Peter Cushing Wikipedia: Why This Hammer Icon Still Dominates the Search Results

Peter Cushing carved a name for himself in the gothic horror genre. He delivered performances that feel startlingly modern decades later. A quick Wikipedia lookup reveals layers most casual viewers miss entirely. Guys, explore more in Guides And Explainers and peter cushing wikipedia.

The Early Years Before the Monster Make-Up

Born in 1913 in Kenley, Surrey, Cushing faced a childhood marked by tragedy. He lost his mother to a brain tumor at just seven years old. The quiet, slight boy often endured bullying because of his frail frame. He didn’t turn to acting until he reached adulthood. First came work as a surveyor’s assistant. Then came the stage. He spent years grinding in provincial theater companies. That grind built a resilience no drama school could replicate.

His first real screen break came with the 1939 film The Man in the Iron Mask. Small roles stacked up during wartime. Cushing waited patiently in the wings. He refused to chase cheap fame.

Hammer Films: The Relationship That Defined a Genre

The mid-1950s changed everything. Cushing met the British company Hammer Film Productions. This collaboration birthed some of the most iconic horror of the 20th century.

Victor Frankenstein: A Star is Reborn

He played Dr. Frankenstein in The Curse of Frankenstein (1957). It was the company’s first color horror feature. Cushing’s portrayal was meticulous. He obsessed over the scientific precision of the mad doctor. He wasn’t playing a campy villain. He played a man genuinely obsessed with conquering death. Critics and audiences took notice immediately.

Sherlock Holmes in the 1960s

Cushing brought a gentleness to Sherlock Holmes. The 1959 film The Hound of the Baskervilles showcased his dramatic range. He balanced Holmes’s sharp intellect with a profound loneliness. The cape and pipe became synonymous with his version of the detective.

The Wikipedia Entry: What You Actually Find

A standard peter cushing wikipedia search pulls up a detailed biography spanning decades. The article highlights his work in television and cinema. It lists over 100 film credits. Fans often find the section on his friendship with Vincent Price particularly compelling.

Their on-screen pairing in the 1965 epic The Skull cemented a real-life bond. Price called Cushing his favorite acting partner. The Wikipedia entry also covers his personal life extensively.

Personal Loss and Later Years

Cushing’s wife, Helen, died of cancer in 1971. The actor struggled deeply with grief. He threw himself back into work to cope. He continued acting well into his seventies and eighties.

One of his most poignant later roles appeared in Star Wars. Grand Moff Tarkin in the original 1977 film earned him a massive new generation of fans. His performance radiated cold authority.

The Technical Details Behind the Search Traffic

People searching for peter cushing wikipedia often seek specific data points. They want to know his net worth at death. They ask about his height and specific filmography dates. The Wikipedia page satisfies this hunger for verifiable facts. It provides a clean, no-nonsense summary of his career milestones.

His filmography includes collaborations with directors like Roman Polanski and Stanley Kubrick. The sheer volume of roles surprises many researchers. He appeared in everything from gothic monster movies to gritty war films.

Legacy Beyond the Page

The Wikipedia entry cannot capture the full impact of his craft. It lists awards but misses the manner in which he inspired others. Johnny Depp has cited Cushing as a primary influence. Neil Marshall, director of The Descent, has frequently praised his work.

Cushing retired from acting in 1989. He lived quietly in Whitstable, Kent. He passed away on August 11, 1994.

The digital archives that reference his Wikipedia page keep his memory alive. They serve as a gateway for young fans discovering classic horror. The text remains a primary educational resource. According to the British Film Institute, his work remains essential viewing for understanding post-war British cinema. You can read their official archive and analysis here to learn more about the era.