Editing Peter Cook (section)

{{short description|British comedian, actor, satirist (1937–1995)}}
{{Other people|Peter Cook}}
{{For|the actor|Peter Coke}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Infobox person
| name         = Peter Cook
| image        = File:Peter Cook Dudley Moore Kraft Music Hall.jpg
| resting_place = St John-at-Hampstead Churchyard, Hampstead, London, England
| caption      = Cook on ''[[Kraft Music Hall (TV series)|Kraft Music Hall]]'', 1969
| birth_name   = Peter Edward Cook
| birth_date   = {{Birth date|1937|11|17|df=y}}
| birth_place  = [[Torquay]], [[Devon]], England
| death_date   = {{Death date and age|1995|1|9|1937|11|17|df=y}}
| death_place  = [[Hampstead]],<ref name=slacker/> [[London]], England
| occupation   = {{hlist|Comedian|actor|satirist|playwright|screenwriter}}
| alma_mater = [[Pembroke College, Cambridge]]
| years_active = 1958–1995
| spouse       = {{ubl
  | {{marriage|Wendy Snowden|1963|1971|end=div}}
  | {{marriage|[[Judy Huxtable]]|1973|1989|end=div}}
  | {{marriage|Chiew Lin Chong|1989}}
  }}
| children     = 2
}}

'''Peter Edward Cook''' (17 November 1937 – 9 January 1995)<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.nytimes.com/1995/01/10/obituaries/peter-cook-madcap-british-performer-dies-at-57.html|work= [[The New York Times]]|title= Peter Cook, Madcap British Performer, Dies at 57|author= Mel Gussow|date= January 10, 1995|page= D20}}</ref> was an English comedian, actor, [[satirist]], playwright and screenwriter. He was the leading figure of the British [[satire boom]] of the 1960s, and he was associated with the [[anti-establishment]] comedic movement that emerged in the United Kingdom in the late 1950s.

Born in [[Torquay]], he was educated at the [[University of Cambridge]]. There he became involved with the [[Footlights|Footlights Club]], of which he later became president. After graduating, he created the comedy stage [[revue]] ''[[Beyond the Fringe]]'', beginning a long-running partnership with [[Dudley Moore]]. In 1961, Cook opened the comedy club [[The Establishment (club)|The Establishment]] in [[Soho]]. In 1965, Cook and Moore began a television career, beginning with ''[[Not Only... But Also]]''. Cook's [[deadpan]] monologues contrasted with Moore's buffoonery.<ref>{{cite news |title=Peter Cook & Dudley Moore, The 25 best comedy duos|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/comedy/comedians/the-25-best-comedy-duos/peter-cook-and-dudley-moore/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/comedy/comedians/the-25-best-comedy-duos/peter-cook-and-dudley-moore/ |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |access-date=24 July 2021 |newspaper=The Telegraph}}{{cbignore}}</ref> They received the 1966 [[British Academy Television Award for Best Entertainment Performance]]. 

Following the success of the show, the duo appeared together in the films ''[[The Wrong Box]]'' (1966) and ''[[Bedazzled (1967 film)|Bedazzled]]'' (1967). Cook and Moore returned to television projects continuing to the late 1970s, including co-presenting ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' in the United States. From 1978 until his death in 1995, Cook no longer collaborated with Moore, apart from a few cameo appearances, but continued to be a regular performer in British television and film.

Referred to as "the father of modern [[satire]]" by ''[[The Guardian]]'' in 2005, Cook was ranked number one in the ''Comedians' Comedian'', a poll of more than 300 comics, comedy writers, producers and directors in the English-speaking world.<ref>{{cite news |title=Peter Cook the funniest |url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/People/Peter-Cook-the-funniest/2005/01/03/1104601276619.html |work=The Age |location=Australia |date=3 January 2005}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Cook tops poll of comedy greats|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2005/jan/02/arts.artsnews |work=The Guardian |date=2 January 2005}}</ref>