Jewish origin).
Grandson of Leon Benois (Imperial Russian architect and owner of Leonardo da Vinci's painting Madonna Benois). Leon's brother was Alexandre Benois (stage designer who worked with Stravinsky and Diaghilev). Their paternal ancestor was Jules-César Benois (chef who left France for St Petersburg during the French Revolution and became a chef to Emperor Paul I of Russia).
Great-grandson of Moritz Hall (Jewish refugee from Kraków and later a Christian convert and collaborator of Swiss and German missionaries in Ethiopia).
Great-great-grandson of Eduard Zander (German painted) and Court-Lady Isette-Werq in Gondar (Ethiopian aristocrat) |
| Biography | Sir Peter Ustinov CBE FRSA was an English actor, voice actor, writer, dramatist, filmmaker, theatre and opera director, stage designer, screenwriter, comedian, humourist, newspaper and magazine columnist, radio broadcaster and television presenter. He was a fixture on television talk shows and lecture circuits for much of his career. An intellectual and diplomat, he held various academic posts and served as a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF and President of the World Federalist Movement.
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 and a Grammy Award for best recording for children, as well as the recipient of governmental honours from, amongst others, the United Kingdom, France and Germany. He displayed a unique cultural versatility that has frequently earned him the accolade of a Renaissance man. 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.
In 2003, Durham University changed the name of its Graduate Society to Ustinov College in honour of the significant contributions Ustinov had made as chancellor of the university from 1992 until his death. |