Peter Sellers

Peter Sellers was born on 8 September 1925 in Southsea, Portsmouth, England. He was the son of William “Bill” Sellers and Agnes Doreen Peg née Marks, both variety entertainers who performed in a touring act called the Double Event. He was christened Richard Henry Sellers, but his parents called him Peter after his stillborn elder brother. He had no other siblings. Sellers made his stage debut at the age of two weeks old at the Kings Theatre in Southsea, where he was carried on stage by his mother. He grew up in a theatrical environment and developed a talent for mimicry and improvisation. He attended various schools, but was often bored and restless. He preferred to entertain his classmates with jokes and impressions. He also learned to play the drums and the ukulele. At the age of 15, he left school and joined the Royal Air Force as a trainee wireless operator. He was stationed in India and Burma during the Second World War, where he entertained the troops with his comedy routines and musical skills. He also met Spike Milligan, who became his lifelong friend and collaborator. After the war, Sellers returned to England and pursued a career in show business. He made his radio debut in 1948 on a program called ShowTime, where he met Harry Secombe and Michael Bentine. The four of them, along with Milligan, formed the core of The Goon Show, a surreal and anarchic comedy series that ran from 1951 to 1960 on BBC Radio. The Goon Show made Sellers famous and gave him the opportunity to showcase his vocal range and versatility. Sellers also began his film career in the early 1950s, appearing in mostly comedic roles that often parodied authority figures such as military officers or policemen. Some of his notable films from this period include The Ladykillers 1955, The Mouse That Roared 1959, I’m All Right Jack 1959 and The Millionairess (1960). He also recorded several hit comic songs, such as Any Old Iron,Goodness Gracious Me and A Hard Day’s Night”. In 1963, Sellers achieved international fame with his role as Inspector Jacques Clouseau in The Pink Panther, directed by Blake Edwards. Clouseau was a bumbling French detective who constantly caused chaos and confusion with his ineptitude and clumsiness. Sellers played Clouseau in five more films: A Shot in the Dark 1964, The Return of the Pink Panther 1975, The Pink Panther Strikes Again 1976, Revenge of the Pink Panther 1978 and Trail of the Pink Panther 1982. The last film was made after his death using unused footage from previous films. Sellers also demonstrated his artistic range in other film genres and roles, such as Lolita 1962 and Dr Strangelove 1964, both directed by Stanley Kubrick. In Lolita, he played Clare Quilty, a rival suitor for the young girl of the title. In Dr Strangelove, he played three roles: Group Captain Lionel Mandrake, a British officer trying to stop a nuclear war; President Merkin Muffley, a nervous and ineffectual leader; and Dr Strangelove, a mad scientist with a Nazi past. Sellers was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in Dr Strangelove. Sellers continued to work in films throughout the 1960s and 1970s, often playing multiple roles or using different accents and disguises. Some of his other notable films from this period include What’s New Pussycat? 1965, Casino Royale (1967), The Party 1968, The Magic Christian 1969, Being There 1979 and The Fiendish Plot of Dr Fu Manchu (1980). He was also nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor for his role as Chance, a simple-minded gardener who becomes a political adviser, in Being There. Sellers had a turbulent personal life, marked by four marriages and divorces, numerous affairs, health problems and drug abuse. He was married to Anne Howe from 1951 to 1963, with whom he had two children: Michael and Sarah. He married Swedish actress Britt Ekland in 1964, with whom he had one daughter: Victoria. He divorced Ekland in 1968 after a stormy relationship. He married Miranda Quarry, a model, in 1970, but they separated in 1974. He married Lynne Frederick, an actress, in 1977, but they were estranged at the time of his death. Sellers suffered from heart disease since 1964, when he had his first heart attack. He had several more heart attacks and underwent bypass surgery in 1977. He also suffered from depression and anxiety, and used various drugs to cope with his insecurities and fears. He was interested in astrology, spirituality and the paranormal, and consulted psychics and mediums for guidance. On 22 July 1980, Sellers collapsed in his hotel room in London after suffering a massive heart attack. He was taken to Middlesex Hospital, where he died two days later at the age of 54.