Peter Sellers

Peter Sellers

Acting
Born 1925-09-08 - Died 1980-07-24Southsea, Hampshire, England, UK

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. 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."

Movies (110)

The Pink Panther
6.8

The Pink Panther

1963Movie6.8
Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb
8.1

Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb

1964Movie8.1
Casino Royale
5.2

Casino Royale

1967Movie5.2
Lolita
7.3

Lolita

1962Movie7.3
John Candy: I Like Me
7.9

John Candy: I Like Me

2025Movie7.9
Kubrick by Kubrick
7.3

Kubrick by Kubrick

2020Movie7.3
Revenge of the Pink Panther
6.4

Revenge of the Pink Panther

1978Movie6.4
Murder by Death
7.1

Murder by Death

1976Movie7.1
A Shot in the Dark
7.2

A Shot in the Dark

1964Movie7.2
The Prisoner of Zenda
5.7

The Prisoner of Zenda

1979Movie5.7
Trail of the Pink Panther
5.1

Trail of the Pink Panther

1982Movie5.1
The Pink Panther Strikes Again
6.9

The Pink Panther Strikes Again

1976Movie6.9
The Ladykillers
7.3

The Ladykillers

1955Movie7.3
Koyaanisqatsi
7.9

Koyaanisqatsi

1983Movie7.9
The Return of the Pink Panther
6.8

The Return of the Pink Panther

1975Movie6.8
The Road to Hong Kong
5.8

The Road to Hong Kong

1962Movie5.8
The Party
7.3

The Party

1968Movie7.3
Beat the Devil
6.1

Beat the Devil

1953Movie6.1
I Love You, Alice B. Toklas!
5.1

I Love You, Alice B. Toklas!

1968Movie5.1
Being There
7.6

Being There

1979Movie7.6
The Man Who Never Was
7.0

The Man Who Never Was

1956Movie7.0
Woman Times Seven
6.3

Woman Times Seven

1967Movie6.3
I'm All Right Jack
6.6

I'm All Right Jack

1959Movie6.6
The Fiendish Plot of Dr. Fu Manchu
4.9

The Fiendish Plot of Dr. Fu Manchu

1980Movie4.9
Soft Beds, Hard Battles
4.6

Soft Beds, Hard Battles

1974Movie4.6
El Rey en Londres

El Rey en Londres

1966Movie
What's New Pussycat?
5.9

What's New Pussycat?

1965Movie5.9
Waltz of the Toreadors
5.0

Waltz of the Toreadors

1962Movie5.0
Mr. Topaze
5.9

Mr. Topaze

1961Movie5.9
The Dock Brief
6.6

The Dock Brief

1962Movie6.6
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
6.3

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

1972Movie6.3
The Magic Christian
5.8

The Magic Christian

1969Movie5.8
Alice in Wonderland
6.0

Alice in Wonderland

1966Movie6.0
The Smallest Show on Earth
6.7

The Smallest Show on Earth

1957Movie6.7
The Wrong Arm of the Law
6.7

The Wrong Arm of the Law

1963Movie6.7
The Naked Truth
6.8

The Naked Truth

1957Movie6.8
The World of Henry Orient
5.9

The World of Henry Orient

1964Movie5.9
The Blockhouse
6.2

The Blockhouse

1973Movie6.2
The Wrong Box
6.4

The Wrong Box

1966Movie6.4
The Black Rose
6.5

The Black Rose

1950Movie6.5
The Mouse That Roared
6.4

The Mouse That Roared

1959Movie6.4
Two-Way Stretch
6.8

Two-Way Stretch

1960Movie6.8
Heavens Above!
6.6

Heavens Above!

1963Movie6.6
There's a Girl in My Soup
5.5

There's a Girl in My Soup

1970Movie5.5
Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story
7.7

Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story

2025Movie7.7
Carol for Another Christmas
5.9

Carol for Another Christmas

1964Movie5.9
Tom Thumb
6.4

Tom Thumb

1958Movie6.4
Muppet Treasures
7.3

Muppet Treasures

1985Movie7.3
Where Does It Hurt?
5.5

Where Does It Hurt?

1972Movie5.5
The Big Screen

The Big Screen

1973Movie
Only Two Can Play
5.9

Only Two Can Play

1962Movie5.9
Our Girl Friday
5.3

Our Girl Friday

1953Movie5.3
After the Fox
6.1

After the Fox

1966Movie6.1
Carlton-Browne of the F.O.
6.2

Carlton-Browne of the F.O.

1959Movie6.2
Mickey's 50
9.0

Mickey's 50

1978Movie9.0
The Music of Lennon & McCartney
7.0

The Music of Lennon & McCartney

1965Movie7.0
The Battle of the Sexes
6.6

The Battle of the Sexes

1960Movie6.6
Orders Are Orders
6.6

Orders Are Orders

1954Movie6.6
The Super Secret Service
4.5

The Super Secret Service

1953Movie4.5
The Slappiest Days of Our Lives

The Slappiest Days of Our Lives

1951Movie
Hoffman
7.1

Hoffman

1970Movie7.1
Hitler: The Comedy Years
5.0

Hitler: The Comedy Years

2007Movie5.0
John and Julie
4.9

John and Julie

1955Movie4.9
A Day at the Beach
4.8

A Day at the Beach

1970Movie4.8
The Millionairess
5.3

The Millionairess

1960Movie5.3
Muppet Video: Rowlf's Rhapsodies with the Muppets
9.0

Muppet Video: Rowlf's Rhapsodies with the Muppets

1985Movie9.0
Wilton's: The Handsomest Hall in Town

Wilton's: The Handsomest Hall in Town

1970Movie
Never Let Go
6.5

Never Let Go

1960Movie6.5
The Bobo
6.2

The Bobo

1967Movie6.2
Kingdom Of Gifts
7.0

Kingdom Of Gifts

1978Movie7.0
Best Sellers or: Peter Sellers and 'Dr. Strangelove'
5.8

Best Sellers or: Peter Sellers and 'Dr. Strangelove'

2004Movie5.8
The 9th Wonder of the World: The Making of 'Gorgo'
7.0

The 9th Wonder of the World: The Making of 'Gorgo'

2013Movie7.0
Ghost in the Noonday Sun
4.9

Ghost in the Noonday Sun

1973Movie4.9
Down Among the Z Men
5.6

Down Among the Z Men

1952Movie5.6
The Running Jumping & Standing Still Film
5.6

The Running Jumping & Standing Still Film

1959Movie5.6
Directed By Blake Edwards
8.0

Directed By Blake Edwards

2021Movie8.0
Up the Creek
6.0

Up the Creek

1958Movie6.0
The Optimists of Nine Elms
6.7

The Optimists of Nine Elms

1973Movie6.7
To See Such Fun
10.0

To See Such Fun

1977Movie10.0
A Salute to Sir Lew Grade
7.0

A Salute to Sir Lew Grade

1975Movie7.0
The Paranormal Peter Sellers
6.0

The Paranormal Peter Sellers

2001Movie6.0
Simon Simon
6.7

Simon Simon

1970Movie6.7
Julie: My Favourite Things

Julie: My Favourite Things

1975Movie
Love Left the Masquerade: Peter Medak's Cinema of Pretenders
10.0

Love Left the Masquerade: Peter Medak's Cinema of Pretenders

2025Movie10.0
Spike Milligan: Love, Light and Peace

Spike Milligan: Love, Light and Peace

2014Movie
Dearth of a Salesman

Dearth of a Salesman

1957Movie
The Ghost of Peter Sellers
5.8

The Ghost of Peter Sellers

2018Movie5.8
The Unknown Peter Sellers
8.2

The Unknown Peter Sellers

2000Movie8.2
Peter Sellers: Genius at Work

Peter Sellers: Genius at Work

2023Movie
Peter Sellers: A State of Comic Ecstasy
8.0

Peter Sellers: A State of Comic Ecstasy

2020Movie8.0
Penny Points to Paradise
4.4

Penny Points to Paradise

1951Movie4.4
Let's Go Crazy
5.4

Let's Go Crazy

1951Movie5.4
The Great McGonagall
5.6

The Great McGonagall

1975Movie5.6
The Case of the Mukkinese Battle-Horn
6.9

The Case of the Mukkinese Battle-Horn

1956Movie6.9
Sellers' Best

Sellers' Best

1992Movie
Spike
10.0

Spike

1996Movie10.0
Flip Wilson... Of Course

Flip Wilson... Of Course

1974Movie
Eric Sykes: One of the Great Troupers

Eric Sykes: One of the Great Troupers

1981Movie
The Beatles: Get Back...Winter of Discontent
6.8

The Beatles: Get Back...Winter of Discontent

2005Movie6.8
One Pair of Eyes - No, But Seriously

One Pair of Eyes - No, But Seriously

1969Movie
A Burlesque on the Opera "Carmen"
10.0

A Burlesque on the Opera "Carmen"

1951Movie10.0
Will the Real Mr Sellers.....?

Will the Real Mr Sellers.....?

1969Movie
With Love, Sophia
10.0

With Love, Sophia

1967Movie10.0
Birds, Bees and Storks
6.7

Birds, Bees and Storks

1965Movie6.7
The Very Best of Peter Sellers
8.8

The Very Best of Peter Sellers

1990Movie8.8
The Last Goon Show of All
7.0

The Last Goon Show of All

1972Movie7.0
The Peter Sellers Story
7.0

The Peter Sellers Story

1995Movie7.0
Insomnia is Good for You
8.0

Insomnia is Good for You

1957Movie8.0
The Peter Sellers Story - As He Filmed It

The Peter Sellers Story - As He Filmed It

2003Movie
I Say I Say I Say

I Say I Say I Say

1964Movie

TV Shows (25)

The Mike Douglas Show
5.8

The Mike Douglas Show

1961Series5.8
Film '72
5.1

Film '72

1971Series5.1
The Muppet Show
8.0

The Muppet Show

1976Series8.0
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
6.8

Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In

1968Series6.8
It Takes a Thief
7.2

It Takes a Thief

1968Series7.2
The Dean Martin Show
7.4

The Dean Martin Show

1965Series7.4
Sykes
6.7

Sykes

1972Series6.7
The World of Hammer
6.8

The World of Hammer

1994Series6.8
V.I.P. Schaukel
8.0

V.I.P. Schaukel

1971Series8.0
ABC Stage 67
6.8

ABC Stage 67

1966Series6.8
Whicker's World
7.2

Whicker's World

1959Series7.2
Theatre Night

Theatre Night

1957Series
One Pair of Eyes
7.0

One Pair of Eyes

1967Series7.0
The Beatles: Get Back
8.4

The Beatles: Get Back

2021Series8.4
Tempo
8.0

Tempo

1961Series8.0
This Is Tom Jones
6.7

This Is Tom Jones

1969Series6.7
The Telegoons
5.3

The Telegoons

1963Series5.3
Funny Business
7.3

Funny Business

1992Series7.3
Talking Comedy

Talking Comedy

Series
Son of Fred

Son of Fred

1956Series
A Show Called Fred

A Show Called Fred

1956Series
Rire et sourire : Le Splendid
8.0

Rire et sourire : Le Splendid

1978Series8.0
The Idiot Weekly, Price 2d

The Idiot Weekly, Price 2d

1956Series
And So To Bentley

And So To Bentley

1954Series
Yes, It's The Cathode-Ray Tube Show!

Yes, It's The Cathode-Ray Tube Show!

1957Series