MUSEUM OF MODERN MYTHOLOGY AND POP CULTURE

PETER CUSHING

1913-1994. Born in Kenley, Surrey, British actor Peter Cushing worked in repertory theater before appearing in both British and American films. In 1954 he was praised for his portrayal of Winston Smith in the BBC adaptation of George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four. Cushing also played Fitzwilliam Darcy in the BBC's version of Pride and Prejudice, and King Richard II in Richard of Bordeaux. Hammer Films cast Peter Cushing in the role that would make him internationally famous: Victor Frankenstein in 1957's Curse of Frankenstein. In Horror of Dracula, 1958, Cushing was the resourceful Dr. Van Helsing, pit against Christopher Lee's ferocious vampire. He made six Frankenstein films for Hammer, has portrayed Sherlock Holmes many times, and was Grand Moff Tarkin in the original Star Wars movie. Other films include: Hamlet, 1948; The Mummy, 1959; The Vampire Lovers, 1970; A Tale of Two Cities, 1980.

Enter