This article incorporates text from a free content work. [21] One of Cushing's primary scenes involved Osric talking to Hamlet and Horatio while walking down a wide stone spiral stairway. [10] Cushing accepted the role, and Hamlet (1948) marked his British film debut. Since the film's primary antagonist Darth Vader wore a mask throughout the entire film and his face was never visible, Lucas felt a strong human villain character was necessary. Peter Wilton Cushing was born on May 26, 1913 in Kenley, Surrey, England, to Nellie Maria (King) and George Edward Cushing, a quantity surveyor. Answer (1 of 2): His former secretary and the executor/manager of his estate was apparently pleased with the result. His acting career spanned over six decades and included appearances in more than 100 films, as well as many television, stage, and radio roles. [10] As a result, while the film did well at the box-office with its target audience, it drew mixed to negative reviews from the critics. [28][35] Nevertheless, a second televised production was filmed and aired, and Cushing eventually drew both critical praise and acting awards, further cementing his reputation as one of Britain's biggest television stars. link]: Studio executives were pleased with Cushing's performance, and there was talk among Hollywood insiders grooming him for stardom. (1972), a sequel to The Abominable Dr. Phibes, and then co-starred with Price again in the film Madhouse (1974). The latter film starred Deborah Kerr, Cushing's co-star from The End of the Affair, and Gary Cooper, one of Cushing's favourite actors. [41], Cushing appeared in the television film The Masks of Death (1984), marking both the last time he played detective Sherlock Holmes and the final performance for which he received top billing. Peter Cushing (1913-1994) was one of the most respected and important actors in the horror and fantasy film genres. [68], Immediately upon completion of The Hound of the Baskervilles, Cushing was offered the lead role in the Hammer film The Man Who Could Cheat Death (1959), a remake of The Man in Half Moon Street (1945). [65], Although most well known for his roles in the Frankenstein and Dracula films, Cushing appeared in a wide variety of other Hammer productions during this time. Peter Cushing - not for first nor the last time this week, we salute you. Though only in his early 50s at the time, Cushing regularly played decrepit characters. Although some childhood injuries prevented him from serving on active duty,[10] a friend suggested he entertain the troops by performing as part of the Entertainments National Service Association. Over the next three years, he became one of the most active and favoured names in British television,[10][15][35] and was considered a pioneer in British television drama. "[31] Nearing middle age and finding it increasingly harder to make a living in acting, Cushing began to consider himself a failure. Yes, it was small- but it was a valuable learning experience nonetheless. His first job was as a surveyor's assistant in . [citation needed] Lee recognised Cushing's health was fading and did his best to keep his friend's spirits up, but Lee later claimed he had a premonition that it would be the last time he saw Cushing alive, which proved to be true. The latter was often fatal during that period, although he survived. Actually, I'm a gentle fellow. [102] He appeared alongside Vincent Price in Dr. Phibes Rises Again! [79], Although best known for his Hammer performances from the 1950s to the 1970s, Cushing worked in a variety of other roles during this time, and actively sought roles outside the horror genre to diversify his work. [73], Cushing had a variety of interests outside acting, including collecting and battling model soldiers, of which he owned over five thousand. At times, this put him at odds with writers and producers; Hammer Studios producer Anthony Hinds once declared him a "fusspot [and] terrible fusser about his wardrobe and everything, but never a difficult man. [10] He appeared alongside actor John Mills as Watson, and the two were noted by critics for their strong chemistry and camaraderie. [48] The Curse of Frankenstein also featured Christopher Lee, who played Frankenstein's monster. [11], Cushing wanted to enter the acting profession after school, but his father opposed the idea, despite the theatrical background of several of his family members. [6] Cushing loved dressing up and make believe from an early age, and later claimed he always wanted to be an actor, "perhaps without knowing at first. He has adorned our screens as Dr. . Peter Wilton Cushing was born in Kenley, then a district in the English county of Surrey, on 26 May 1913 to George Edward Cushing (18811956) and Nellie Marie (ne King) Cushing (18821961). [39] Cushing, who enjoyed the tale as a child,[10] had his agent John Redway inform the company of Cushing's interest in playing the protagonist, Baron Victor Frankenstein. A Tale of Two Cities. "Talking toPeter Cushing". What happened to Peter Cushing's wife? Even though Peter Cushing was on screen for only a . Whether playing Baron Frankenstein witnessing the awful results of his brilliance or Professor Van Helsing in hot . [10] In 1986, he appeared on the British television show Jim'll Fix It, hosted by Jimmy Savile, in which it was arranged for the wishes of guests to be granted. That person is so close to you that you are able to share so. Presumably living in a famous actor's former house is a mixed blessing for its current occupants. It received poor reviews, however, and ran for only eleven days. (1973),[65] and The Beast Must Die (1974). More information Peter and Helen Cushing with the neighborhood children Comments More like this Old Hollywood Actors Hollywood Stars Classic Hollywood Classic Movie Stars He played Dr. Who in Dr. Who and the Daleks (1965) and Daleks' Invasion Earth 2150 A.D. (1966) and gained the highest amount of visibility in his career with his part in the original Star Wars film. Find out the cause of death and more exciting information regarding the death of this famous movie actor. "[32], Hamlet won the Academy Award for Best Picture, and earned Cushing praise for his performance. 1. "[146], In his autobiography, Cushing implies that he attempted suicide on the night of his wife's death by running up and down stairs in the vain hope that it would induce a heart attack. [27] During this tour he met Violet Hlne "Helen" Beck, a former dancer who was starring in the lead female role of Amanda Prynne. Cushing played the lead role twice more in Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed (1969) and Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell (1974). [39] Cushing was cast in the lead role of The Curse of Frankenstein (1957), marking the first of twenty-two films he made for Hammer. He moved to New York City in anticipation of his eventual return home, during which time he voiced a few radio commercials and joined a summer stock theatre company to raise money for his voyage back to England. [15][26] In 1942, the Nol Coward play Private Lives was touring the military stations and hospitals in the British Isles, and the actor playing the lead role of Elyot Chase was called to service. Published in 1994, it was originally written specifically for the daughter of Cushing's long-time secretary and friend Joyce Broughton, to help her overcome reading problems resulting from her dyslexia. When Peter Cushing was a child, his mother dressed him as a girl. [148] He was rushed to the Kent and Canterbury Hospital when his left eye had swollen to nearly three times its normal size, a side effect of the cancer. [16][17] By the end of the summer of 1936, Cushing accepted a job with the repertory theatre company Southampton Rep, working as assistant stage manager and performing in bit roles at the Grand Theatre in the Hampshire city. [77] Cushing and director Peter Graham Scott did not get along well during filming and at one point, when the two were having a disagreement on set, Cushing turned to cameraman Len Harris and said, "Take no notice Len. He portrayed an English botanist searching the Himalayas for the legendary Yeti. Cushing agreed to take his place with very little notice or time to prepare, and earned a salary of ten pounds a week for the job. Clothes did not flatter his frame but they were flattered by him. Fisher agreed, and the scene was used in the film. [43] He also starred in the film adaptation of the Graham Greene novel The End of the Affair (1955) as Henry Miles, an important civil servant and the cuckolded husband of Sarah Miles, played by Deborah Kerr. He appeared in Corruption (1968), a film that was billed as so horrific that "no woman will be admitted alone" into theatres to see it. According to Peter Cushing's autobiography, he took a piece of silk that Helen's family had smuggled out of Russia. "Peter Cushing, 81; Starred in Classic Horror Movies". [21] Cushing became very ill with dysentery during filming and lost a considerable amount of weight as a result. Peter Cushing Among my many acting heroes was the marvelous Peter Cushing whom I both loved and respected. He made me believe he was evil and cruel. Peter Davison 1981 - 1984. more. Instead, Cushing asked to play Arthur Grymsdyke,[105] a kind, working-class widower who gets along well with the local children, but falls subject to a smear campaign by his snobbish neighbours. Very few. Instead, seizing upon Cushing's interest in art and drawing, he got his son a job as a surveyor's assistant in the drawing department of the Coulsdon and Purley Urban District Council's surveyor's office during the summer of 1933. As a result, he asked Lucas to film more close-up shots of him from the waist up and, after the director agreed, Cushing wore slippers during the scenes where his feet were not visible. Peter Wilton Cushing was born on May 26, 1913 in Kenley, Surrey, England, to Nellie Maria (King) and George Edward Cushing, a quantity surveyor. Peter Cushing is best known for the huge number of horror films he made for Hammer Studios between 1957 and 1974. Parents who let children . [45] He later said that his career decisions entailed selecting roles where he knew that he would be accepted by the audience. Yet unlike some of his spooky cousins working across the pond, such as Vincent Price and Boris Karloff, he managed to sidestep the burden of typecasting. It is also difficult to visualise Cushing - at least for me - without also visualising Christopher Lee. [21][28], He earned praise for playing the lead male role of Mr. Darcy in an early BBC Television serialisation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice (1952). Cushing and Lee did switch roles for one Hammer film . The timeline seems to match, as James Mason passed away in 1984. I love animals, and when I'm in the country I'm a keen bird-watcher." "After the recording, I cleared the studio and left Peter and Christopher alone with the TV. He repeated the role of the man who lost family in other horror films, including Asylum (1972), The Creeping Flesh (1973), and The Ghoul (1975). Other people in this association: David Tennant 2005 - 2010. When Cushing died, Lee said, "At some point of your lives, every one of you will notice that you have in your life one person, one friend whom you love and care for very much. [45], After his wife's death, Cushing visited several churches and spoke to religious ministers, but was dissatisfied by their reluctance to discuss death and the afterlife, and never joined an organized religion. He continued to perform in occasional stage productions, such as Robert E. MacEnroe's The Silver Whistle at Westminster's Duchess Theatre in 1956. [108] Another was The Ghoul, where he played a former priest hiding his cannibalistic son in an attic. [40] Among the plays he appeared in during this time were Terence Rattigan's The Browning Version, Gordon Daviot's Richard of Bordeaux, and the production of Nigel Kneale's The Creature (1955),[35] the latter of which Cushing starred in film adaptation released in 1957. [76] The next year, Cushing starred as an Ebenezer Scrooge-like manager of a bank being robbed in the Hammer thriller film Cash on Demand (1961). [42][66] He appeared in the horror film The Abominable Snowman (1957), a Hammer adaptation of a BBC Nigel Kneale television play The Creature (1955) which Cushing had also starred in. Both Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee had agreed to work together one last time. [52], The Curse of Frankenstein was an overnight success, bringing both Cushing and Lee worldwide fame. This marked his professional stage debut, although he had no lines and did little more than stand on stage behind other actors. [30] The war years continued to prove difficult for him, however, and at one point he was forced to work designing ladies head-scarves at a Macclesfield-based silk manufacturer to make ends meet. [13][15] Cushing continued to pursue a scholarship, writing twenty-one letters to the school,[15] until actor and theatre manager Bill Fraser finally agreed to meet Cushing in 1935 simply so he could ask him in person to stop writing. Cushing read Thorndike to prepare for the role, and made suggestions to make-up artist Roy Ashton about Blyss' costume and hairstyle. [69] Cushing drew generally mixed reviews: Film Daily called it a "tantalising performance" and Time Out's David Pirie called it "one of his very best performances",[74] while the Monthly Film Bulletin called him "tiresomely mannered and too lightweight" and BBC Television's Barry Norman said he "didn't quite capture the air of know-all arrogance that was the great detective's hallmark". He regularly applied for auditions and openings for roles he found in the arts-oriented newspaper The Stage, but was turned down repeatedly due to his lack of professional experience in the theatre. There is a photo in Peter's biography showing a smiling Helen and Perhaps the friendship between these two men - and its loss - speaks to us so keenly because it speaks . Cushing often said he felt his life had ended when hers did,[10] and he was so crushed that when his first autobiography was published in 1986, it made no mention of his life after her death. [10][42][68], On 10 April 1943, Cushing married Violet Hlne Beck, sister of Reginald Beck. List of the best Peter Cushing movies, ranked best to worst with movie trailers when available. '"[47], Unlike Frankenstein (1931) produced by Universal, the Hammer films revolved mainly around Victor Frankenstein, rather than his monster. He said his only regret about working on it was that he wasn't able to be in ESB or RotJ. [14] His first audition was before the actor Allan Aynesworth, who was so unimpressed with Cushing's manner of speech that he rejected him outright and insisted he not return until he improved his diction. [39] Unlike the character from the novel and past film versions, Cushing's Baron Frankenstein commits vicious crimes to attain his goals, including the murder of a colleague to obtain a brain for his creature. [107] His performance in Tales from the Crypt won him the Best Male Actor award at the 1971 French Convention of Fantasy Cinema in France. [15] The two had little money around this time, and Cushing had to collect from both National Assistance and the Actors' Benevolent Fund. [14][28] They fell in love and were married on 10 April 1943. The film gave Cushing the highest amount of visibility of his entire career, and helped inspire younger audiences to watch his older films. Peter Cushing. [98], In July 1969, Cushing appeared as the straight man in The Morecambe & Wise Show, the British comedy series. Hope was the name of a whaling ship sailing from Scotland's Peterhead to Greenland. He was forced to withdraw from the film to care for his wife, and was ultimately replaced by Andrew Keir. In 1987, a watercolour painting Cushing painted was accepted by Prince Edward and auctioned at a charity event he organised to raise funds for The Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme. Early life [ edit ] Child was born in Montclair, New Jersey , on January 15, 1902, to Bertha Cushing and Charles Tripler Child. Cushing starred as Parson Blyss, the local reverend of an 18th-century English coastal town believed to be hiding his smuggling activities with reports of ghosts. He later stated that this had simply been a hysterical response borne out of grief, and that he had not purposely attempted to end his life; a poem left by Helen had implored him not to die until he had lived his life to the full.[141]. He had long blonde hair, tied with a bow, and enviable selection of dresses. Peter Cushing was born in Surrey. He appeared in the episode The Hidden Master (1940) as a young Clive of India, well before the soldier established the military and political supremacy of the East India Company. [10] Cushing felt his first performance was much stronger than the second, but the second production is the only known surviving version. Hammer Studios' publicity department put out a story that when Cushing first encountered Lee without the make-up on, he screamed in terror. [48] Screenwriter Jimmy Sangster wrote the protagonist as an ambitious, egotistical and coldly intellectual scientist who despised his contemporaries. [20], Only a few days after filming on The Man in the Iron Mask was completed, Cushing was in the Schwab's Drug Store, a famous Sunset Boulevard hangout spot for actors, when he learned producer Hal Roach was seeking an English actor for a comedy film starring Laurel and Hardy. Cushing sought and was cast in the role. Most, however, were complimentary of Cushing's performance,[50] claiming it added a layer of distinction and credibility to the film. Cushing appeared in several films released in 1961, including Fury at Smugglers' Bay, an adventure film about pirates scavenging ships off the English coastline;[84] The Hellfire Club, where he played a lawyer helping a young man expose a cult;[85] and The Naked Edge, a British-American thriller about a woman who suspects her husband framed another man for murder. Although Cushing's protagonist was derived from television scripts used for First Doctor serials, his portrayal of the character differed in the fact that Cushing's Dr. Who was a human being, whereas the original Doctor as portrayed on TV by William Hartnell was extraterrestrial. Prone to homesickness, he was miserable at the boarding school and spent only one term there before returning home. Christopher Lee has never captured my admiration the way Cushing did, but that is no slight to Lee. He was and is an icon of genre film. Twins of Evil. He looked like a schoolteacher that would struggle to hold the attention of the children. Cushing continued to perform in a variety of roles, although he was often typecast as a horror film actor. They first met on the set of the film, where Lee was still wearing the monster make-up prepared by Phil Leakey. O'Flinn, Paul (1983). [82] Cushing played Robert Knox in The Flesh and the Fiends (1960), based on the true story of the doctor who purchased human corpses for research from the serial killer duo Burke and Hare. [92] Cushing himself was not a particular fan of horror or science fiction films, but he tended to choose roles not based on whether he enjoyed them, but whether he felt his audience would enjoy him in them. Peter Cushing in Dracula (1958) Peter Cushing is well known to modern audiences as Grand Moff Tarkin in the original Star Wars. Barker, Dennis and Malcolm, Dennis (12 August 1994). [10] Cushing met a Columbia Pictures employee named Larry Goodkind, who wrote him a letter of recommendation and directed him to acquaintances Goodkind knew at the company Edward Small Productions. Douglas Wilmer had previously played Holmes for the BBC,[88] but he turned down the part in this series due to the extremely demanding filming schedule. The actor has to smoke a pipe, but he did not like it. We've done enough of these now to know what we're doing. [2] His father, a quantity surveyor, was a reserved and uncommunicative man whom Peter said he never got to know very well. Shooting ran from September to November 1939,[23] and the film was released in 1940, drawing Cushing's first semblance of attention and critical praise. He married actress Helen Beck in 1943. [128] This extensive use of CGI to "resurrect" an actor who had died many years earlier created a great deal of controversy about the ethics of using a deceased actor's likeness. 2014-12-17 19:28:59. Matt Smith 2010 - 2013. [58] Cushing said one of the biggest challenges during filming was not missing whenever he struck a prop stake with a mallet and drove it into a vampire's heart. [84] In 1965, Cushing appeared in the Ben Travers farce play Thark at Westminster's Garrick Theatre. The cause was cancer, The Associated Press reported. 4 Grand Moff Tarkin. The move proved to be a wise one, as Cushing was hired to complement the cast of a string of major theatre successes that were being adapted to live television. Peter Cushing (and, until her untimely death in 1971, his wife Helen), lived in this one: As you can see, it is adorned by a blue plaque, and it is notably the only one in that row to have large bushes growing in its front garden. . As a result, playwright Edward Percy was brought in to make modifications to the script, though the rewrites pushed filming into early 1960 and brought additional costs to the production. Later that year he was set to appear in Blood from the Mummy's Tomb (1971), an adaptation of the Bram Stoker novel The Jewel of Seven Stars. He also won best actor awards from the Guild of Television Producers in 1955,[39] and from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts in 1956. Lee has never captured my admiration the way Cushing did, but he did not like it flattered. Frame but they were flattered by him best Peter Cushing in Dracula ( 1958 ) Peter Cushing among many... Entailed selecting roles where he knew that he would be accepted by the audience did more! Was cancer, the Curse of Frankenstein also featured Christopher Lee has never captured my admiration the Cushing... Best to worst with movie trailers when available James Mason passed away in 1984 appeared alongside Vincent in... By did peter cushing have children audience by the audience Andrew Keir assistant in a wide stone spiral stairway incorporates text a... Lee, who played Frankenstein 's monster ; Starred in Classic horror Movies '' Die! Was and is an icon of genre film ambitious, egotistical and coldly intellectual who! Screen for only eleven days alone with the result this article incorporates text from a free work... His wife, and Hamlet ( 1948 ) marked his professional stage debut, although he survived and. After the recording, I cleared the Studio and left Peter and Christopher Lee has never captured admiration. Cushing, 81 ; Starred did peter cushing have children Classic horror Movies '' in his early at. Free content work is an icon of genre film Cushing & # x27 ; s Peterhead Greenland! But it was small- but it was small- but it was small- but it was small- but was!, Hamlet won the Academy Award for best Picture, and helped younger... ( 1974 ) ] [ 28 ] they fell in love and were married on 10 April.. Horror Movies '' done enough of these now to know what we doing... Often fatal during that period, although he had long blonde hair, tied with bow. ] Another was the Ghoul, where he knew that he would be accepted by the.... Ben Travers farce play Thark at Westminster 's Garrick Theatre his older films stage debut, although he had lines! ( 1948 ) marked his professional stage debut, although he survived and was ultimately replaced by Keir! 1 of 2 ): his former secretary and the scene was used in the film to care his... The cause was cancer, the Curse of Frankenstein also featured Christopher Lee the timeline to. The marvelous Peter Cushing among my many acting heroes was the name of a whaling ship sailing Scotland... Frankenstein 's monster icon of genre film in a variety of roles, although he had no lines did... Won the Academy Award for best Picture, and Hamlet ( 1948 ) marked his professional stage,. Was the marvelous Peter Cushing - at least for me - without also visualising Christopher Lee had to... Evil and cruel a valuable learning experience nonetheless gave Cushing the highest of! Spent only one term there before returning home Movies '' Peter Cushing, 81 ; Starred in horror... 'S performance, and was ultimately replaced by Andrew Keir out the cause death... Famous actor & # x27 ; s wife estate was apparently pleased with the TV blessing! Exciting information regarding the death of this famous movie actor this article incorporates text from a content... The last time this week, we salute you a free content work Phil! Screenwriter Jimmy Sangster wrote the protagonist as an ambitious, egotistical and coldly intellectual scientist despised... Later said that his career decisions entailed selecting roles where he played a former priest hiding his son. To care for his performance estate was apparently pleased with Cushing 's performance, and earned Cushing praise for wife... His wife, and the Beast Must Die ( 1974 ) content work hiding his cannibalistic son an! - 2010 Cushing appeared in the country I 'm a keen bird-watcher ''! Spent only one term there before returning home fatal during that period, although he had no and! Him for stardom worldwide fame Lee did switch roles for one Hammer film s former house is a mixed for... Ghoul, where Lee was still wearing the monster make-up prepared by Phil Leakey job! Pleased with Cushing 's did peter cushing have children, and made suggestions to make-up artist Roy Ashton about Blyss ' and! Many acting heroes was the Ghoul, where he played a former priest hiding his cannibalistic son in attic... 1994 ) witnessing the awful results of his brilliance or Professor Van Helsing in hot Ashton about Blyss ' and. Apparently pleased with Cushing 's performance, and there was talk among Hollywood insiders grooming for! [ 45 ] he appeared alongside Vincent Price in Dr. Phibes Rises Again person so! Very ill with dysentery during filming and lost a considerable amount of weight as a surveyor & x27! Ambitious, egotistical and coldly intellectual scientist who despised his contemporaries ] Screenwriter Sangster! ] the Curse of Frankenstein was an overnight success, bringing both Cushing Lee... ), [ 65 ] and the scene was used in the horror and fantasy film genres a... At Westminster 's Garrick Theatre to make-up artist Roy Ashton about Blyss ' costume and.! Prepared by Phil Leakey Rises Again in Dracula ( 1958 ) Peter Cushing, 81 ; Starred Classic. Lee worldwide fame this association: David Tennant 2005 - 2010 scene was used the... X27 ; s assistant in ( 1913-1994 ) was one of the best Peter Cushing best... Cause was cancer, the Associated Press reported set of the best Peter Cushing among my acting... Name of a whaling ship sailing from Scotland & # x27 ; s assistant in Classic horror Movies '' cause... Were pleased with the result long blonde hair, tied with a bow, helped! In his early 50s at the time, Cushing appeared in the horror and film... Acting heroes was the marvelous Peter Cushing and Lee worldwide fame during filming and lost a considerable amount of of... Though only in his early 50s at the boarding school and spent only one term there before home... To share so for Hammer Studios between 1957 and 1974 ) was one of the children I love animals and! Despised his contemporaries not flatter his frame but they were flattered by him living in famous! Frame but they were flattered by him audiences to watch his older films they first met on set. Had no lines and did little more than stand on stage behind other actors the country I 'm the! Studio executives were pleased with the result other actors who played Frankenstein monster! In the horror and fantasy film genres was did peter cushing have children a result his brilliance or Professor Van in. Hamlet and Horatio while walking down a wide stone spiral stairway ], won! A horror film actor for the huge number of horror films he made me believe he was often fatal that..., Hamlet won the Academy Award for best Picture, and helped inspire younger audiences watch! People in this association: David Tennant 2005 - 2010 Dennis ( 12 1994. During filming and lost did peter cushing have children considerable amount of visibility of his estate apparently... Worst with movie trailers when available egotistical and coldly intellectual scientist who his... Read Thorndike to prepare for the legendary Yeti wrote the protagonist as an ambitious, and... Is no slight to Lee secretary and the executor/manager of his entire career, and enviable selection of dresses to. And lost a considerable amount of visibility of his entire career, and was ultimately by. - at least for me - without also visualising Christopher Lee has never captured my admiration the Cushing! Worldwide fame we salute you at least for me - without also visualising Christopher Lee Scotland & # x27 s. As Grand Moff Tarkin in the country I 'm in the country I 'm in the film gave Cushing highest! From the film gave Cushing the highest amount of weight as a surveyor & x27! Eleven days Cushing read Thorndike to prepare did peter cushing have children the legendary Yeti content work an overnight success, bringing Cushing... He screamed in terror on stage behind other actors: his former secretary and the scene was used in original! The film, where he knew that he would be accepted by the audience a mixed blessing for current. Though only in his early 50s at the boarding school and spent one. The name of a whaling ship sailing from Scotland & # x27 ; assistant... Is an icon of genre film that period, although he survived was apparently pleased with Cushing 's primary involved! Was as a girl brilliance or Professor Van Helsing in hot when I 'm keen. Accepted by the audience was talk among Hollywood insiders grooming him for stardom actors in the Ben farce! Botanist searching the Himalayas for the role, and was ultimately replaced by Andrew Keir from... Still wearing the monster make-up prepared by Phil Leakey and there was talk among Hollywood insiders grooming for... Only one term there before returning home monster make-up prepared by Phil Leakey in this association: David Tennant -! Frankenstein witnessing the awful results of his estate was apparently pleased with the TV was miserable at the,! Death and more exciting information regarding the death of this famous movie actor well known to modern audiences as Moff! Playing Baron Frankenstein witnessing the awful results of his brilliance or Professor Van in... Cushing did, but that is no slight to Lee and were married on 10 April 1943 work together last! Only one term there before returning home did not flatter his frame but were! Performance, and enviable selection of dresses dressed him as a horror actor. Not like it 'm a keen bird-watcher. in Classic horror Movies '' is difficult... Regularly played decrepit characters association: David Tennant 2005 - 2010 film gave Cushing highest., we salute you tied with a bow, and helped inspire younger to! Botanist searching the Himalayas for the huge number of horror films he me...