Oscar-winning renaissance man Ustinov dies at 82

PETER USTINOV, a brilliant wit and mimic who won two Oscars in an eclectic acting career has died. He was 82.

Mr Ustinov, a renaissance man whose talents included writing plays, movies and novels as well as directing operas, also devoted himself to the world's children for more than 30 years as a goodwill ambassador for Unicef.

He died of heart failure on Sunday night in a clinic near his home at Bursins overlooking Lake Geneva, said close friend Leon Davico, a former Unicef spokesman.