Actor, author Peter Ustinov dies at 82

Oscar-winning British actor and playwright Peter Ustinov, one of the world's best loved raconteurs and mimics, has died at the age of 82.
Author of more than a dozen books and even more theatrical works in a career spanning more than 60 years, Ustinov died of heart failure in a clinic near his home on the shores of Lake Geneva on Sunday night, his family said.
The actor and humorist, who was also well known for charity work, had been in hospital since shortly after Christmas when he was taken ill on his return from a holiday in Thailand.
"It was not a surprise, he was pretty ill. He had had a busy life and he was tired," his son Igor Ustinov told Reuters in a telephone interview. "But he certainly was not ready to go," he added.
German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder was amongst those to pay tribute to his brilliance and compassion. "(He) was a role model for us all, not only as a great actor and artist...but above all as a man with a great heart, spirit and humour," he said in a letter to Ustinov's widow, Helene.
Ustinov, who spoke more than half a dozen languages, won Oscars for his roles in the films "Spartacus" and "Topkapi."
The multi-talented entertainer, who was knighted by Britain's Queen Elizabeth but did not like to be known as "Sir Peter", finished his last film as an actor, about the life of 16th century Reformation leader Martin Luther, late last year.
He led a richly varied life as playwright, novelist, film director, academic and as an active campaigner against war.
He was Chancellor of the University of Durham and shortly before his death, the University of Vienna inaugurated the Ustinov Institute, dedicated to studying prejudice and its impact on people, politics and conflict resolution.
Born in London of Russian parentage, Ustinov was a London revue star as a teenager and wrote his first play at 19. He made his first feature film at 25.
Amongst his best-known film roles was that of Hercule Poirot in screen versions of the stories of British mystery writer Agatha Christie's most famous detective. He directed seven feature films, amongst them the much-applauded Billy Budd in 1962, staged opera and was a noted photographer.