**Peter Cushing (1913-1994)** was a British actor, known for his long and distinguished film career. He became an icon of horror cinema thanks to his work with Hammer Film Productions in the 1950s and 1960s.

There, he played iconic roles such as **Doctor Van Helsing** in the *Dracula* series and **Baron Victor Frankenstein**, starting with *The Curse of Frankenstein*. He often appeared alongside Christopher Lee, his frequent collaborator and antagonist.

Cushing was admired for his elegance, precision, and intensity. He often portrayed authoritative, brilliant, but also morally ambiguous or menacing figures. Outside of horror, he is renowned for his role as **Grand Moff Tarkin** in *Star Wars* (1977) and various appearances as Sherlock Holmes. His screen presence left an indelible mark on the genre and beyond.