Peter Cook

Ran the "The Establishment Club" in Greek Street, Soho, London from October 1961 - September 1962. The cradle of the 1960s satire boom.

Has won two Special Tony Awards: in 1963, along with his "Beyond the Fringe" co-stars Alan Bennett, Jonathan Miller and Dudley Moore, "for their brilliance which has shattered all the old concepts of comedy," in a show that was recreated in a television version of the same title, Beyond the Fringe (1964); and in 1974, shared with co-author and co-star Dudley Moore for their show "Good Evening."

Had two daughters with his first wife, Wendy Snowden: Lucy, born in 1964, and Daisy born in 1965. Daisy is an artist.

He was in the running to play Noël Coward in Star! (1968).

He was considered for Willy Wonka in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971).

Former comedy partner Dudley Moore was said to have based his title performance in Arthur (1981) partly on Cook, whose excessive drinking had soured his and Moore's comedic partnership in the 1970s.

He was considered to voice Basil in The Great Mouse Detective (1986).

Biography in: "Who's Who in Comedy" by Ronald L. Smith, pg. 117-118. New York: Facts on File, 1992. ISBN 0816023387

He was considered to voice Zazu in The Lion King (1994).

He was one of five comedians pictured on a set of UK postage stamps issued 23 April 1998. His caricatured likeness was on the 63p stamp. The other comedians honored were Tommy Cooper (20p), Eric Morecambe (26p), Joyce Grenfell (37p), and Les Dawson (43p).

In 1999 the minor planet 20468 Petercook, in the main asteroid belt, was named after him.

Voted greatest comedian of all time in a poll of comedians. 2005.