26th May: Peter Cushing

Peter Cushing was born on 26 May 1913. He was a horror film actor, but also appeared in Sherlock Holmes and Star Wars.

1. He was a keen birdwatcher.
2. His middle name was Wilton.
3. In 1976, he was cast in Star Wars, which was shooting at Elstree Studios, Borehamwood. He appeared as Grand Moff Tarkin.
4. During production Cushing was presented with ill-fitting riding boots for the role and they pinched his feet so much that he was given permission by George Lucas to play the role wearing his slippers. The camera operators filmed him above the knees or standing behind the table of the conference room set.
5. He was a fan of Tom Mix, who was also influential in John Wayne's career.
6. He was a vegetarian.
7. One of his hobbies was watercolour painting.
8. After the death, in 1971, of his wife, Helen, he said, “the loneliness is almost unbearable… the only thing that keeps me going is the knowledge that my dear Helen and I will be united again some day.”
9. His sketch of Sherlock Holmes became the official logo for the Northern Musgraves, a British Sherlock Holmes society.
10. He wrote to the BBC programme "Jim'll Fix It" asking that a new Rose be bred and named after his late wife. Jim fixed it.