Peter Sellers
Acting
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
Acting135
movieJohn Candy: I Like Me
2025
Self - Actor (archive footage)
movieLiza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story
2025
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
moviePeter Sellers: Genius at Work
2023
Self (archive footage)
movieKubrick by Kubrick
2020
Self (archive footage)
moviePeter Sellers: A State of Comic Ecstasy
2020
Self (Archival Footage)
movieThe Ghost of Peter Sellers
2018
Self (archive footage)
movieSpike Milligan: Love, Light and Peace
2014
Self (archive footage)
movieThe 9th Wonder of the World: The Making of 'Gorgo'
2013
The Villain Antony (archive footage)
movieHitler: The Comedy Years
2007
Dr. Strangelove / Fred Kite (archive footage) (uncredited)
movieThe Beatles: Get Back...Winter of Discontent
2005
Self (archive footage)
movieBest Sellers or: Peter Sellers and 'Dr. Strangelove'
2004
Self (archive footage)
movieThe Paranormal Peter Sellers
2001
Self (Archive footage)
movieSpike
1996
Self
tvThe World of Hammer
1994
Self (archive footage)
tvFunny Business
1992
(archive footage)
movieSellers' Best
1992
Self (archive footage)
movieKoyaanisqatsi
1983
Self (archive footage)
movieTrail of the Pink Panther
1982
Chief Insp. Jacques Clouseau (archive footage)
movieEric Sykes: One of the Great Troupers
1981
Self (archive material)
movieThe Fiendish Plot of Dr. Fu Manchu
1980
Fu Manchu / Nayland Smith
movieBeing There
1979
Chance
movieThe Prisoner of Zenda
1979
Rudolf IV/Rudolf V/Sidney Frewin
tvRire et sourire : Le Splendid
1978
Extrait du film « La Malédiction de la Panthère rose », 1978
movieRevenge of the Pink Panther
1978
Chief Inspector Clouseau
Kingdom Of Gifts
1978
The Slightly Larcenous Mayor
movieThe Pink Panther Strikes Again
1976
Chief Inspector Clouseau
tvThe Muppet Show
1976
Self - Special Guest Star
movieMurder by Death
1976
Sidney Wang
movieThe Return of the Pink Panther
1975
Inspector Clouseau
movieThe Great McGonagall
1975
Queen Victoria
movieSoft Beds, Hard Battles
1974
Général Latour / Major Robinson / Herr Schroeder / Adolf Hitler / The President / Prince Kyoto
movieThe Blockhouse
1973
Rouquet
movieGhost in the Noonday Sun
1973
Dick Scratcher
movieAlice's Adventures in Wonderland
1972
The March Hare
tvSykes
1972
Tommy Grando
movieWhere Does It Hurt?
1972
Dr. Albert T. Hopfnegal
movieThere's a Girl in My Soup
1970
Robert Danvers
movieHoffman
1970
Mr. Hoffman
movieSimon Simon
1970
Man with Two Cars
movieA Day at the Beach
1970
Stallholder
movieThe Magic Christian
1969
Sir Guy Grand KG, KC, CBE
movieThe Party
1968
Hrundi V. Bakshi
tvRowan & Martin's Laugh-In
1968
Self / Self (uncredited)
tvIt Takes a Thief
1968
Man in Harbor Records Office
movieCasino Royale
1967
Evelyn Tremble
movieThe Bobo
1967
Juan Bautista
movieAlice in Wonderland
1966
King of Hearts
movieAfter the Fox
1966
Aldo Vanucci/Federico Fabrizi
movieThe Wrong Box
1966
Doctor Pratt
Birds, Bees and Storks
1965
Narrator (voice)
movieWhat's New Pussycat?
1965
Dr. Fritz Fassbender
movieCarol for Another Christmas
1964
Imperial Me
movieA Shot in the Dark
1964
Jacques Clouseau
movieThe World of Henry Orient
1964
Henry Orient
movieDr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb
1964
Group Capt. Lionel Mandrake / President Merkin Muffley / Dr. Strangelove
movieThe Pink Panther
1963
Insp. Jacques Clouseau
movieHeavens Above!
1963
The Rev. John Smallwood
movieThe Wrong Arm of the Law
1963
Pearly Gates
movieThe Dock Brief
1962
Wilfred Morgenhall
movieLolita
1962
Clare Quilty
movieWaltz of the Toreadors
1962
Gen. Leo Fitzjohn
movieThe Road to Hong Kong
1962
Indian Neurologist (uncredited)
movieOnly Two Can Play
1962
John Lewis
tvThe Mike Douglas Show
1961
Self (archive footage)
tvTempo
1961
Self
movieMr. Topaze
1961
Auguste Topaze
movieTwo-Way Stretch
1960
Dodger Lane
movieThe Millionairess
1960
Dr. Kabir
movieNever Let Go
1960
Lionel Meadows
movieThe Battle of the Sexes
1960
Mr. Martin
movieI'm All Right Jack
1959
Fred Kite / Sir John Kennaway
movieThe Mouse That Roared
1959
Grand Duchess Gloriana XII / Prime Minister Count Rupert Mountjoy / Tully Bascombe
movieCarlton-Browne of the F.O.
1959
Prime Minister Amphibulos
movieTom Thumb
1958
Antony
movieUp the Creek
1958
CPO Doherty
movieThe Naked Truth
1957
"Wee" Sonny MacGregor
movieThe Smallest Show on Earth
1957
Percy Quill
tvTheatre Night
1957
The Sultan
movieDearth of a Salesman
1957
Hector Dimwittie
movieThe Man Who Never Was
1956
Voice of Winston Churchill (uncredited)
movieThe Ladykillers
1955
Harry, alias 'Mr. Robinson'
movieJohn and Julie
1955
Police Constable Diamond
movieOrders Are Orders
1954
Pvt. Goffin
movieOur Girl Friday
1953
Voice of Parrot
movieBeat the Devil
1953
Billy Dannreuther (voice) (uncredited)
movieThe Super Secret Service
1953
Sir Walter Smood / Reuben J. Crouch
movieDown Among the Z Men
1952
Major Bloodnok
movieLet's Go Crazy
1951
Multiple Roles
moviePenny Points to Paradise
1951
The Major / Arnold Fringe
movieThe Slappiest Days of Our Lives
1951
(archive footage)
movieA Burlesque on the Opera "Carmen"
1951
Voice narrator
movieThe Black Rose
1950
Lu Chung (voice)
Crew3
movieThe Magic Christian
1969
Additional Writing
movieThe Caretaker
1964
Thanks
Directing2
movieMr. Topaze
1961
Director