“I have Russian, German, Spanish, Italian, French and Ethiopian blood in my veins.”

Sir Peter Ustinov
1921 – 2004

Sir Peter Ustinov

A global citizen and a true multi-talent.

He was an artist, Oscar-winning actor, writer, director, set designer, storyteller and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. But above all, he was one thing: a man who wanted to make the world a better place with creativity and joy in his heart - and who firmly believed that commitment to a good cause is always worthwhile.

Sir Peter Ustinov

Creative jack-of-all-trades and Oscar winner

Born on April 16, 1921 in London as Peter Alexander Baron von Ustinov, he made his stage debut at the age of 17 with the play "The Forest Goblin". After numerous theater engagements towards the end of the 1930s, his first own play, "House of Regrets", premiered in 1942. Further successes on the stage came with theater productions such as "The Love of the Four Colonels" and "Romanoff and Juliet". From the 1940s onwards, Sir Peter Ustinov was also regularly seen on the big screen.

He first gained worldwide recognition as Nero in the monumental film “Quo Vadis?”
In 1961 he received his first Oscar for best supporting actor in “Spartacus”.
In 1965, he won his second Oscar for his performance in the crime comedy “Topkapi”.
As the quirky master detective Hercule Poirot in Agatha Christie film adaptations, he has also earned a permanent place in the world's film memory.

He also recorded records, performed as an entertainer and impersonator, hosted TV documentaries and wrote over 30 books, including novels, short story collections, travelogues and a cookbook.

Sir Peter Ustinov

Foundation founder for a culture of diversity and respect

Throughout his life, he emphatically defended the belief that no commitment is ever in vain, both in word and deed. Conscious of his responsibility, he always used his worldwide popularity for a good cause. He helped where help is most urgently needed: children in need.

A thoroughly cosmopolitan in his thoughts, actions and his own biography, he was committed to a culture of diversity and mutual respect. For a culture that he always saw as being threatened by an insidious enemy that he had personally declared war on: prejudice. He saw enlightenment, education and support as the appropriate means of standing up to this enemy. That is why in 1999 he and his son Igor founded the Sir Peter Ustinov Foundation, which continues his courageous commitment to global peace, democracy and equal opportunities beyond his lifetime.