Peter Edward Cook English comedian, satirist, screenwriter Date of Birth: 17.11.1937 Country: USA

1. Biography of Peter Cook
2. Early Career
3. Establishment Club and Television Work
4. Later Career and Personal Life

Biography of Peter Cook

Peter Cook (full name Peter Edward Cook) was born in 1937 in Torquay, Devon, England. He was the eldest child and the only son of Alexander Edward (Alec) Cook and his wife Ethel Catherine Margaret. Cook received his education at Radley College and later at the prestigious Pembroke College in Cambridge, where he studied German and French. Despite considering a career in diplomacy, Cook was quite apolitical. However, during his time as a student, he was a member of the Cambridge University Liberal Club. He was also a member of the prestigious Footlights Club and became its president in 1960. Even then, Cook was writing satirical sketches and comedies.

Early Career

While still a student, Cook wrote sketches for the renowned British comedian Kenneth Williams, creating the popular show "One Over the Eight," which ran in London's West End. Shortly after, Cook gained significant fame with the show "Beyond the Fringe," featuring acclaimed comedians Jonathan Miller, Alan Bennett, and Dudley Moore. The show became immensely popular after its debut at the Edinburgh Festival and enjoyed success in London. However, Cook experienced a bit of embarrassment during one of the shows when he portrayed Prime Minister Harold Macmillan, unaware that Macmillan was in the audience.

Establishment Club and Television Work

In 1961, Cook opened "The Establishment Club" in Soho, which hosted performances by many prominent artists in the genre, including Lenny Bruce and Barry Humphries. During the 1960s, Cook also appeared on television, becoming the author of projects such as "What's Going on Here?," adaptations of "Beyond the Fringe," "Not Only... But Also," and many others. Interestingly, Cook often acted in his own works, becoming one of the brightest stars of the British comedy boom. However, public interest in the genre began to wane by the end of the 1960s.

Later Career and Personal Life

During this period, Cook also appeared in numerous comedy films, including "The Wrong Box" directed by Bryan Forbes, "Bedazzled" directed by Stanley Donen, where he co-starred with Dudley Moore, "The Bed Sitting Room" directed by Richard Lester, "Monte Carlo or Bust!" directed by Ken Annakin, and many others, including television films. Cook's screenplay for "Bedazzled," co-written with Moore, became a cult film in Britain and was even remade in Hollywood in 2000. Another notable role for Cook as an actor was Sherlock Holmes in the 1978 film "The Hound of the Baskervilles," for which he also collaborated on the screenplay with Dudley Moore.

Cook's creative partnership with Moore was exceptionally productive and lasted for a long time. One of their most notable projects together was the aforementioned show "Not Only... But Also." In 1979, they created the comedy "Derek and Clive Get the Horn." However, their partnership eventually dissolved due to various reasons, including Cook's heavy drinking.

Overall, Peter Cook wrote scripts for nearly two dozen television shows and films. As an actor, he appeared in at least 40 projects. His contribution to British comedy heritage is immeasurable. Ten years after his death, Cook's name was ranked number one in the list "The Comedian's Comedian," which comprised over 300 writers, actors, producers, and individuals who made significant contributions to the genre. In 1999, a minor planet, 20468 Petercook, was named in his honor.

It is known that Cook was married three times. His first wife was Wendy Snowden, with whom he had two daughters, Lucy and Daisy. According to some sources, John Lennon wrote his famous song "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds" for Lucy. Cook was married to Judy Huxtable from 1974 to 1989, and then to Lin Chong from 1989 until his death in 1995. Peter Cook passed away on January 9, 1995, at the age of 57. Many friends and biographers saw his life as truly tragic, as he was unable to maintain the high standards he achieved early in his career and struggled with alcoholism.

Despite his troubles, Cook, who always had a joke for any situation, once said, "I learn from my mistakes, and I can repeat them exactly."