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Peter Sellers
Actor

Peter Sellers

8 Sep 1925Born
24 Jul 1980Died
54Age at death
99Credits

Biography

Richard Henry Sellers, CBE (September 8, 1925 – July 24, 1980), known as Peter Sellers, was a British comedian and actor best known as Chief Inspector Clouseau in The Pink Panther film series, for playing three different characters in Dr. Strangelove, as Clare Quilty in Lolita, and as the man-child and TV-addicted Chance the gardener in his penultimate film, Being There. Leading actress Bette Davis once remarked of him, "He isn't an actor—he's a chameleon." Sellers rose to fame on the BBC Radio comedy series The Goon Show.

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His ability to speak in different accents (e.g., French, Indian, American, German, as well as British regional accents), along with his talent to portray a range of characters to comic effect, contributed to his success as a radio personality and screen actor and earned him national and international nominations and awards. Many of his characters became ingrained in public perception of his work. Sellers' private life was characterized by turmoil and crises, and included emotional problems and substance abuse. Sellers was married four times, and had three children from the first two marriages.

An enigmatic figure, he often claimed to have no identity outside the roles that he played, but he left his own portrait since, "he obsessively filmed his homes, his family, people he knew, anything that took his fancy right to the end of his life—intimate film that remained undiscovered until long after his death in 1980." The director Peter Hall has said: "Peter had the ability to identify completely with another person, and think his way physically, mentally and emotionally into their skin. Where does that come from? I have no idea. Is it a curse? Often. I think it's not enough though in this business to have talent. You have to have talent to handle the talent. And that I think Peter did not have."

Known for

Filmography

The 80 most recent of 99 credits.

  1. TBATalking ComedySeries (1 episode)
  2. 2025Love Left the Masquerade: Peter Medak's Cinema of PretendersFilm: Archive
  3. 2013The 9th Wonder of the World: The Making of 'Gorgo'Film: The Villain Antony (archive footage)
  4. 2007Hitler: The Comedy YearsFilm: Dr. Strangelove / Fred Kite (archive footage) (uncredited)
  5. 2000The Unknown Peter SellersFilm
  6. 1992Funny BusinessSeries: (archive footage) (6 episodes)
  7. 1990The Very Best of Peter SellersFilm
  8. 1982Trail of the Pink PantherFilm: Chief Insp. Jacques Clouseau (archive footage)
  9. 1980The Fiendish Plot of Dr. Fu ManchuFilm: Fu Manchu / Nayland Smith
  10. 1979Being ThereFilm: Chance
  11. 1979The Prisoner of ZendaFilm: Rudolf IV/Rudolf V/Sidney Frewin
  12. 1978Rire et sourire : Le SplendidSeries: Extrait du film « La Malédiction de la Panthère rose », 1978 (1 episode)
  13. 1978Revenge of the Pink PantherFilm: Chief Inspector Clouseau
  14. 1978Kingdom Of GiftsFilm: The Slightly Larcenous Mayor
  15. 1977To See Such FunFilm
  16. 1976The Pink Panther Strikes AgainFilm: Chief Inspector Clouseau
  17. 1976Murder by DeathFilm: Sidney Wang
  18. 1975The Return of the Pink PantherFilm: Inspector Clouseau
  19. 1975Julie: My Favourite ThingsFilm: Various
  20. 1975The Great McGonagallFilm: Queen Victoria
  21. 1974Soft Beds, Hard BattlesFilm: Général Latour / Major Robinson / Herr Schroeder / Adolf Hitler / The President / Prince Kyoto
  22. 1973The Optimists of Nine ElmsFilm: Sam
  23. 1973The BlockhouseFilm: Rouquet
  24. 1973Ghost in the Noonday SunFilm: Dick Scratcher
  25. 1972Alice's Adventures in WonderlandFilm: The March Hare
  26. 1972SykesSeries: Tommy Grando (2 episodes)
  27. 1972Where Does It Hurt?Film: Dr. Albert T. Hopfnegal
  28. 1970Wilton's: The Handsomest Hall in TownFilm: G.W. Ross
  29. 1970There's a Girl in My SoupFilm: Robert Danvers
  30. 1970HoffmanFilm: Mr. Hoffman
  31. 1970Simon SimonFilm: Man with Two Cars
  32. 1970A Day at the BeachFilm: Stallholder
  33. 1969The Magic ChristianFilm: Sir Guy Grand KG, KC, CBE
  34. 1969One Pair of Eyes - No, But SeriouslyFilm
  35. 1968I Love You, Alice B. Toklas!Film: Harold
  36. 1968The PartyFilm: Hrundi V. Bakshi
  37. 1968It Takes a ThiefSeries: Man in Harbor Records Office (1 episode)
  38. 1967Woman Times SevenFilm: Jean
  39. 1967One Pair of EyesSeries (1 episode)
  40. 1967Casino RoyaleFilm: Evelyn Tremble
  41. 1967The BoboFilm: Juan Bautista
  42. 1966Alice in WonderlandFilm: King of Hearts
  43. 1966El Rey en LondresFilm
  44. 1966After the FoxFilm: Aldo Vanucci/Federico Fabrizi
  45. 1966The Wrong BoxFilm: Doctor Pratt
  46. 1965Birds, Bees and StorksFilm: Narrator (voice)
  47. 1965The Music of Lennon & McCartneyFilm
  48. 1965The Dean Martin ShowSeries (1 episode)
  49. 1965What's New Pussycat?Film: Dr. Fritz Fassbender
  50. 1964Carol for Another ChristmasFilm: Imperial Me
  51. 1964I Say I Say I SayFilm: Director
  52. 1964A Shot in the DarkFilm: Jacques Clouseau
  53. 1964The World of Henry OrientFilm: Henry Orient
  54. 1964Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the BombFilm: Group Capt. Lionel Mandrake / President Merkin Muffley / Dr. Strangelove
  55. 1963The Pink PantherFilm: Insp. Jacques Clouseau
  56. 1963The TelegoonsSeries (26 episodes)
  57. 1963Heavens Above!Film: The Rev. John Smallwood
  58. 1963The Wrong Arm of the LawFilm: Pearly Gates
  59. 1962The Dock BriefFilm: Wilfred Morgenhall
  60. 1962LolitaFilm: Clare Quilty
  61. 1962Waltz of the ToreadorsFilm: Gen. Leo Fitzjohn
  62. 1962The Road to Hong KongFilm: Indian Neurologist (uncredited)
  63. 1962Only Two Can PlayFilm: John Lewis
  64. 1961Mr. TopazeFilm: Auguste Topaze, Director
  65. 1960Two-Way StretchFilm: Dodger Lane
  66. 1960The MillionairessFilm: Dr. Kabir
  67. 1960Never Let GoFilm: Lionel Meadows
  68. 1960The Battle of the SexesFilm: Mr. Martin
  69. 1959The Running Jumping & Standing Still FilmFilm: Writer
  70. 1959I'm All Right JackFilm: Fred Kite / Sir John Kennaway
  71. 1959The Mouse That RoaredFilm: Grand Duchess Gloriana XII / Prime Minister Count Rupert Mountjoy / Tully Bascombe
  72. 1959Whicker's WorldSeries (1 episode)
  73. 1959Carlton-Browne of the F.O.Film: Prime Minister Amphibulos
  74. 1958Tom ThumbFilm: Antony
  75. 1958Up the CreekFilm: CPO Doherty
  76. 1957Insomnia is Good for YouFilm: Hector Dimwittie
  77. 1957The Naked TruthFilm: "Wee" Sonny MacGregor
  78. 1957The Smallest Show on EarthFilm: Percy Quill
  79. 1957Yes, It's The Cathode-Ray Tube Show!Series (6 episodes)
  80. 1957Theatre NightSeries: The Sultan (1 episode)

Biography and credits from TMDB. This website uses TMDB and the TMDB APIs but is not endorsed, certified, or otherwise approved by TMDB.