I didn't set out to make this kind of picture. It just came my way. But its been going on for me for 16 years now and its wonderful for an actor to work consistently. There seems to be an insatiable audience for this type of film.
I do hope it won't sound insufferably smug, but I can honestly say that The Gem did keep me on 'the straight and narrow' when I was at school.
I don't think there is really a favorite, I'm very fond of film making as a whole and as a medium and of course, there are some that I've enjoyed making more than others but I've enjoyed making all of them.
I hope this doesn't sound pompous but I don't think of myself as famous, whatever fame I've got has come through what I've done and associations of things I've done.
I'm always glad to be offered roles, but wouldn't take any role as this could do you more harm than good, but I've been at what they call 'on the top' as far as being known for twenty years.
My hero was Tom Merry, and I tried to mould my way of life according to his tenets.
Since the purpose of all actors is to entertain I appear frequently in the films that do just that - entertain.
Television is rather a frightening business. But I get all the relaxation I want from my collection of model soldiers.
There are all sorts of reasons why I don't do much work in the theatre, the main one being that after two performances I feel I've given all I can. I hate repetition, I really do. It's like asking a painter to paint he same picture every day of his life.
Today's youth cannot miss something they have never known, but I fear that there are no current fictional characters whose impact and influence will last with such abiding affection into their 'sore and yellow' as this splendid man's creations have in mine!
You see I don't like to be really too commercial about things but in this business you've just got to be commercial otherwise the films don't make money and you don't make films and as a long as a commodity is selling it's silly to kill it dead.
Peter's last ever on screen appearence before he died was on This Is Your Life.
It has been rumuored that Grand Moff Tarkin, the character that Peter made famous, will live on in the upcoming Star Wars live action television series.
Peter Cushing was and still is a horror movie icon.
Peter was close friends with Christopher Lee.
Peter has played Dr Who a few times.
Peter made the whopping sum of $5,000 for his appearance in the film Shock Waves (1977). This is a mere pittance compared to what actors of his caliber receive today for a role.
Peter Cushing: As far back as I can remember, I had a passion for 'dressing up' and playing games of 'Let's Pretend', which are, of course, the basic principals of acting, and if you are lucky enough, you get paid for so doing, hard work though it may be.
Peter Cushing: My criterion for accepting a role isn't based on what I would like to do. I try to consider what the audience would like to see me do and I thought kids would adore Star Wars.
Peter Cushing: Since Helen passed on I can't find anything; the heart, quite simply, has gone out of everything. Time is interminable, the loneliness is almost unbearable and the only thing that keeps me going is the knowledge that my dear Helen and I will be united again some day. To join Helen is my only ambition. You have my permission to publish that... really, you know dear boy, it's all just killing time. Please say that.
Peter Cushing: People look at me as if I were some sort of monster, but I can't think why. In my macabre pictures, I have either been a monster-maker or a monster-destroyer, but never a monster. Actually, I'm a gentle fellow. Never harmed a fly. I love animals, and when I'm in the country I'm a keen bird-watcher.
Peter Cushing: (on the wig he had to wear for Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell (1974) It made me look like Helen Hayes.
Peter Cushing: Teeth are a vitally important part of an actor's equipment. I have over 30 toothbrushes at home and always keep a good supply at the studio.
Peter Cushing: Who wants to see me as Hamlet? Very few. But millions want to see me as Frankenstein so that's the one I do.
George Lucas originally planned to use archival footage of Peter from Star Wars, for insertion into Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. This would have made Episode III his final, albeit posthumous, collaboration with Christopher Lee. However, none of the footage was suitable to Lucas's needs. This may be because Tarkin only appears in a long shot, of which Cushing only appears in a handful, due to the pain associated with wearing his boots. Therefore, Wayne Pygram was cast, and made to wear prosthetic make-up so that he would resemble Cushing.
Peter was good friends with Christopher Lee. After he died, Lee said in an interview that he never felt closer and more open to any of his other friends than he felt to Peter.
Peter was preferred to original Doctor Who (1963) lead actor William Hartnell as star of Dr. Who and the Daleks (1965) because he was more widely recognized by American audiences.
Peter was guest of honor at the Famous Monsters of Filmland Convention in New York City in 1975. After receiving a thunderous ovation from those in attendance, he looked at everyone and said, "Have you ever felt unloved?"
As a young struggling actor, Peter supplemented his income by selling scarves that he hand-painted and later, as an established actor, had showings of his water colors.
The costume boots they gave Peter for Star Wars (1977) were too small and hurt his feet. Peter told George Lucas this, and asked if he could wear slippers instead. Lucas agreed, and shot Peter from the waist up for nearly all his scenes to compensate for Peter's slippers.
It's an odd but true fact that Vincent Price and Christopher Lee were born on the same day (27th May) and Peter was born on the 26th.
Peter wrote 2 autobiographies: Peter Cushing: An Autobiography, Weidenfeld and Nicolson, London, released in 1986, and Past Forgetting: Memoirs of the Hammer Years, Weidenfeld and Nicolson, London, released in 1988.
Peter was the first choice to play "Dr. Sam Loomis" in Halloween, but turned down the role. Christopher Lee also rejected the role.
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