Peter Sellers was a man of contrast. His was a career of extreme highs, including a British Academy Award for best actor for “I’m alright Jack” in 1959, and two Oscar nominations, for Stanley Kubrick’s classic “Dr Strangelove or: How I learned to stop worrying about the bomb” in 1964 and for his penultimate film, 1979’s “Being There”. He also experienced many professional lows though, starring in well more than his fair share of bombs and being regarded as box office poison for periods throughout the late 60’s and 70’s. In addition Peter was known for having a volatile personality off screen, oscillating from charming rogue one moment, to petulant child the next.
Peter was born Richard Henry Sellers but was called “Peter” by his parents in reference to his older, stillborn brother. Peter’s parents Agnes (or “Peg” as she was referred to) and Bill both worked on the Music Hall circuit and Peter was notoriously carried into his first theatre at just two days of age.
Peter discovered a talent for characterisation when mimicking his superior officers during the Second World War. This was a talent that was utilised in full in The Goons, a show often described as the most influential British radio series of all time. Also starring Harry Secombe, Spike Milligan (who takes writing credits for the show) and, in the early days, Michael Bentine, The Goons’ high anarchy and freely wielded absurdity won them a cult following in 1950’s Britain, with the future members of Monty Python being amongst its most ardent followers.
It was via film though that Peter’s career was catapulted onto the international stage, most notoriously with his legendary creation of Inspector Clouseau in 1963’s “The Pink Panther”. Originally a vehicle for David Niven, Sellers’ role was small, but he notoriously stole the film. This film also saw the beginning of a life long, on again off again, love hate relationship with director Blake Edwards. Peter made five Pink Panther films in his career, which were littered amongst the more than sixty films he made in his lifetime. Other well known films include “The Party” and “The Magic Christian” alongside Beatle Ringo Starr. At the height of his career Peter was one of Britain’s biggest celebrities.
Peter, who had a penchant for both beautiful women and beautiful cars, was married four times, most famously in the sixties to Swedish Actress Brit Ekland. His character flaws were pronounced. He was known to be immature, ego ridden and occasionally delusional.
Peter suffered a near fatal heart attack in 1964 and was subsequently dogged by heart problems until he died of a heart attack in 1980 at the age of 54.