Peter Sellers
Biography
Peter Sellers was an English actor and comedian who first drew notice on BBC radio, especially The Goon Show, before becoming known for film roles, most notably Clouseau in the Pink Panther series. He began film work in the 1950s, often playing authority figures like military officers or policemen while also showing range in other genres. His credits included The Ladykillers (1955), The Mouse That Roared (1959), I'm All Right Jack (1959), The Millionairess (1960), The Pink Panther (1963), Dr. Strangelove (1964), What's New Pussycat? (1965), Casino Royale (1967), The Party (1968), I Love You, Alice B. Toklas! (1968), The Magic Christian (1969), and Being There (1979). He frequently took multiple roles in one film, using accents and disguises. He won a BAFTA for I'm All Right Jack and a Golden Globe for Being There, and received three Academy Award nominations, including Best Actor for Dr. Strangelove and Being There.
54years old at death
- Born Southsea
- Died Middlesex Hospital
- Star sign: VirgoThe sign runs August 23 to September 22
- Richard Henry Sellers (birth name)Also credited as Richard Henry Seller and Peter Richard Henry Sellers
Movie Career
- Films
- 42
- Career span
- 32 years1950 to 1982
Genres
First and latest
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Big break
Frustrated with how slowly his career was moving, Sellers called Roy Speer, a BBC radio producer, and pretended to be Kenneth Horne of Much-Binding-in-the-Marsh. Speer called him a "cheeky young sod" but still gave him an audition.
Big break
Blake Edwards wanted Peter Sellers for Inspector Clouseau in The Pink Panther once Peter Ustinov withdrew. Edwards remembered feeling desperately unhappy and ready to kill, yet he ended up with Sellers rather than Ustinov, thank God.
Getting ready for a role
Sellers prepared for his role as Fred Kite in I'm All Right Jack by watching footage of union officials, and the part won him a BAFTA.
Peter Sellers movies on Netflix
Koyaanisqatsias Self - On TV
Trail of the Pink Pantheras Chief Insp. Jacques Clouseau
Being Thereas Chance
The Prisoner of Zendaas Rudolf IV/Rudolf V/Sidney Frewin
Revenge of the Pink Pantheras Chief Insp. Jacques Clouseau
Murder by Deathas Sidney Wang
The Pink Panther Strikes Againas Chief Inspector Clouseau
The Return of the Pink Pantheras Insp. Jacques Clouseau
Alice's Adventures in Wonderlandas The March Hare
A Day at the Beachas Stallholder
Hoffmanas Mr. Hoffman
Let It Beas Himself
There's a Girl in My Soupas Robert Danvers
The Magic Christianas Sir Guy Grand KG, KC, CBE
Will the Real Mr. Sellers...as Himself
I Love You, Alice B. Toklas!as Harold
The Partyas Hrundi V. Bakshi
Casino Royaleas Evelyn Tremble (James Bond - 007)
Woman Times Sevenas Jean
After the Foxas Aldo Vanucci/Federico Fabrizi
The Wrong Boxas Doctor Pratt
What's New Pussycat?as Dr. Fritz Fassbender
A Carol for Another Christmasas Imperial Me
A Shot in the Darkas Jacques Clouseau
Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bombas Group Capt. Lionel Mandrake / President Merkin Muffley / Dr. Strangelove
The World of Henry Orientas Henry Orient
Heavens Above!as The Reverend John Smallwood
The Pink Pantheras Insp. Jacques Clouseau
The Wrong Arm of the Lawas Pearly Gates
Only Two Can Playas John Lewis
The Road to Hong Kongas Indian Neurologist
The Battle of the Sexesas Mr. Martin
The Millionairessas Dr. Kabir
Two-Way Stretchas Dodger Lane
I'm All Right Jackas Fred Kite / Sir John Kennaway
The Mouse That Roaredas Grand Duchess Gloriana XII / Prime Minister Count Rupert Mountjoy / Tully Bascombe
Tom Thumbas Antony
The Smallest Show on Earthas Percy Quill
The Ladykillersas Harry, alias 'Mr. Robinson'
Beat the Devilas Billy Dannreuther (voice)
Our Girl Fridayas Parrot (voice)
The Black Roseas Lu Chung (voice)
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
- Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb1964 Comedyas Group Capt. Lionel Mandrake / President Merkin Muffley / Dr. Strangelove
IMDb rating 8.3555K votes
Most often with
Blake Edwards directed seven of these films, John Huston two and Vittorio De Sica two. Graham Stark appears in eleven of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.










Films together
Graham Stark11 films together, 1960 to 1982
Graham Stark's page Trail of the Pink Panther1982IMDb rating 4.8Sellers as Chief Insp. Jacques ClouseauStark as Hercule Lajoy
The Prisoner of Zenda1979IMDb rating 5.3Sellers as Rudolf IV/Rudolf V/Sidney Frewin
Revenge of the Pink Panther1978IMDb rating 6.6Sellers as Chief Insp. Jacques ClouseauStark as Dr. Auguste Balls
The Pink Panther Strikes Again1976IMDb rating 7.1Sellers as Chief Inspector ClouseauStark as Hotel Clerk
The Return of the Pink Panther1975IMDb rating 7.0Sellers as Insp. Jacques ClouseauStark as Pepi
A Day at the Beach1970IMDb rating 6.2Sellers as StallholderStark as Pipi
Will the Real Mr. Sellers...1969IMDb rating 7.4Sellers as HimselfStark as Himself
A Shot in the Dark1964IMDb rating 7.3Sellers as Jacques ClouseauStark as Hercule LaJoy
The Wrong Arm of the Law1963IMDb rating 6.7Sellers as Pearly GatesStark as Sid Cooper
Only Two Can Play1962IMDb rating 6.5Sellers as John LewisStark as Hyman
The Millionairess1960IMDb rating 5.4Sellers as Dr. KabirStark as Butler
Herbert Lom7 films together, 1950 to 1982
Herbert Lom's page Trail of the Pink Panther1982IMDb rating 4.8Sellers as Chief Insp. Jacques ClouseauLom as Chief Insp. Charles Dreyfus
Revenge of the Pink Panther1978IMDb rating 6.6Sellers as Chief Insp. Jacques ClouseauLom as Chief Insp. Charles Dreyfus
The Pink Panther Strikes Again1976IMDb rating 7.1Sellers as Chief Inspector ClouseauLom as Dreyfus
The Return of the Pink Panther1975IMDb rating 7.0Sellers as Insp. Jacques ClouseauLom as Chief Insp. Charles Dreyfus
A Shot in the Dark1964IMDb rating 7.3Sellers as Jacques ClouseauLom as Charles Dreyfus
The Ladykillers1955IMDb rating 7.6Sellers as Harry, alias 'Mr. Robinson'Lom as Louis, alias 'Mr. Harvey'
The Black Rose1950IMDb rating 6.2Sellers as Lu ChungvoiceLom as Anthemus
John Le Mesurier6 films together, 1959 to 1969
John Le Mesurier's page The Magic Christian1969IMDb rating 5.8Sellers as Sir Guy Grand KG, KC, CBEMesurier as Sir John
The Wrong Box1966IMDb rating 6.7Sellers as Doctor PrattMesurier as Doctor Slattery
The Pink Panther1963IMDb rating 7.0Sellers as Insp. Jacques ClouseauMesurier as Defence Barrister
The Wrong Arm of the Law1963IMDb rating 6.7Sellers as Pearly GatesMesurier as Assistant Commissioner
Only Two Can Play1962IMDb rating 6.5Sellers as John LewisMesurier as Salter
I'm All Right Jack1959IMDb rating 7.1Sellers as Fred Kite / Sir John KennawayMesurier as Waters
Burt Kwouk5 films together, 1964 to 1982
Burt Kwouk's page Trail of the Pink Panther1982IMDb rating 4.8Sellers as Chief Insp. Jacques ClouseauKwouk as Cato Fong
Revenge of the Pink Panther1978IMDb rating 6.6Sellers as Chief Insp. Jacques ClouseauKwouk as Cato Fong
The Pink Panther Strikes Again1976IMDb rating 7.1Sellers as Chief Inspector ClouseauKwouk as Cato Fong
The Return of the Pink Panther1975IMDb rating 7.0Sellers as Insp. Jacques ClouseauKwouk as Cato Fong
A Shot in the Dark1964IMDb rating 7.3Sellers as Jacques ClouseauKwouk as Kato
André Maranne5 films together, 1964 to 1982
André Maranne's page Trail of the Pink Panther1982IMDb rating 4.8Sellers as Chief Insp. Jacques ClouseauMaranne as Sergeant Francois Duval
Revenge of the Pink Panther1978IMDb rating 6.6Sellers as Chief Insp. Jacques ClouseauMaranne as Sgt. François Chevalier
The Pink Panther Strikes Again1976IMDb rating 7.1Sellers as Chief Inspector ClouseauMaranne as Francois
The Return of the Pink Panther1975IMDb rating 7.0Sellers as Insp. Jacques ClouseauMaranne as Sgt. François Chevalier
A Shot in the Dark1964IMDb rating 7.3Sellers as Jacques ClouseauMaranne as François
David Niven4 films together, 1963 to 1982
David Niven's page Trail of the Pink Panther1982IMDb rating 4.8Sellers as Chief Insp. Jacques ClouseauNiven as Sir Charles Litton
Murder by Death1976IMDb rating 7.2Sellers as Sidney WangNiven as Dick Charleston
Casino Royale1967IMDb rating 5.0Sellers as Evelyn Tremble (James Bond - 007)Niven as Sir James Bond
The Pink Panther1963IMDb rating 7.0Sellers as Insp. Jacques ClouseauNiven as Sir Charles Lytton
Blake EdwardsDirector, 7 films, 1963 to 1982
All films by Blake Edwards Trail of the Pink Panther1982IMDb rating 4.8Sellers as Chief Insp. Jacques Clouseau
Revenge of the Pink Panther1978IMDb rating 6.6Sellers as Chief Insp. Jacques Clouseau
The Pink Panther Strikes Again1976IMDb rating 7.1Sellers as Chief Inspector Clouseau
The Return of the Pink Panther1975IMDb rating 7.0Sellers as Insp. Jacques Clouseau
The Party1968IMDb rating 7.4Sellers as Hrundi V. Bakshi
A Shot in the Dark1964IMDb rating 7.3Sellers as Jacques Clouseau
The Pink Panther1963IMDb rating 7.0Sellers as Insp. Jacques Clouseau
John HustonDirector, 2 films, 1953 to 1967
All films by John Huston Casino Royale1967IMDb rating 5.0Sellers as Evelyn Tremble (James Bond - 007)
Beat the Devil1953IMDb rating 6.4Sellers as Billy Dannreuthervoice
Vittorio De SicaDirector, 2 films, 1966 to 1967
All films by Vittorio De Sica Woman Times Seven1967IMDb rating 5.8Sellers as Jean
After the Fox1966IMDb rating 6.4Sellers as Aldo Vanucci/Federico Fabrizi
Also four films together4 more actors
- Robert MorleyWoman Times Seven (1967), The Road to Hong Kong (1962), The Battle of the Sexes (1960) and Beat the Devil (1953)
- Richard AttenboroughThe Magic Christian (1969), Will the Real Mr. Sellers... (1969), Only Two Can Play (1962) and I'm All Right Jack (1959)
- David LodgeThe Return of the Pink Panther (1975), Hoffman (1970), A Shot in the Dark (1964) and Two-Way Stretch (1960)
- Irene HandlThe Wrong Box (1966), Heavens Above! (1963), Two-Way Stretch (1960) and I'm All Right Jack (1959)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.
Box office
What Peter Sellers's films earned in cinemas worldwide.
Combined worldwide box office
$317 million
15 of the 42 films have a worldwide figure.
Of the 42 films: 15 worldwide figure; 4 us gross only; 2 never in cinemas; 21 figure not found.
- 15Worldwide figure
- 4US gross only
- 2Never in cinemas
- 21Figure not found
Highest grossing
The eight biggest films earned 83% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.
- 1$50M15.6% of the total
- 2$42M13.2% of the total
- 3$42M13.2% of the total
- 4$34M10.7% of the total
- 5$33M10.3% of the total
- 6$30M9.5% of the total
- 7$19M5.9% of the total
- 8$15M4.8% of the total
Awards
Two awards and honors, one of them major.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Globes | |||
| Awards | Won | ||
| Other honors | |||
| Commander of the Order of the British Empire | Won | ||
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.













