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Peter Sellers

Peter Sellers

Acting

Born: September 8, 1925Southsea, Hampshire, England, UK

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."

Known For
Filmography
John Candy: I Like Me

John Candy: I Like Me

Self - Actor (archive footage)

2025
Love Left the Masquerade: Peter Medak's Cinema of Pretenders

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

Archive

2025
Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story

Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story

Self (archive footage) (uncredited)

2025
Peter Sellers: Genius at Work

Peter Sellers: Genius at Work

Self (archive footage)

2023
Directed By Blake Edwards

Directed By Blake Edwards

Self

2021
Kubrick by Kubrick

Kubrick by Kubrick

Self (archive footage)

2020
Peter Sellers: A State of Comic Ecstasy

Peter Sellers: A State of Comic Ecstasy

Self (Archival Footage)

2020
The Ghost of Peter Sellers

The Ghost of Peter Sellers

Self (Archive)

2018
Spike Milligan: Love, Light and Peace

Spike Milligan: Love, Light and Peace

Self (archive footage)

2014
The 9th Wonder of the World:  The Making of 'Gorgo'

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

The Villain Antony (archive footage)

2013
Hitler: The Comedy Years

Hitler: The Comedy Years

Dr. Strangelove / Fred Kite (archive footage) (uncredited)

2007
The Beatles: Get Back...Winter of Discontent

The Beatles: Get Back...Winter of Discontent

Self (archive footage)

2005
Best Sellers or: Peter Sellers and 'Dr. Strangelove'

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

Self (archive footage)

2004
The Peter Sellers Story - As He Filmed It

The Peter Sellers Story - As He Filmed It

Himself

2003
The Paranormal Peter Sellers

The Paranormal Peter Sellers

Self (Archive footage)

2001
The Unknown Peter Sellers

The Unknown Peter Sellers

2000
Spike

Spike

Self

1996
The Peter Sellers Story

The Peter Sellers Story

Himself

1995
Sellers' Best

Sellers' Best

Self (archive footage)

1992
The Very Best of Peter Sellers

The Very Best of Peter Sellers

1990

Muppet Video: Rowlf's Rhapsodies with the Muppets

Self

1985
Muppet Treasures

Muppet Treasures

Self

1985
Koyaanisqatsi

Koyaanisqatsi

Self (archive footage)

1983
Trail of the Pink Panther

Trail of the Pink Panther

Chief Insp. Jacques Clouseau (archive footage)

1982
Eric Sykes: One of the Great Troupers

Eric Sykes: One of the Great Troupers

Self (archive material)

1981
The Fiendish Plot of Dr. Fu Manchu

The Fiendish Plot of Dr. Fu Manchu

Fu Manchu / Nayland Smith

1980
Being There

Being There

Chance

1979
The Prisoner of Zenda

The Prisoner of Zenda

Rudolf IV/Rudolf V/Sidney Frewin

1979
Mickey's 50

Mickey's 50

Self

1978
Revenge of the Pink Panther

Revenge of the Pink Panther

Chief Inspector Clouseau

1978

Kingdom Of Gifts

The Slightly Larcenous Mayor

1978
To See Such Fun

To See Such Fun

1977
The Pink Panther Strikes Again

The Pink Panther Strikes Again

Chief Inspector Clouseau

1976
Murder by Death

Murder by Death

Sidney Wang

1976
The Return of the Pink Panther

The Return of the Pink Panther

Inspector Clouseau

1975
A Salute to Sir Lew Grade

A Salute to Sir Lew Grade

Self

1975
Julie: My Favourite Things

Julie: My Favourite Things

Various

1975
The Great McGonagall

The Great McGonagall

Queen Victoria

1975
Flip Wilson... Of Course

Flip Wilson... Of Course

Self

1974
Soft Beds, Hard Battles

Soft Beds, Hard Battles

Général Latour / Major Robinson / Herr Schroeder / Adolf Hitler / The President / Prince Kyoto

1974
The Optimists of Nine Elms

The Optimists of Nine Elms

Sam

1973
The Big Screen

The Big Screen

Self

1973
Ghost in the Noonday Sun

Ghost in the Noonday Sun

Dick Scratcher

1973
The Blockhouse

The Blockhouse

Rouquet

1973
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

The March Hare

1972
Where Does It Hurt?

Where Does It Hurt?

Dr. Albert T. Hopfnegal

1972
The Last Goon Show of All

The Last Goon Show of All

Self

1972
Wilton's: The Handsomest Hall in Town

Wilton's: The Handsomest Hall in Town

G.W. Ross

1970
There's a Girl in My Soup

There's a Girl in My Soup

Robert Danvers

1970
Hoffman

Hoffman

Mr. Hoffman

1970
Simon Simon

Simon Simon

Man with Two Cars

1970
A Day at the Beach

A Day at the Beach

Salesman

1970
Will the Real Mr Sellers.....?

Will the Real Mr Sellers.....?

Self

1969
The Magic Christian

The Magic Christian

Sir Guy Grand KG, KC, CBE

1969
One Pair of Eyes - No, But Seriously

One Pair of Eyes - No, But Seriously

1969
I Love You, Alice B. Toklas!

I Love You, Alice B. Toklas!

Harold

1968
The Party

The Party

Hrundi V. Bakshi

1968

With Love, Sophia

Self

1967
Woman Times Seven

Woman Times Seven

Jean

1967
Casino Royale

Casino Royale

Evelyn Tremble

1967
The Bobo

The Bobo

Juan Bautista

1967
Alice in Wonderland

Alice in Wonderland

King of Hearts

1966
El Rey en Londres

El Rey en Londres

1966
After the Fox

After the Fox

Aldo Vanucci/Federico Fabrizi

1966
The Wrong Box

The Wrong Box

Doctor Pratt

1966

Birds, Bees and Storks

Narrator (voice)

1965
The Music of Lennon & McCartney

The Music of Lennon & McCartney

1965
What's New Pussycat?

What's New Pussycat?

Dr. Fritz Fassbender

1965
Carol for Another Christmas

Carol for Another Christmas

Imperial Me

1964

I Say I Say I Say

1964
A Shot in the Dark

A Shot in the Dark

Jacques Clouseau

1964
The World of Henry Orient

The World of Henry Orient

Henry Orient

1964
Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb

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

Group Capt. Lionel Mandrake / President Merkin Muffley / Dr. Strangelove

1964
The Pink Panther

The Pink Panther

Insp. Jacques Clouseau

1963
Heavens Above!

Heavens Above!

The Rev. John Smallwood

1963
The Wrong Arm of the Law

The Wrong Arm of the Law

Pearly Gates

1963
The Dock Brief

The Dock Brief

Wilfred Morgenhall

1962
Lolita

Lolita

Clare Quilty

1962
Waltz of the Toreadors

Waltz of the Toreadors

Gen. Leo Fitzjohn

1962
The Road to Hong Kong

The Road to Hong Kong

Indian Neurologist (uncredited)

1962
Only Two Can Play

Only Two Can Play

John Lewis

1962
Mr. Topaze

Mr. Topaze

Auguste Topaze

1961
Two-Way Stretch

Two-Way Stretch

Dodger Lane

1960
The Millionairess

The Millionairess

Dr. Kabir

1960
Never Let Go

Never Let Go

Lionel Meadows

1960
The Battle of the Sexes

The Battle of the Sexes

Mr. Martin

1960
The Running Jumping & Standing Still Film

The Running Jumping & Standing Still Film

1959
I'm All Right Jack

I'm All Right Jack

Fred Kite / Sir John Kennaway

1959
The Mouse That Roared

The Mouse That Roared

Grand Duchess Gloriana XII / Prime Minister Count Rupert Mountjoy / Tully Bascombe

1959
Carlton-Browne of the F.O.

Carlton-Browne of the F.O.

Prime Minister Amphibulos

1959
Tom Thumb

Tom Thumb

Antony

1958
Up the Creek

Up the Creek

CPO Doherty

1958
Insomnia is Good for You

Insomnia is Good for You

1957
The Naked Truth

The Naked Truth

"Wee" Sonny MacGregor

1957
The Smallest Show on Earth

The Smallest Show on Earth

Percy Quill

1957
Dearth of a Salesman

Dearth of a Salesman

Hector Dimwittie

1957
The Man Who Never Was

The Man Who Never Was

Voice of Winston Churchill (uncredited)

1956
The Case of the Mukkinese Battle-Horn

The Case of the Mukkinese Battle-Horn

Assorted

1956
The Ladykillers

The Ladykillers

Harry, alias 'Mr. Robinson'

1955
John and Julie

John and Julie

Police Constable Diamond

1955
Orders Are Orders

Orders Are Orders

Pvt. Goffin

1954
Our Girl Friday

Our Girl Friday

Voice of Parrot

1953
Beat the Devil

Beat the Devil

Billy Dannreuther (voice) (uncredited)

1953
The Super Secret Service

The Super Secret Service

Sir Walter Smood / Reuben J. Crouch

1953
Down Among the Z Men

Down Among the Z Men

Major Bloodnok

1952
Let's Go Crazy

Let's Go Crazy

Multiple Roles

1951
Penny Points to Paradise

Penny Points to Paradise

The Major / Arnold Fringe

1951
The Slappiest Days of Our Lives

The Slappiest Days of Our Lives

(archive footage)

1951
A Burlesque on the Opera "Carmen"

A Burlesque on the Opera "Carmen"

Voice narrator

1951
The Black Rose

The Black Rose

Lu Chung (voice)

1950