This man was an absolute genius. I love the anecdote about his mother meeting Queen Mary he tells starting around 2:10 in this video. What a master of voices and facial expressions he was. 
 

Brilliant man. Don't see anyone like that these days.

He was a great actor. Didn't know he had also passed away.
Edit:
Already in 2004 he
left this visible realm it seems. I read that he was versatile, could speak several languages and even sang. Never heard him sing though.

Somehow I put Ustinov in the same cathegory as the late, great Charles Laughton. They were "different in a similar way".

For some reason I think people occasionally get him mixed up with Michael Winner. I think it's a combination of the portly constitution and squinty eyes.

He was a true master of language. All British actors are required to learn an American accent, but most only manage one (and they always sound like Lyndon Johnson). Ustinov could do multiple regional American dialects and sound authentic enough to fool a native. But most English-speakers don't know that he was equally proficient in many other languages as well, and made films in German and Russian. 

He also was a huge music lover. He did a documentary on Bach that was outstanding. 
 
He has always delighted me. 

John
He also was a huge music lover. He did a documentary on Bach that was outstanding. 
 
He has always delighted me. 

My favorite Ustinov moment was during an interview with either Johnny Carson or Dick Cavett (don't recall).  He was relating an incident from his early school days.  On a test, there was the question "Who was the greatest composer?".  He answered "Bach".  His test came back with the answer marked "Incorrect.  It was Beethoven".
 
The fact that he found that funny, when few in the audience would actually "get it" totally endeared him to me from that point on.

Hi,
 
Nice guy and funny ... not a great great actor, but enjoyable. I much prefer Alec Guiness myself and his immense cannon of roles ... but Mr. Ustinov is fine.

Moshkito
Hi,
 
Nice guy and funny ... not a great great actor, but enjoyable. I much prefer Alec Guiness myself and his immense cannon of roles ... but Mr. Ustinov is fine.

Don't hold back, let it all out.....