Peter Alexander Ustinov (born
April 16,
1921) is a British
actor, writer and
dramatist. He was born in
London of
Russian parentage. He made his stage début as an actor in
1938, becoming quickly established. After military service in
World War II, he began to branch out into writing, and his first major success was with
The Love of Four Colonels in
1951. His career as a dramatist continued alongside his acting career, his best-known play being,
Romanoff and Juliet[?] (
1956). His film roles include Captain Vere in
Billy Budd[?] (
1962), Lentulus Batiatus in
Spartacus (
1960), and in several films as
Hercule Poirot, a part he first played in
Death on the Nile (1978). His autobiography,
Dear Me (1977), was well received.
