As an aspiring young actor before the War, Peter Cushing set off to see if he would be able to make his mark in Hollywood. It was certainly a very brave thing to do in those days as it meant an ocean voyage and then a lengthy – but I imagine wonderful – train journey across the width of the USA.

His father paid for his passage and so Peter arrived in Hollywood – with just 60 dollars in his pocket – so it was to be make or break !

ABOVE: When Laurel and Hardy made their film A Chump at Oxford, United Artists had been scouring Hollywood for anyone who sounded even a little bit British. They found Peter Cushing and signed him on to play the role of “Student”. It was still a small part, but he finally had an actual role.

While filming A Chump at Oxford, in one scene Peter had to fall into a pond with some other extras. Of course he got fully soaked – then Oliver Hardy who had seen this insisted that the extras get fresh towels and clothes—and even food—for their efforts. 

A later film ‘The Man in the Iron Mask’ – a film starring Louis Hayward and directed by James Whale. Peter got a part in this one because he said that he was trained in fencing so the sword play would be no problem. He had, in fact, no knowledge at all and had never handled a sword. However he quickly came clean to the fencing instructor / expert, a man by the name of Cavern, who took pity on him and said that he would train him in the techniques – which he did for which Peter was eternally grateful.

Peter Cushing must have done reasonably well in Hollywood – here he is BELOW – polishing his new Car – a symbol of his Hollywood success

Peter Cushing – ABOVE relaxes in the California sunshine

ABOVE – Peter Cushing in the USA in the 1941 film ‘Vigil In the Night’ – here with Carole Lombard

Peter Cushing pictured above with Ida Lupino – he stayed at her family home in Hollywood for quite a time

Peter Cushing – ABOVE as Osric in the 1948 film ‘Hamlet’

Peter Cushing returned to these shores from Hollywood in 1942. He was declared unfit for the forces in the War and so signed on with ENSA giving theatrical performances to our troops at many locations. It was in May 1942, that Peter met his wife Helen Beck who had replaced Sonia Dresdel in a touring play Noel Cowards ‘Private Lives’

Violet Helene Beck to give her full name was born on February the 8th 1905 in St. Petersburg, now Leningrad in the USSR.

She was the daughter of a wealthy cotton mill owner and lived a life of luxury with her three sisters and two brothers. When the Russian revolution began in 1917, Helen and her family fled from Russia, settling into England. Fortunately for Helen, she fluently spoke several languages… English, French, Russian, and German,and took a job as a tutor. A little later she turned to acting

Peter Cushing – a Collector of model soldiers – there were over 2,000 in his collection

Peter Cushing with Helen. I hadn’t realised that she was in fact 8 years older than him but that didn’t seem to matter as they had a long and happy marriage.

In an interview some years ago Peter said that his wife had been a musical-comedy actress and dancer who had played in Hollywood films in her teens. She had been selected from 500 girls for a part in a Cochran revue staged in America.

Later she switched to the ‘legitimate’ stage and toured the United States.

I had never heard that history of his wife Helen – most interesting – but then again she would be well into her late Thirties when she met Peter so as an actress, she would certainly have had a career of some sort – Wish we knew more