Peter Cook
Born 1937 · Age 88
English comedian, actor, satirist, playwright and screenwriter; leading figure of the 1960s British satire boom and long-time partner of Dudley Moore.
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Life & Career Timeline
Birth
Born at his parents' house 'Shearbridge' in Middle Warberry Road, Torquay, Devon.
Film debut — Bachelor of Hearts (uncredited)
One of Cook's earliest on-screen appearances as a pedestrian (uncredited).
President of Cambridge Footlights
Became president of the Cambridge Footlights Club while studying at Pembroke College, Cambridge.
Performed in early incarnation of Beyond the Fringe (Edinburgh)
Participated in the four-man satirical stage show (with Dudley Moore, Alan Bennett, Jonathan Miller) that launched his prominence; early performances at the Edinburgh Festival.
Beyond the Fringe — West End transfer
Beyond the Fringe transferred to London's West End and established Cook's national profile.
Founded The Establishment (Soho)
Opened the members-only comedy club 'The Establishment' at 18 Greek Street, Soho — a major venue for satirical performers.
Beyond the Fringe — Broadway
The revue went to Broadway in New York, enhancing Cook's international exposure.
BBC commissions pilot based on Establishment Club
BBC commissioned a pilot of satirical sketches inspired by The Establishment; this later evolved into That Was the Week That Was.
Provided sketches for Kenneth Williams' revues
While still a student and early in his career, Cook wrote sketches for Williams' West End revues Pieces of Eight and One Over the Eight.
Opened The Establishment in New York
Cook opened a second Establishment club in New York; Lenny Bruce performed there.
Marriage to Wendy Snowden
Married Wendy Snowden (met at university); the couple later had two daughters, Lucy and Daisy.
Major supporter of Private Eye (financial backing)
Provided substantial financial backing and solicited investments for the satirical magazine Private Eye during its libel trials and early struggles.
David Frost rivalry / rescue incident
Summer rivalry peaked when Cook saved David Frost from drowning — an episode Cook later regretted as the incident intensified their rivalry.
First regular TV spot — On the Braden Beat
Cook's early regular television spot on Granada Television, featuring his E. L. Wisty character.
Launched TV partnership — Not Only... But Also
Cook and Dudley Moore began their hit television series Not Only... But Also (BBC), running originally 1965–1970.
Film — The Wrong Box
Cook and Moore appeared together in the film The Wrong Box.
BAFTA — Best Entertainment Performance
Cook and Dudley Moore received the British Academy Television Award for Best Entertainment Performance (1966).
Film — Bedazzled (screenplay credited to Cook)
Cook starred as the Devil in Bedazzled; underlying story credited to Cook and Moore and screenplay credited to Cook.
Goodbye Again — ATV series
Cook and Moore made four one-hour programmes for ATV titled Goodbye Again, based on Pete and Dud characters.
Film — The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer (led project)
Cook took over and guided the satirical film project about an opinion pollster who becomes Prime Minister; the film was not a commercial success.
Chat show hosting attempt — Where Do I Sit? (axed)
Cook hosted a short-lived BBC chat show in 1971; it was axed after three episodes, paving the way for Michael Parkinson.
Marriage separation / end with Wendy Snowden
Cook's marriage to Wendy Snowden effectively ended; they divorced officially by 1971 (text indicates marriage ended in 1970 and divorced 1971).
Stage revue Behind the Fridge — Australia tour
Cook and Moore fashioned material into the revue Behind the Fridge; toured Australia and a TV special was made by GTV-9.
Marriage to Judy Huxtable
Cook married actress and model Judy Huxtable.
Good Evening — New York transfer; Tony/Grammy recognition
Behind the Fridge retitled Good Evening for New York; the show proved popular and won Tony and Grammy awards (stage/review won awards during this period).
Initiated Derek and Clive recordings
While on Broadway for Good Evening, Cook initiated the Derek and Clive recordings with Dudley Moore — crude, improvisational Pete and Dud outtakes recorded for amusement.
Derek and Clive (Live) commercial release
First Derek and Clive album released commercially (1976) after bootleg circulate convinced Cook to publish.
Hosted NBC's Saturday Night (SNL) — guest hosts
Cook and Dudley Moore co-hosted Saturday Night Live on 24 January 1976, performing classic sketches.
Amnesty International — A Poke in the Eye (With a Sharp Stick)
Performed on all three nights of the first Cleese/Lewis benefit show for Amnesty International in April 1976 and appeared in the film Pleasure at Her Majesty's.
Derek and Clive Come Again (album) & Consequences album
Released a further Derek and Clive album (1977). Played multiple roles on the concept album Consequences (1977), which was a commercial failure at the time.
Amnesty benefit — The Mermaid Frolics
Appeared at the second Amnesty International gala in May 1977 (An Evening Without Sir Bernard Miles / cast album The Mermaid Frolics).
Derek and Clive Ad Nauseam (album and film)
A third Derek and Clive album (Ad Nauseam) was released in 1978; the last was accompanied by a film.
Film — The Hound of the Baskervilles (Sherlock Holmes) and Goodbye Again residua
Played Sherlock Holmes in The Hound of the Baskervilles (1978) and appeared on music show Revolver as a ballroom manager for emerging punk/new wave acts.
Recorded segments for Sparks singles; performed on Sparks B-sides
Recorded comedy segments used as B-sides for the Sparks 12-inch singles 'Number One Song in Heaven' and 'Tryouts for the Human Race'.
Amnesty — The Secret Policeman's Ball (performed 'Entirely a Matter for You')
Performed across the four-night gala in June 1979 and delivered the acclaimed nine-minute satire 'Entirely a Matter for You' on 29 and 30 June 1979.
Peter Cook & Co. (LWT special)
Starred in the 1980 LWT special featuring sketches and parodies; cast included John Cleese and Rowan Atkinson.
Moved to Hollywood
Partly due to Moore's growing film status, Cook moved to Hollywood and pursued US television and cameo film roles.
The Two of Us (US sitcom) — starred
Appeared as an uptight English butler in the American sitcom The Two of Us (1981–1982).
Guest role — Blackadder (Richard III)
Played Richard III in the first episode of Blackadder, 'The Foretelling' (1983).
Film — Supergirl (role: Nigel)
Appeared as Nigel, the mathematics teacher, in the film Supergirl (1984).
Diplomatix narration wins Montreux prize (film)
Narrated the short film Diplomatix by Kirkvaag, Lystad and Mjøen which won the 'Special Prize of the City of Montreux' at the Montreux Comedy Festival in 1985.
Partnered Joan Rivers on UK talk show
Paired with Joan Rivers as a partner/guest on her UK talk show.
Reunited with Dudley Moore for US Comic Relief benefit
Cook reunited on stage with Dudley Moore for the American Comic Relief telethon for the homeless (1987).
Film cameo — The Princess Bride (Impressive Clergyman)
Appeared as the 'Impressive Clergyman' in the film The Princess Bride (1987).
Guest on Whose Line Is It Anyway?
Appeared as a contestant on the improvisation show Whose Line Is It Anyway? and was declared the winner.
Amnesty — The Secret Policeman's Biggest Ball
Performed with Dudley Moore at the 1989 Amnesty International benefit 'The Secret Policeman's Biggest Ball'.
Marriage to Chiew Lin Chong
Married Malaysian-born property developer Chiew Lin Chong, his third wife, providing increased personal stability.
A Life in Pieces — Sir Arthur Streeb-Greebling
Returned to the BBC as Sir Arthur Streeb-Greebling in the short series A Life in Pieces (12 interviews).
One Foot in the Grave — Christmas special cameo
Appeared in the 1993 Christmas special 'One Foot in the Algarve' as a muckraking tabloid photographer.
Recorded unscripted interviews with Chris Morris
Unscripted interviews with Cook as Sir Arthur Streeb-Greebling and Chris Morris recorded late 1993; later broadcast as Why Bother? (1994).
Clive Anderson Talks Back — multi-character appearance
Appeared on Clive Anderson Talks Back performing four distinct characters on 17 December 1993.
Death of his mother
Cook's mother died before the end of 1994; the loss precipitated a return to heavy drinking.
Broadcast — Why Bother? on BBC Radio 3
The unscripted interviews with Chris Morris were broadcast on BBC Radio 3 as Why Bother? in 1994.
Last television appearance — Pebble Mill at One
Made his final television appearance on Pebble Mill at One in November 1994.
Play — Play Wisty For Me premiered
An original play paying tribute to Cook, 'Play Wisty For Me – The Life of Peter Cook', premiered in 1995.
Death
Died on 9 January 1995 at the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead from a gastrointestinal haemorrhage, a complication of heavy drinking.
Memorial service at St John-at-Hampstead
Dudley Moore attended Cook's memorial service on 1 May 1995.
Los Angeles memorial at The Improv
Dudley Moore and Martin Lewis presented a two-night memorial on 15–16 November 1995 to mark what would have been Cook's 58th birthday.
Dedication in film Fierce Creatures
Friends honored Cook with a dedication in the closing credits of the 1997 film Fierce Creatures.
Minor planet 20468 Petercook named
The minor planet 20468 Petercook in the main asteroid belt was named after Peter Cook in 1999.
Ranked #1 in Comedians' Comedian poll
Cook was ranked number one in the Comedians' Comedian poll of more than 300 comedy professionals in the English-speaking world.
Guardian dubs him 'the father of modern satire'
The Guardian referred to Cook as 'the father of modern satire' in 2005, reflecting his lasting influence.
Play — Pete and Dud: Come Again premiered (Edinburgh Fringe)
Chris Bartlett and Nick Awde's play examining Cook and Moore's relationship premiered at the 2005 Edinburgh Festival Fringe; later transferred to the West End.
Pete and Dud: Come Again — West End transfer
The play transferred to London's West End (The Venue) in 2006 during its run.
Green plaque unveiled at Establishment site
A green plaque honoring the site of The Establishment at 18 Greek Street, Soho, was unveiled by Westminster City Council and the Heritage Foundation on 15 February 2009.
Blue plaque unveiled at birthplace
A blue plaque commemorating Cook was unveiled at his birthplace 'Shearbridge', Middle Warberry Road, Torquay on 17 November 2014; his widow Lin attended.
Blue plaque at Torquay United (Plainmoor)
A blue plaque was erected in 2015 at Plainmoor, the home of Torquay United, honoring Cook's connection to his hometown club.
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