He played five different English/British kings: leonine versions of Prince John (the future King John) and his elder brother, Richard the Lionheart, in, Anonymously dubbed several Italian actors on the soundtrack of, Auditioned unsuccessfully for the role of Detective Fix in, Directed one Oscar-nominated performance, that of. One of, if not, the last interview with the great genious Sir Peter Ustinov, in German. He also had the distinction of having held commissions in the Russian, German and British armies (presumably at different times). Among his numerous screen acting gems were his unparalleled, Academy Award-nominated interpretation of Nero in Quo Vadis (1951) and roles in Max Ophüls's masterpiece Lola Montès (1955), Barefoot in Athens (1966), The Comedians (1967), Robin Hood (1973) and Logan's Run (1976). The performance was something of a portent of things to come, as Ustinov’s acting career has been characterized by numerous roles in which he displayed his talents for vocal mimicry and age affectation. After attending Westminster School and the London Theatre School, Ustinov made his professional stage debut at age 17, playing an old man in a production of The Wood Demon. Kreativität, Kultur, Vielfalt und soziale Verantwortung sind dabei die Mittel und Wege der Ustinov Stiftung, Inklusion in den geförderten Projekten aktiv zu leben. Peter Ustinov later won international acclaim and reached the peak of his fame in the early 1960s for his appearances in sweeping epics and lighthearted romps. Wolfgang Petry - die offizielle Facebook-Seite für seine Fans. Peter Ustinov at the "Friends of the National Theatre" conference. According to Peter Wright in his book "Spycatcher," Ustinov's father, Klop Ustinov, had been active in MI5 (British Security Service, Counterespionage) as an agent runner during the Second World War. Was the Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF from 1968 until his death in 2004. Peter Sellers was suggested to director Blake Edwards as a replacement, but when they met, Blake was unsure until Peter said he was a fan of Laurel and Hardy, at which point Blake didn't hesitate to cast him. Peter's paternal grandmother, Magdalena Hall, was born in Magdala, Ethiopia. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Portrait of British actor Peter Ustinov, Copenhagen, Denmark, 1979. Whether in print or before a live audience, Ustinov was a skilled storyteller and master of the English language. View the profiles of people named Peter Ustinov. An intellectual and diplomat, he held various academic posts and served as a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF and president of the World Federalist Movement. Despite his impressive résumé, acting was merely one of many creative outlets for Ustinov. I think very, very few. Made a comedy record in the late 1950s, "Mock Mozart" and "Phoney Folk Lore". [about the collapse of the Soviet Union] I suppose you can't blame [. [on the American and British invasion of Afghanistan in 2001] You can't fight terrorism without becoming a terrorist yourself. Man predigt seit langer Zeit die geschlechtsunabhängige Behandlung von Frau und Mann – im Namen einer Gleichstellung, die bis … He attended Westminster College (1934-37), took the drama and acting class under Michel St Denis at the London Theatre Studio (1937-39), and made his stage debut in 1938 at the Stage Theatre Club in Surrey. The habit of religion is oppressive, an easy way out of thought. Two members of my profession who are not urgently needed by my profession, Mr. [on critics] They search for ages for the wrong word, which, to give them credit, they eventually find. Peter Ustinov at the Emmy Award he won for Best Male Performer for the television program "The Life of Samuel Johnson". No late fees. Was Chancellor of the University of Durham from 1992 until his death in 2004. Corrections? Comedy is simply a funny way of being serious. He was also an internationally acclaimed TV journalist. His witty and multidimensional humor was legendary, and he later published a collection of his jokes and quotations summarizing his wide popularity as a raconteur. Official Sites. On 31 October 1984, he was waiting in the garden of Prime Minister of India. He was later buried in the village of Bursins, where he had lived in a chateau since 1971. As Ustinov has said, "It is for that very reason that I am addressing you today in English.". Peter Ustinov eller Peter Alexander von Ustinov (født 16. april 1921, død 28. marts 2004) var en britisk forfatter, skuespiller, instruktør og debattør. Sir Peter Ustinov Für Sir Peter Ustinov war Inklusion ein elementares Menschenrecht und unabding - bare Voraussetzung für Chancengleichheit, gesellschaftliche Partizipation sowie Persön - lichkeitsentfaltung. [regarding his portrayal of supersleuth Hercule Poirot] When Rosalind Hicks. Wrote the script for the film The Way Ahead with Eric Ambler while he was in the army. Born Peter Alexander Ustinov, April 16, 1921, in London, England; died of heart failure, March 28, 2004, in Genolier, Switzerland. Other memorable film roles include his turns as a ringmaster in Lola Montès (1955), a comic convict sidekick to Humphrey Bogart in We’re No Angels (1955), Captain Vere in Ustinov’s own film version of Herman Melville’s Billy Budd (1962), a modern-day Mexican general determined to reclaim the Alamo in Viva Max! In speaking the latter, his vocabulary used to give him an appearance of comic character similar to that of the character speaking that language. The one I'm thinking of is the ear. His father, Jona (born Jonah Freiherr von Ustinow), nicknamed "Klop" (Russian: Клоп, "bed-bug"), was of Russian, German, Swiss and Ethiopian noble descent, and had served as a lieutenant in the Imperial German Luftstreitkräfte in World War I. Jona's father was Plato von Ustinov. In der Vergangenheit zeigte sich die Umsetzung des Prinzips der Gleichstellung der Geschlechter vor allem in Eroberungen. He had been performing these as party pieces. [T]he great thing about history is that it is adaptable. Ustinov had ancestral connections to Russian nobility as well as to the Ethiopian Royal Family. Ustinov spent most of his service working with the Army Cinema Unit, where he was involved in making recruitment films, wrote plays and appeared in three films as an actor. He wrote 2 plays before doing his army service which were both produced while he was in the army. [Responding, when he was asked if he thought there was too much sex in movies and on television]: No. In 1958 he received two Tony Award nominations, for Best Actor (Dramatic) and Best Play Author, for "Romanoff and Juliet". 1-month free trial! He was survived by three daughters (Tamara, Pavla, and Andrea) and one son (Igor). Peter Ustinov with Gregory Peck at the Cannes Film Festival. …the Avenger, Edward Vere (Peter Ustinov), relies on his cruel and sadistic master-at-arms, John Claggart (Robert Ryan). Sir Peter Alexander von Ustinov aktor brytyjski, a także reżyser, pisarz i producent. After a few uncredited bit parts in British films, he landed his first major screen role in The Goose Steps Out (1942). His producer was. Sir Peter Alexander Baron von Ustinov, CBE, (* 16. Als Regisseur inszenierte er Opern wie Die Zauberf… He was an award-winning actor in film and on stage, author, director, goodwill ambassador, raconteur, etc., etc., etc. Publicity Listings Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. In January 1963, the Mirisch Company sued him for damages after he pulled out of. Peter's maternal grandmother, Maria Alexandrovna Sapjhnkoff (or Sapojnikova), was Russian. (1951) and was twice the recipient of best supporting actor Oscars—for Spartacus (1960) and Topkapi (1964). He was honoured with his first Academy Award nomination for his role as the Roman emperor Nero in Quo Vadis? He wrote and directed many acclaimed stage plays and led numerous international theatrical productions.He was born Peter Alexander Freiherr von Ustinow on April 16, 1921 in Swiss Cottage, London, the son of Nadezhda Leontievna (née Benois) and Jona Freiherr von Ustinow. His career slowed down a bit in the 1970s, but made a comeback as Hercule Poirot in Death on the Nile (1978) by director John Guillermin. He studied at the Westminster School . A renowned raconteur, Ustinov was acclaimed for his glib and humorous lectures and one-man shows. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube. Jona (or Iona) worked as a press officer at the German Embassy in Londo… Was fluent in French, German, English, Italian, Russian and Spanish and could speak passably in Turkish and Greek, among others. In 1939, he made his London stage debut in a revue sketch, then had regular performances with the Aylesbury Repertory Company. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Winning a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his portrayal of Lentulus Batiatus in. Er war Künstler und Oscar prämierter Schauspieler, Schriftsteller und Regisseur, Bühnenbildner und Geschichtenerzähler, aber vor allem war er eines: ein Mann alter Schule, ein Humanist, der immer daran geglaubt hat, dass kein Engagement für die gute Sache jemals vergebens ist. 15 years later, he received a knighthood (Knight Bachelor) for the same service in the 1990 list. He was made Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1975 and was knighted in 1990. Peter Ustinov. In 1975, he was awarded the Companion of the Order of the British Empire (CBE), and in 1990, he was knighted Sir Peter Ustinov. Sir Peter Ustinov was an UNICEF ambassador for more than 30 years. His drama, "Photo Finish", was staged in New York, London and St. Petersburg, Russia, where Ustinov directed the acclaimed production, starring Elena Solovey and Pyotr Shelokhonov. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Ustinov also served as a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF and a president of WFM, a global citizens movement. It's circular, there's a cavity in it, and it's surrounded by hair. Has a song about him written and recorded by Lauren Christy, "The Night I Saved Peter Ustinov". Ambassador at large for UNICEF from 1969 until his death, he received that organization’s Medal for Distinguished Service in 1993. Actor and writer. peter ustinov - Rent Movies and TV Shows on DVD and Blu-ray. Peter Ustinov was a two-time Academy Award-winning film actor, director, writer, journalist and raconteur. Ustinov covered over 100,000 miles and visited more than 30 Russian cities during the making of his well-received BBC television series Russia (1986).In his autobiographies, "Dear Me" (1977) and "My Russia" (1996), Ustinov revealed his observations on his life, career, and his multicultural and multi-ethnic background. I was irrevocably betrothed to laughter, the sound of which has always seemed to me to be the most civilized music in the world. Peter Ustinov, in full Sir Peter Alexander Ustinov, (born April 16, 1921, London, England—died March 28, 2004, Genolier, Switzerland), English actor, director, playwright, screenwriter, novelist, raconteur, and humanitarian. Mr Ustinov, the actor's son by his second wife, has been fighting his stepmother Helene in the Swiss courts since Sir Peter's death in 2004, arguing … Peter Ustinov on the Orient Express (1991) Russia (1986) La dixième de Beethoven (1985) Sir Peter Alexander von Ustinov CBE FRSA (/ ˈ (j) uː s t ɪ n ɒ f /; 16 April 1921 – 28 March 2004) was an English actor, writer, and filmmaker.He was a fixture on television talk shows and lecture circuits for much of his career. He died of heart failure on March 28, 2004, in a clinic in Genolier, also in Vaud. He was married to Isolde Denham from 1940 until they divorced in 1950. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Ustinov’s grandfather was a Russian officer in the tsar’s army who was exiled because of his religious beliefs. Fuchs Robin Hood und seine Mannen haben es sich zur Aufgabe gemacht, das arme Volk Nottinghams aus den tyrannischen (Löwen-)Klauen von Prinz John (Sprecher: Peter Ustinov) zu befreien und den rechtmäßigen König Richard wieder auf den Thron zu setzen Der Rächer der Unterdrückten wurde von den Zeichnern liebevoll in Szene gesetzt. Sir Peter Ustinov, a 20th century Renaissance man best known for his acclaimed career as a movie actor, died Sunday at his home in Bursins, Switzerland. Young Peter was brought up in a multilingual family. I can imagine them hiding ears in the movies and TV, and people saying, 'For a second there, you could get a flashing look at her left lobe. Peter Ustinov has 92 books on Goodreads with 4570 ratings. Peter's maternal grandfather, Leontij Ludovic Benois, was born in St. Petersburg, Russia, to a prominent artistic family and was of one-quarter French, one quarter-German, and one-half Italian ancestry. Was Rector of the University of Dundee in Scotland from 1968 to 1974. Sir Peter Ustinov war Weltbürger und ein wahres Multitalent. English actor and director Peter Ustinov pictured on the set of the film 'Lady L', in which he directs, in April 1965. He was awarded two Oscars for Best Supporting Actor, one for his role in Spartacus (1960) and one for his role in Topkapi (1964), and received two more Oscar nominations as an actor and writer. Peter's paternal grandfather, Plato Grigorivich von Ustinov, was Russian. [April 2004]. He was originally cast to play Inspector Clouseau in The pink Panther but pulled out at the 11th hour. In the 1980s, Ustinov recreated Poirot in several subsequent television movies and theatrical films, including Evil Under the Sun (1982) and Appointment with Death (1988), while his cinema work in the 1990s also includes his superb performance as Professor Gus Nikolais in George Miller's excellent dramatic film, Lorenzo's Oil (1992), a character partially inspired by Hugo Wolfgang Moser, a research scientist who had been director of the Neurogenetics Research Center at the Kennedy Krieger Institute and Professor of Neurology and Pediatrics at Johns Hopkins University.His expertise in dialectic and physical comedy made him a regular guest of talk show hosts and late-night comedians. It's ideal. His father was of one-quarter Polish Jewish, one-half Russian, one-eighth Ethiopian, and one-eighth German descent, while his mother was of one-half Russian, one-quarter Italian, one-eighth French, and one-eighth German ancestry. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. |  Suchergebnis auf Amazon.de für: peter ustinov Wählen Sie Ihre Cookie-Einstellungen Wir verwenden Cookies und ähnliche Tools, um Ihr Einkaufserlebnis zu verbessern, um unsere Dienste anzubieten, um zu verstehen, wie die Kunden unsere Dienste nutzen, damit wir Verbesserungen vornehmen können, und um Werbung anzuzeigen. It is hard to know where to begin – or where to end – when trying to describe Sir Peter Ustinov. One was a success the other a disaster. He also wrote and directed such brilliant films as Billy Budd (1962), Lady L (1965) and Memed My Hawk (1984). |  Omissions? His children were Tamara born 1945, Pavia born 1954, Igor born !956 and Andrea born 1958. And what is the difference between somebody who goes into a coffee house with the intention of killing as many people as possible - and does so - and somebody who's in an aeroplane at the height of five miles, unobtainable by any anti-aircraft gun, and lets their bombs drop as scientifically as possible, in order to kill as few people as possible? - IMDb Mini Biography By: Peter was a member of the royal family of Russia and the royal family of Ethiopia. Was a member of the jury at the Cannes Film Festival in 1966. His epitaph may be gleaned from his comment, "I am an international citizen conceived in Russia, born in England, working in Hollywood, living in Switzerland, and touring the World". Heute aber befindet sich die Gleichstellung in einen krassen Widerspruch verstrickt, der sich negativ auf das Leben der Frauen auswirkt. Peter Ustinov, Inhaber eines deutschen Passes, betrachtete sich daher nie als Brite: "Sehr englisch habe ich mich nie gefühlt", sagte er selbst dann noch, als ihn die Königin 1991 zum Ritter schlug. International bekannt wurde der zweifache Oscar-Preisträger durch seine Filmrollen in Quo vadis? Shortly after they were married, they decided to leave Russia and settle in Britain. ', Strumpet City - Stadt der Verlorenen: Episode #1.1, View agent, publicist, legal and company contact details on IMDbPro, Oscar nominated actors who were nominated in other categories, Academy Award Best Supporting Actor Winners (Best to Worst). He was fluent in Russian, French, Italian and German, as well as English. In 1919, Jona Freiherr von Ustinow joined his own mother and sister in St Petersburg, Russia, where he met his future wife, artist Nadia Benois, who worked for the Imperial Mariinsky Ballet and Opera House in St Petersburg.In 1920, in a modest and discreet ceremony at a Russian-German church in St Petersburg, Ustinov's father married Nadia. But in this campaign, I wonder how many of the people who have been killed were terrorists? A diplomat these days is nothing but a headwaiter who's allowed to sit down occasionally. Overdubbing allowed Ustinov to sing multiple parts. Steve Shelokhonov, Other Works Peter was a member of the royal family of Russia and the royal family of Ethiopia. Ustinov was born Peter Alexander Baron von Ustinow in Swiss Cottage, London. Cosmopolitan, erudite, and in possession of seemingly boundless stores of wit, actor Peter Ustinov had a prolific, and prolifically diverse, career. Ustinov served as Rector of Dundee University for six years. 561 likes. “It is for that reason,” Ustinov later said, “that I am addressing you today in English.” His father was a respected British journalist and his mother an accomplished painter. Die in Frankfurt ansässi - ge Peter Ustinov Stiftung setzt sich daher seit 1999 dafür ein, insbesondere benach - Doubt unites them. Updates? Ustinov also wrote most of the films he directed, and in 1969 he received an Oscar nomination for his screenplay for Hot Millions. His funeral service was held at Geneva's historic Cathedral of St Pierre. The New London Theatre in Drury Lane WC2 first opened on 2nd January 1973 with. English actor and director Peter Ustinov pictured using a Tewe Director's viewfinder on … Ustinov was awarded the CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in the 1975 Queen's Birthday Honours List for his services to drama. The actor spoke several languages, Russian and Spanish among them. Join Facebook to connect with Peter Ustinov and others you may know. His father, also known as "Klop Ustinov", was a pilot in the German Air Force during World War I. Der mehrsprachige Ustinov machte sich einen Namen als Autor von zeitsatirischen Dramen, darunter Romanoff und Julia (1956), Erzählungen, Essays, Kolumnen, Romanen, Novellen und Drehbüchern. Peter Ustinov’s most popular book is Old Man and Mr. Smith: A Fable. He was batman for David Niven, and the two became lifelong friends. [on Russian-American relations] There was a great campaign to make life difficult for. Jonathan Winters accepted the award on his behalf. Life is unfair but remember it is unfair in your favor. World government is not only possible, it is inevitable; and when it comes, it will appeal to patriotism in its truest, in its only sense, the patriotism of men who love their national heritages so deeply that they wish to preserve them in safety for the common good. Was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree by Dundee University and an honorary Doctor of Music degree by the Cleveland Institute of Music in Cleveland, Ohio. 1961 Winner Oscar: Best Actor in a Supporting Role Spartacus (1960) 1952 Nominee Oscar: Best Actor in a Supporting Role Quo Vadis (1951) Golden Globes, USA. And it's our duty to try to understand it because it is the courage of desperation. März 2004 in Genolier) war eine der angesehensten Persönlichkeiten des 20. und beginnenden 21.Jahrhunderts aus den Bereichen Film, Theater, Literatur und Kunst.. Als Filmschauspieler spielte Ustinov in Charakterrollen im Kino Hollywoods und wurde zweimal mit einem Oscar ausgezeichnet. Ustinov was born on 16 April 1921 in Swiss Cottage, London Borough of Camden. Was a member of the jury at the Venice Film Festival in 1986. Peter's paternal grandmother, Magdalena Hall, was born in Magdala, Ethiopia. His father was of one-quarter Polish Jewish, one-half Russian, one-eighth Ethiopian, and one-eighth German descent, while his mother was of one-half Russian, one-quarter Italian, one-eighth French, and one-eighth German ancestry. Actor, Motion Picture Director. Ustinov’s efforts as a humanitarian were as visibly effective as his creative output was prodigious. März 2004, Online (Memento vom 12. He was 82. He wrote his first play at the age of 19. Not only have they supplied the world with two leaders of the stature of Jesus Christ and. He was a Humanist Laureate, a member of the International Academy of Humanism. People are annoyed with the Chinese for not respecting more human rights. Lady L (1965) with Sophia Loren and Paul Newman was probably his best-received directorial effort. Peter Ustinov, actor, director, producer, playwright, raconteur and a host of other things, was one of the most extraordinary theatrical figures of the 20th century. My feeling is that we're going to discover and exploit some entirely new and unsuspected erogenous zone. 5 of 5. No mere list can do justice to this unique individual who brought so much to so many. In the last 15 years the Foundation has initiated and supported more than 50 aid projects worldwide. [on Palestinian suicide bombers] They require the kind of courage that none of us would have. Both his father and uncle were officers in the German army and fought Britain in WWI. 4 Damen, 5 Herren. A playwright of considerable note, equally appreciated in New York City and in London, Ustinov wrote The Love of Four Colonels (performed 1951), Romanoff and Juliet (1956; filmed 1961), Halfway up the Tree (1967), The Unknown Soldier and His Wife (1967), in which he also starred when the play was chosen to open the New London Theatre in 1973, Overheard (1981), and Beethoven’s 10th (1983), a comedy in which he himself starred as the great composer. (Magdalena's father, Moritz Hall, born in Krakow, was of Polish Jewish descent, while Magdalena's mother was born in Ethiopia to a German father, Christoph Eduard Zander from Kothen, and a black Ethiopian mother, Woizero Essete Work Meqado de Choa, making Peter of one-sixteenth Ethiopian descent). Fast, free delivery. It's a kind of courage that's very hard to understand. Die in Frankfurt ansässige Peter Ustinov Stiftung setzt sich daher seit 1999 dafür ein, insbesondere benachteiligte und ausgegrenzte Kinder in ihrer Entwicklung zu fördern. In February 1921, when she was seven months pregnant with Peter, the couple emigrated from Russia in the aftermath of the Communist Revolution. To my mind, it's a big lie. The Peter Ustinov Foundation is a charity for children founded by Sir Peter Ustinov and his son Igor Ustinov in 1999. (1969), and Agatha Christie’s persnickety sleuth Hercule Poirot in six films made throughout the 1970s and ’80s. Die Komödie spielt … Sir Peter Alexander Ustinov izgovara se /ˈjuːstɪnɒf/ ili /ˈuːstɪnɒf/; (16. april 1921 – 28. mart 2004), rođen Peter Alexander Baron von Ustinow, bio je britanski glumac, pisac i dramatičar.. Ustinov je bio poznat i kao filmaš, kazališni, operni i režiser, scenograf, scenarist, komičar, humorist, novinski kolumnistr, radio komentator i TV voditelj. April 1921 in London; † 28. The following year, he made his film debut in Hullo, Fame! The Foundation is based in Frankfurt, Germany. (1940).From 1942-46, Ustinov served with the British Army's Royal Sussex Regiment. Think of it. At that time he co-wrote and acted in The Way Ahead (1944) (aka "The Immortal Battalion").Ustinov had a stellar film career as actor, director, and writer. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Peter-Ustinov, UNICEF for every child - Sir Peter Ustinov, Peter Ustinov - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). In 1992, he became Chancellor of the University of Durham, a position he held until his death in 2004 at his home in Switzerland. His best-selling works of prose included the short-story collection Add a Dash of Pity (1959), the novels Krumnagel (1971) and Monsieur Rene (1999), the historical study My Russia (1983), and the autobiographical works Dear Me (1977), Ustinov at Large (1991), and Ustinov Still at Large (1993). But with a population that size it's very difficult to have the same attitude to human rights. Beliefs are what divide people. 1965 Nominee Golden Globe: Best Actor - Comedy or Musical Berndeutsche Übersetzung und Bearbeitung der Komödie von Peter Ustinov, Theater Belp, 2018 Aufführungsrechte: Musikverlag und Bühnenvertrieb Zürich AG, 8008 Zürich und für diese Fassung markus.michel@xwing.ch. By the early 21st century, Ustinov had made more than 70 films in Rome, London, and Hollywood during a career of nearly 60 years. His credits as a motion-picture director included the aforementioned Billy Budd, the screen adaptation of Romanoff and Juliet, and the darkly comic Hammersmith Is Out (1972) with Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. I believe that the Jews have made a contribution to the human condition out of all proportion to their numbers: I believe them to be an immense people. Peter's paternal grandfather, Plato Grigorivich von Ustinov, was Russian. (1951), Spartacus (1960), Topkapi (1964) und Tod auf dem Nil (1978). He was awarded the Benjamin Franklin Medal from the Royal Society of Arts in 1957 and was knighted in 1990.From 1971 until his death in 2004, Ustinov's permanent residence was a château in Bursins, Vaud, Switzerland. Grab a copy of our NEW encyclopedia for Kids! I guarantee that the one who tries to kill as few people as possible will kill many more than the one who goes into a snack bar and blows himself or herself up. He won two Best Supporting Actor Oscars, for his clown in "Spartacus" (1960) and his engaging con man in "Topkapi" (1964). His father was a German subject who came on personal business to Soviet Russia, where he met his future wife. Held various academic posts and served as a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF and was a president of the World Federalist Movement.