Contents
Peter Sellers
Playing Inspector Clouseau and three roles in Dr. Strangelove.
The Goon Show · Being There
- Born
- 8 September 1925
- Birthplace
- Southsea, England
- Died
- 24 July 1980
More people
Peter Sellers
Peter Sellers was an English comic actor known for changing voice, posture and manner to create sharply different characters. His work moved from absurd radio comedy to international films.
Early life
Variety-theatre family
His parents were performers, and he grew up around touring entertainment.
Wartime service
Served in the RAF and developed his performing skills through service entertainment.
Career
- 1951–1960
Radio success
Became one of the central performers in The Goon Show.
- 1950s
British film roles
Built a screen career through comedies including The Ladykillers.
- 1960s
International stardom
Found major success with the Pink Panther films and Stanley Kubrick.
- 1970s
Later roles
Returned to Clouseau and finished the decade with Being There.
Selected work
The Pink Panther
Introduced his accident-prone Inspector Clouseau.
Dr. Strangelove
Played a British officer, an American president and a German scientist.
Being There
Portrayed a sheltered gardener mistaken for a profound political thinker.
Beyond work
Photography
Pursued photography as a serious interest away from acting.
Private life
Married four times and had three children; ill health affected his later years.
Sources & photo credit
Biography ↗Life and work ↗Photo: Photograph by Allan Warren Derivative by Keraunoscopia. CC BY-SA 3.0 · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
