Sir Peter Alexander Ustinov CBE 16 April 1921 28 March 2004 was an English actor writer and dramatist He was also renowned as a filmmaker theatre and opera director stage designer author screenwriter comedian humourist newspaper and magazine columnist radio broadcaster and television presenter A noted wit and raconteur he was a fixture on television talk shows and lecture circuits for much of his career He was also a respected intellectual and diplomat who in addition to his various academic posts served as a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF and President of the World Federalist Movement Ustinov was the winner of numerous awards over his life including two Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actor Emmy Awards Golden Globes and BAFTA Awards for acting a Grammy Award for best recording for children as well the recipient of governmental honours from amongst others the United Kingdom France and Germany He displayed a unique cultural versatility that has frequently earned him the accolade of a Renaissance man Miklós Rózsa composer of the music for Quo Vadis and of numerous concert works dedicated his String Quartet No 1 Op 22 1950 to Ustinov In 2003 shortly before his death in 2004 Durham University renamed its Graduate Society as Ustinov College in honour of the significant contributions Sir Peter had made while serving as Chancellor of the University from 1992 onwards Description above from the Wikipedia article Peter Ustinov licensed under CCBYSA full list of contributors on Wikipedia