Peter Ustinov: Oscar-Winning Actor and Wit Dies at 82

Sir Peter Ustinov was a British actor, writer, director and raconteur. Born on April 16, 1921, in London, he made his stage debut as a teenager and began writing plays soon after.

Ustinov won two Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actor, for Spartacus (1960) and Topkapi (1964). He played Hercule Poirot in several films and wrote the play Romanoff and Juliet. He served as a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF and was knighted in 1990.

Ustinov was married three times and had four children. He died of heart failure in a clinic in Genolier, Switzerland, on March 28, 2004, at age 82.

Achievements: Two Academy Awards, Emmys, Grammy, knighted (1990), UNICEF goodwill ambassador.

Birth: April 16, 1921 - London, England.

Profession: Actor and writer.

Interesting Facts: He spoke several languages and was a popular television talk show guest.