Peter Sellers, widely hailed as one of history’s most brilliant comedians, was born Richard Henry Sellers on September 8, 1925, in Southsea, Portsmouth. His lineage was steeped in the performing arts, born into a prosperous acting family. His parents, Agnes Doreen “Peg” (Marks) and William “Bill” Sellers, were active members of a theatrical company managed by his grandmother. While his father was Protestant, his mother was of Jewish heritage, encompassing both Ashkenazi and Sephardic roots. The loss of their first child before Peter’s birth led to him being showered with affection and attention during his formative years.
During World War II, Sellers served in the Royal Air Force. It was post-war London where his path intersected with Spike Milligan, Harry Secombe, and Michael Bentine, individuals who would become his collaborators and comrades in comedic innovation.
Following his military service, Sellers established a revue in London, showcasing his diverse talents in music, particularly on the drums, and his burgeoning skill for impressions. His career trajectory shifted dramatically when he lent his voice to a multitude of characters on the iconic BBC radio program, “The Goon Show” (1951-1960). This radio success paved the way for his cinematic debut in films such as Penny Points to Paradise (1951) and Down Among the Z Men (1952), gradually building towards his memorable portrayal of a criminal in The Ladykillers (1955). Throughout the 1950s, Sellers took on smaller yet impactful roles. His breakthrough moment arrived with the film I’m All Right Jack (1959), where he played the staunch union representative, Fred Kite. The movie’s success propelled him into leading roles throughout the 1960s, providing a platform to exhibit the full spectrum of his comedic genius.
In 1962, Sellers was selected by Stanley Kubrick for the role of Clare Quilty in Lolita (1962). His portrayal of a mentally unstable television writer with fragmented personalities was so compelling that it secured him another collaboration with Kubrick in Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964). In this cinematic masterpiece, Sellers showcased his unparalleled ability to embody multiple characters, adopting distinct British, American, and German accents, further solidifying his reputation as a transformative actor.
The year 1964 marked a zenith in Peter Sellers’ career, with four critically and commercially successful films released: Dr. Strangelove, which garnered him an Oscar nomination, The Pink Panther (1963), introducing his signature character, the inept French Inspector Jacques Clouseau, its almost impromptu sequel, A Shot in the Dark (1964), and The World of Henry Orient (1964). However, at the peak of his professional success, Sellers experienced a near-fatal heart attack on April 5, 1964. This occurred after inhaling amyl nitrites during a sexual encounter with his second wife, Britt Ekland. At the time, he was filming Kiss Me, Stupid (1964) directed by Billy Wilder. Regrettably, Wilder replaced Sellers with Ray Walston, a decision he later expressed remorse over. By October 1964, Sellers had made a remarkable recovery and resumed his acting career.
The mid-1960s witnessed a surge in British cultural influence globally, from The Beatles to James Bond films, and Peter Sellers became a central figure in comedy. What’s New Pussycat? (1965) became another box office hit. However, Sellers’ growing ego and insecurities started to manifest in his professional relationships, making him increasingly challenging to collaborate with. The James Bond spoof Casino Royale (1967) exceeded its budget and, despite reasonable box office returns, failed to recoup its expenses, with Sellers bearing part of the blame. He declined an offer from United Artists for the lead role in Inspector Clouseau (1968) but reacted with displeasure when Alan Arkin was cast instead. His reputation for being difficult, coupled with increasingly erratic behavior and a string of less successful films, negatively impacted his career standing. By 1970, his popularity had waned. He spent the early 1970s in less prominent B-movies like Where Does It Hurt? (1972) and made more frequent television appearances, including The Dean Martin Show (1965) and a Glen Campbell TV special.
Inspector Clouseau revitalized Sellers’ career in 1974. Sir Lew Grade expressed interest in a TV series based on the character. Blake Edwards, the creator of Clouseau, persuaded Grade to finance a feature film instead. The Return of the Pink Panther (1975) became a major box office success, coinciding with the release of Jaws (1975), and brought both Sellers and Edwards back into the limelight. Sellers continued to portray Clouseau in two more successful sequels, The Pink Panther Strikes Again (1976) and Revenge of the Pink Panther (1978). This renewed success allowed Sellers to pursue his long-held ambition of playing Chauncey Gardiner in a film adaptation of Jerzy Kosinski’s novel “Being There.” He had read the novel in 1972, but the film adaptation took seven years to materialize. Being There (1979) earned Sellers his second Oscar nomination, although he lost to Dustin Hoffman for Kramer vs Kramer (1979).
Throughout his life, Peter Sellers battled depression and deep-seated insecurities. He was often described as enigmatic, famously claiming to lack an identity outside of the roles he played. His behavior, both on and off-screen, became increasingly unpredictable, and he frequently clashed with directors and co-stars, especially during the mid-1970s when his physical and mental health, compounded by alcohol and drug issues, were at their worst. Sellers never fully recovered from his 1964 heart attack, as he opted for ‘psychic healers’ over conventional medical treatment. Consequently, his heart condition gradually deteriorated over the subsequent years. On March 20, 1977, he suffered another severe heart attack, requiring a pacemaker implant, which caused him further discomfort. Despite these health challenges, he refused to reduce his workload or consider heart surgery that might have extended his life.
On July 25, 1980, Sellers was scheduled to reunite with his Goon Show colleagues, Spike Milligan and Harry Secombe, for dinner in London. However, around noon on July 22, he collapsed in his Dorchester Hotel room from a massive heart attack and fell into a coma. Peter Sellers passed away in a London hospital shortly after midnight on July 24, 1980, at the age of 54. He was survived by his fourth wife, Lynne Frederick, and his three children: Michael, Sarah, and Victoria. At the time of his death, he was scheduled for an angiography in Los Angeles on July 30 to assess his eligibility for heart surgery.
His final film, The Fiendish Plot of Dr. Fu Manchu (1980), completed shortly before his death, was another box office disappointment. Blake Edwards’ attempt to revive the Pink Panther series after Sellers’ death resulted in two poorly received comedies in the 1980s. The first, Trail of the Pink Panther (1982), addressed Inspector Clouseau’s disappearance and was constructed from unused footage from previous Pink Panther films, alongside interviews with the original cast reprising their roles, marking a somewhat bittersweet end to the comedic legacy of Peter Sellers.
