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'''Peter Sellers''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|CBE}} (born '''Richard Henry Sellers'''; 8 September 1925 – 24 July 1980) was an English actor and comedian. He first came to prominence performing in the BBC Radio comedy series ''[[The Goon Show]]''. Sellers featured on a number of hit comic songs, and became known to a worldwide audience through his many film roles, among them [[Inspector Clouseau|Chief Inspector Clouseau]] in ''[[The Pink Panther]]'' series.
Born in [[Southsea]], Sellers made his stage debut at the [[Kings Theatre, Southsea]], when he was two weeks old. He began accompanying his parents in a variety act that toured the provincial theatres. He first worked as a drummer and toured around England as a member of the [[Entertainments National Service Association]] (ENSA). He developed his mimicry and improvisational skills during a spell in [[Ralph Reader]]'s wartime [[Gang Show]] entertainment troupe, which toured Britain and the Far East. After the war, Sellers made his radio debut in ''ShowTime'', and eventually became a regular performer on various [[BBC Radio]] shows. During the early 1950s, Sellers, along with [[Spike Milligan]], [[Harry Secombe]] and [[Michael Bentine]], took part in the successful radio series ''The Goon Show'', which ended in 1960.
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Sellers was nominated three times for an [[Academy Award]], twice for the [[Academy Award for Best Actor]], for his performances in ''Dr. Strangelove'' and ''Being There'', and once for the [[Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film]] for ''[[The Running Jumping & Standing Still Film]]'' (1959). He won the [[BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role]] for his role in ''I'm All Right Jack'' and was nominated an additional three times for the previous two films and the satire ''[[Only Two Can Play]]''. In 1980 he won the [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy]] for his role in ''Being There'', having previously been nominated three times in the same category. [[Turner Classic Movies]] calls Sellers "one of the most accomplished comic actors of the late 20th century".<ref>{{cite web|title=Peter Sellers |url=http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/person/173984%7C124304/Peter-Sellers/biography.html |work=[[Turner Classic Movies]] |publisher=[[Turner Broadcasting System]] |accessdate=14 August 2012 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024213758/http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/person/173984%7C124304/Peter-Sellers/biography.html |archivedate=24 October 2012}}</ref>
In his personal life, Sellers struggled with
== Biography ==
===1925–1939: Early life and career beginnings===
{{multiple image|caption_align=center| align = right | direction = vertical | header_align = centre | footer_align = left | footer_background = | image1 =Peter Sellers Plaque.jpg| width1 = 200 | caption1 = [[Blue plaque]] memorial at Sellers' birthplace in Castle Road, [[Portsmouth]] |alt1=blue plaque commemorating Sellers| image2 = Peter Sellers Birthplace Portsmouth.jpg | width2 = 200 |alt2=exterior of red bricked house, with blue plaque on front wall| caption2 = }}▼
Sellers was born on 8 September 1925 in [[Southsea]], a suburb of [[Portsmouth]]. His parents were [[Yorkshire]]-born William "Bill" Sellers and Agnes Doreen "Peg" (née Marks). Both were variety entertainers; Peg was in the Ray Sisters troupe.<ref name="Milligan (DNB)" /> Although he was christened Richard Henry, his parents called him Peter, after his elder brother, who was [[stillborn]].{{sfn|Sikov|2002|p=5}} Sellers had no other siblings.{{sfn|Lewis|1995|p=690}} Peg Sellers was related to the [[pugilist]] [[Daniel Mendoza]] (1764–1836), whom Sellers greatly revered and whose engraving later hung in his office. At one time Sellers planned to use Mendoza's image for his production company's logo.{{sfn|Lewis|1995|p=9}}
▲{{multiple image|caption_align=center| align = right | direction = vertical | header_align = centre | footer_align = left | footer_background = | image1 =Peter Sellers Plaque.jpg| width1 = 200 | caption1 = [[Blue plaque]] memorial at Sellers' birthplace in Castle Road, [[Portsmouth]] |alt1=blue plaque commemorating Sellers| image2 = Peter Sellers Birthplace Portsmouth.jpg | width2 = 200 |alt2=exterior of red bricked house, with blue plaque on front wall| caption2 = }}
Sellers was two weeks old when he was carried on stage by [[Dick Henderson]], the headline act at the [[Kings Theatre, Southsea|Kings Theatre]] in Southsea: the crowd sang "[[For He's a Jolly Good Fellow]]", which caused the infant to cry.{{sfn|Lewis|1995|p=25}} The family constantly toured, causing much upheaval and unhappiness in the young Sellers' life.{{sfn|Sikov|2002|p=9}} ▼
▲Sellers was two weeks old when he was carried on stage by [[Dick Henderson]], the headline act at the [[Kings Theatre, Southsea|Kings Theatre]] in Southsea: the crowd sang "[[For He's a Jolly Good Fellow]]", which caused the infant to cry.{{sfn|Lewis|1995|p=25}} The family constantly toured, causing much upheaval and unhappiness in the young Sellers' life.{{sfn|Sikov|2002|p=9}}
Sellers maintained a very close relationship with his mother, which his friend [[Spike Milligan]] later considered unhealthy for a grown man.{{sfn|Evans|1980|p=45}} Sellers' agent, Dennis Selinger, recalled his first meeting with Peg and Peter Sellers, noting that "Sellers was an immensely shy young man, inclined to be dominated by his mother, but without resentment or objection".{{sfn|Evans|1980|p=57}} In later life, Sellers' stage appearances were few, largely because he had been unhappy with the touring he had done as a child with his family.{{sfn|Sikov|2002|p=9}}▼
▲Sellers maintained a very close relationship with his mother, which his friend [[Spike Milligan]] later considered unhealthy for a grown man.{{sfn|Evans|1980|p=45}} Sellers' agent, Dennis Selinger, recalled his first meeting with Peg and Peter Sellers, noting that "Sellers was an immensely shy young man, inclined to be dominated by his mother, but without resentment or objection".{{sfn|Evans|1980|p=57}}
In 1935 the Sellers family moved to North London and settled in [[Muswell Hill]].{{sfn|Rigelsford|2004|p=24}} Although Bill Sellers was [[Protestantism|Protestant]] and Peg was [[Jewish]], Sellers attended the nearby [[Catholic school|Roman Catholic school]] [[St Aloysius' College, Highgate|St Aloysius' College]] in [[Highgate]], run by the [[Brothers of Mercy of Our Lady of Perpetual Help|Brothers of Our Lady of Mercy]].<ref name="Milligan (DNB)" /> The family was not rich, but Peg insisted on an expensive private schooling for her son.{{sfn|Starr|1991|p=84}} According to biographer [[Peter Evans (author)|Peter Evans]], Sellers was fascinated, puzzled, and worried by religion from a young age,{{sfn|Evans|1980|p=194}} particularly Catholicism; [[Roger Lewis (biographer)|Roger Lewis]] believed that soon after entering Catholic school, Sellers "discovered he was a Jew—he was someone on the outside of the mysteries of faith".{{sfn|Lewis|1995|p=44}} ▼
▲In 1935 the Sellers family moved to North London and settled in [[Muswell Hill]].{{sfn|Rigelsford|2004|p=24}} Although Bill Sellers was [[Protestantism|Protestant]] and Peg was [[Jewish]], Sellers attended the nearby [[Catholic school|Roman Catholic school]] [[St Aloysius' College, Highgate|St Aloysius' College]] in [[Highgate]], run by the [[Brothers of Mercy of Our Lady of Perpetual Help|Brothers of Our Lady of Mercy]].<ref name="Milligan (DNB)" /> The family was not rich, but Peg insisted on an expensive private schooling for her son.{{sfn|Starr|1991|p=84}} According to biographer [[Peter Evans (author)|Peter Evans]], Sellers was fascinated, puzzled, and worried by religion from a young age,{{sfn|Evans|1980|p=194}} particularly Catholicism; [[Roger Lewis (biographer)|Roger Lewis]] believed that soon after entering Catholic school, Sellers "discovered he was a Jew—he was someone on the outside of the mysteries of faith".{{sfn|Lewis|1995|p=44}} Later in his life, Sellers observed that while his father's faith was according to the [[Church of England]], his mother was Jewish, "and [[Matrilineality in Judaism|Jews take the faith of their mother]]."{{sfn|Lewis|1995|p=44}}
Later in his life, Sellers observed that while his father's faith was according to the [[Church of England]], his mother was Jewish, "and [[Matrilineality in Judaism|Jews take the faith of their mother]]."{{sfn|Lewis|1995|p=44}} According to Milligan, Sellers held a guilt complex about being Jewish and recalls that Sellers was once reduced to tears when he presented him with a candlestick from a synagogue for Christmas, believing the gesture to be an anti-Jewish slur.{{sfn|Evans|1980|p=194}} Sellers became a top student at the school, excelling in drawing in particular. He was prone to laziness, but his natural talents shielded him from criticism by his teachers.{{sfn|Moritz|1961|p=371}} Sellers recalled that a teacher scolded the other boys for not studying, saying: "The Jewish boy knows his [[catechism]] better than the rest of you!"{{sfn|Sikov|2002|p=12}}{{efn|The film critic [[Kenneth Tynan]] noted that Sellers' ambition as an actor was fuelled mainly by "his hatred of [[anti-Semitism]]." This may have spurred his determination to become a great actor or director.{{sfn|Walker|1981|p=11}}}}▼
▲
Accompanying his family on the variety show circuit,{{sfn|Sikov|2002|p=8}} Sellers learned [[stagecraft]], but received conflicting encouragement from his parents and developed mixed feelings about show business. His father doubted Sellers' abilities in the entertainment field, even suggesting that his son's talents were only enough to become a road sweeper, while Sellers' mother encouraged him continuously.{{sfn|Sikov|2002|p=18}} While at St Aloysius College, Sellers began to develop his improvisational skills. He and his closest friend at the time, Bryan Connon, both enjoyed listening to early radio comedy shows. Connon remembers that "Peter got endless pleasure imitating the people in ''[[Monday Night at Eight]]''. He had a gift for improvising dialogue. Sketches, too. I'd be the 'straight man', the 'feed', ... I'd cue Peter and he'd do all the radio personalities and chuck in a few voices of his own invention as well."{{sfn|Walker|1981|p=28}}
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During his backstage theatre job, Sellers began practising on a set of drums that belonged to the band [[Joe Daniels (jazz drummer)|Joe Daniels]] and his Hot Shots. Daniels noticed his efforts and gave him practical instructions. The instrument greatly suited Sellers' temperament and artistic skills.{{sfn|Sikov|2002|p=20}} Spike Milligan later noted that Sellers was very proficient on the drums and might have remained a jazz drummer, had he lacked his skills in mimicry and improvisation.<ref name="Milligan (DNB)" /> As the war progressed, Sellers continued to develop his drumming skills, and played with a series of touring bands, including those of [[Oscar Rabin]], [[Henry Hall (bandleader)|Henry Hall]] and [[Waldini]],{{sfn|Evans|1980|p=45}} as well as his father's quartet, before he left and joined a band from [[Blackpool]].{{sfn|Sikov|2002|p=22}} Sellers became a member of the [[Entertainments National Service Association]] (ENSA), which provided entertainment for British forces and factory workers during the war.{{sfn|Sikov|2002|p=22}} Sellers also performed comedy routines at these concerts, including impersonations of [[George Formby]], with Sellers accompanying his own singing on ukulele.{{sfn|Lewis|1995|p=85}}
In September 1943, he joined the [[Royal Air Force]], although it is unclear whether he volunteered or was conscripted;{{sfnm|1a1=Walker|1y=1981|1p=40|2a1=Sikov|2y=2002|2p=25}} his mother unsuccessfully tried to have him deferred on medical grounds.<ref name="Milligan (DNB)" /> Sellers wanted to become a pilot, but his poor eyesight restricted him to ground staff duties.{{sfn|Rigelsford|2004|p=32}} He found these duties dull, so auditioned for Squadron Leader [[Ralph Reader]]'s RAF ''[[Gang Show]]'' entertainment troupe: Reader accepted him and Sellers toured the UK before the troupe was transferred to India.{{sfn|Walker|1981|p=42}} His tour also included [[Sri Lanka|Ceylon]] and [[Myanmar|Burma]], although the duration of his stay in Asia is unknown, and Sellers may have exaggerated its length.{{sfn|Sikov|2002|p=26}} He also served in Germany and France after the war.{{sfn|Sikov|2002|p=26}}
According to [[David Lodge (actor)|David Lodge]], who became friends with Sellers, he was "one of the best performers ever" on the drums and developed a fine ability to impersonate military officers during this period.{{sfn|Walker|1981|p=46}} ===1946–1955: Early post-war work and ''The Goon Show''===
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By the end of 1948, the [[BBC Third Programme]] began to broadcast the comedy series ''Third Division'', which starred, among others, [[Harry Secombe]], [[Michael Bentine]] and Sellers.{{sfn|Sikov|2002|p=46}} One evening, Sellers and Bentine visited the [[Hackney Empire]], where Secombe was performing, and Bentine introduced Sellers to Spike Milligan.{{sfn|Carpenter|2003|p=90}} The four would meet up at Grafton's public house near Victoria, owned by [[Jimmy Grafton]], who was also a BBC script writer. The four comedians dubbed him ''KOGVOS'' (Keeper of Goons and Voice of Sanity){{efn|The meaning of the acronym KOGVOS was flexible: it has also been defined as "King of Goons and Voice of Sanity"<ref name="Barker (DNB)" /> and "King of the Goons Voices Society".{{sfn|Sikov|2002|p=55}}}} Grafton later edited some of the first [[The Goon Show|''Goon Shows'']].{{sfn|Sikov|2002|p=55}}
[[File:Goons.jpeg|thumb|left|alt=Peter Sellers, Spike Milligan and Harry Secombe pose around a BBC microphone|Sellers (top)
In 1949, Sellers started to date Anne Howe,{{sfn|Lewis|1995|p=230}}{{efn|Her maiden name was Anne Howe, while her professional name was Anne Hayes.{{sfn|Lewis|1995|p=231}}}} an Australian actress who lived in London.{{sfn|Evans|1980|p=68}} He proposed to her in April 1950{{sfn|Sikov|2002|p=56}} and the couple were married in London on 15 September 1951;{{sfn|Sikov|2002|p=57}} their son, [[Michael Sellers (actor)|Michael]], was born on 2 April 1954,{{sfn|Walker|1981|p=71}} and their daughter, Sarah, followed in 1958.{{sfn|Walker|1981|p=98}} Sellers' introduction to film work came in 1950, where he dubbed the voice of [[Alfonso Bedoya]] in ''[[The Black Rose]]''.{{sfn|Lewis|1995|p=284}} He continued to work with Bentine, Milligan, and Secombe. On 3 February 1951, they made a trial tape entitled ''The Goons'', and sent it to the BBC producer Pat Dixon, who eventually accepted it.▼
▲In 1949, Sellers started to date Anne Howe,{{sfn|Lewis|1995|p=230}}{{efn|Her maiden name was Anne Howe, while her professional name was Anne Hayes.{{sfn|Lewis|1995|p=231}}}} an Australian actress who lived in London.{{sfn|Evans|1980|p=68}} He proposed to her in April 1950{{sfn|Sikov|2002|p=56}} and the couple were married in London on 15 September 1951;{{sfn|Sikov|2002|p=57}} their son, [[Michael Sellers (actor)|Michael]], was born on 2 April 1954,{{sfn|Walker|1981|p=71}} and their daughter, Sarah, followed in 1958.{{sfn|Walker|1981|p=98}} Sellers' introduction to film work came in 1950, where he dubbed the voice of [[Alfonso Bedoya]] in ''[[The Black Rose]]''.{{sfn|Lewis|1995|p=284}} He continued to work with Bentine, Milligan, and Secombe. On 3 February 1951, they made a trial tape entitled ''The Goons'', and sent it to the BBC producer Pat Dixon, who eventually accepted it. The first ''Goon Show''<ref name="Barker (DNB)" /> was broadcast on 28 May 1951.{{sfn|Rigelsford|2004|p=177}} Against their wishes, they appeared under the name ''Crazy People''.{{sfn|Lewis|1995|p=690}}
▲The first ''Goon Show''<ref name="Barker (DNB)" /> was broadcast on 28 May 1951.{{sfn|Rigelsford|2004|p=177}} Against their wishes, they appeared under the name ''Crazy People''.{{sfn|Lewis|1995|p=690}} Sellers appeared in ''The Goons'' until the last programme of the ten-series run, broadcast on 28 January 1960.<ref name="Barker (DNB)" /> Sellers played four main characters—[[Major Bloodnok]], [[Hercules Grytpype-Thynne]], [[Bluebottle (character)|Bluebottle]] and [[Henry Crun and Minnie Bannister|Henry Crun]]—and seventeen minor ones.{{sfn|Wilmut|Grafton|1981|p=116}} Starting with 370,000 listeners, the show eventually reached up to seven million people in Britain,<ref name="Barker (DNB)" /> and was described by one newspaper as "probably the most influential comedy show of all time".<ref name="Cook 27 April 1993">{{cite news|last=Cook|first=William|title=Radio: Landmarks in radio comedy|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|date=27 April 1993|location=London|page=58}}</ref> For Sellers, the BBC considers it had the effect of launching his career "on the road to stardom".<ref>{{cite web|title=Comedy: The Goon Show |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/thegoonshow/ |publisher=BBC |accessdate=12 August 2012 |location=London |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121111103340/http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/thegoonshow/ |archivedate=11 November 2012}}</ref>
▲[[File:Goons.jpeg|thumb|left|alt=Peter Sellers, Spike Milligan and Harry Secombe pose around a BBC microphone|Sellers (top), with [[Spike Milligan]] (left) and [[Harry Secombe]] (right) in the BBC's ''[[The Goon Show]]'']]
In 1951 the Goons made their feature film debut in ''[[Penny Points to Paradise]]''.<ref name="Brown 26 July 2009">{{cite web|author=Brown, Mark |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2009/jul/26/goons-film-sellers-milligan-secombe |title=Forgotten film of Goons restored by BFI |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=26 July 2009 |accessdate=4 August 2012 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140116115623/http://www.theguardian.com/film/2009/jul/26/goons-film-sellers-milligan-secombe |archivedate=16 January 2014}}</ref> Sellers and Milligan then penned the script to ''[[Let's Go Crazy (film)|Let's Go Crazy]]'', the earliest film to showcase Sellers' ability to portray a series of different characters within the same film, and he made another appearance opposite his Goons co-stars in the 1952 flop, ''[[Down Among the Z Men]]''.{{sfn|Sikov|2002|p=72}} In 1954, Sellers was cast opposite [[Sid James]], [[Tony Hancock]], [[Raymond Huntley]], [[Donald Pleasence]] and [[Eric Sykes]] in the [[British Lion Film Corporation]] comedy production, ''[[Orders Are Orders (1955 film)|Orders Are Orders]]''. [[John Grierson]] believes that this was Sellers' breakthrough role on screen and credits this film with launching the film careers of both Sellers and Hancock.{{sfn|Grierson|1966|p=34}}
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{{quote box|width=25%|align=right|quote="The first real film I made was ''The Ladykillers''. I used to watch Alec Guinness, who is an absolute idol of mine, do everything, his rehearsals, his scenes, everything. He is my ideal... and my idol."|source=—Sellers on studying Sir [[Alec Guinness]] during filming ''The Ladykillers''.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Lewis |first1=Roger |title=The Life and Death of Peter Sellers |date=1995 |publisher=Random House |page=368|ref=none}}</ref>}}
Sellers pursued a film career and took a number of small roles such as a police officer in ''[[John and Julie]]'' (1955).{{sfn|Lewis|1995|p=362}} He accepted a larger part in the 1955 [[Alexander Mackendrick]]-directed [[Ealing Comedies|Ealing comedy]] ''[[The Ladykillers (1955 film)|The Ladykillers]]'' in which he starred opposite his idol [[Alec Guinness]], in addition to [[Herbert Lom]] and [[Cecil Parker]]. Sellers portrayed Harry Robinson, the [[Teddy Boy]]; biographer Peter Evans considers this Sellers' first good role.{{sfn|Evans|1980|p=79}} ''The Ladykillers'' was a success in both the UK and the US,<ref>{{cite web|last=Duguid |first=Mark |title=Ladykillers, The (1955) |url=http://www.screenonline.org.uk/film/id/441533/index.html |work=[[Screenonline]] |publisher=[[British Film Institute]] |accessdate=14 August 2012 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120805010911/http://www.screenonline.org.uk/film/id/441533/index.html |archivedate= 5 August 2012}}</ref> and the film was nominated for an [[Academy Award]] for [[Academy Award for Best Writing (Original Screenplay)|Best Original Screenplay]].<ref name="oscars 1957">{{cite news|title=The 29th Academy Awards (1957) Nominees and Winners |url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1957 |work=Oscar Legacy |publisher=[[Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences]] |accessdate=16 July 2012 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160507092819/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1957 |archivedate= 7 May 2016}}</ref> The following year Sellers appeared in a further three television series based on ''The Goons'': ''[[The Idiot Weekly, Price 2d]]''; ''[[A Show Called Fred]]''; and ''[[Son of Fred]]''. The shows aired on Britain's new [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] channel.{{sfn|Rigelsford|2004|p=65}}
In 1957 film producer [[Michael Relph]], impressed with Sellers' portrayal of an elderly character in ''Idiot Weekly'', cast the 32-year-old actor as a 68-year-old projectionist in [[Basil Dearden]]'s ''[[The Smallest Show on Earth]]'', supporting [[Bill Travers]], [[Virginia McKenna]] and [[Margaret Rutherford]].{{sfn|Rigelsford|2004|p=71}} The film was a commercial success and is now thought of as a minor classic of post-war British screen comedy.{{sfn|Burton|O'Sullivan|2009|p=25}} Following this, Sellers provided the growling voice of [[Winston Churchill]] to the BAFTA award-winning film ''[[The Man Who Never Was]]''.{{sfn|Rankin|2009|p=383}} Later in 1957 Sellers portrayed a television star with a talent for disguises in [[Mario Zampi]]'s offbeat black comedy ''[[The Naked Truth (1957 film)|The Naked Truth]]'', opposite [[Terry-Thomas]], [[Peggy Mount]], [[Shirley Eaton]] and [[Dennis Price]].<ref> Sources:
*{{cite web|title=The Naked Truth (1957)|url=http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/43753|work=Film & TV Database|publisher=[[British Film Institute]]|accessdate=3 August 2012|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203034523/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/43753|archivedate=3 December 2013}}
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[[File:Terry-Thomas in Where Were You When the Lights Went Out.jpg|thumb|left|upright|[[Terry-Thomas]] starred with Sellers in four films between 1957 and 1959. Their last film together, ''[[I'm All Right Jack]]'' – the highest-grossing film at the British box office in 1960 – saw Sellers receive the [[BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role|BAFTA Award for Best British Actor]].]]
Sellers' difficulties in getting his film career to take off and increasing problems in his personal life prompted him to seek periodic consultations with astrologer [[Maurice Woodruff]], who held considerable sway over his later career.{{sfn|Sikov|2002|pp=117–118}} After a chance meeting with a North American Indian spirit guide in the 1950s Sellers became convinced that the [[music hall]] comedian [[Dan Leno]], who had died in 1904, haunted him and guided his career and life-decisions.{{sfn|Anthony|2010|p=200}} Sellers was a member of the [[Grand Order of Water Rats]], the exclusive theatrical fraternity founded by Leno in 1890.{{sfn|Lewis|1995|p=151}} In 1958 Sellers starred with [[David Tomlinson]], [[Wilfrid Hyde-White]], David Lodge and [[Lionel Jeffries]] as a [[chief petty officer]] in [[Val Guest]]'s ''[[Up the Creek (1958 film)|Up the Creek]]''.{{sfn|Spicer|2003|p=116}}
Guest later claimed that he had written and directed the film as a vehicle for Sellers and thus had started Sellers' film career.{{sfnm|1a1=Johnson|1a2=Vecchio|1y=1996|1p=136|2a1=Dixon|2y=2007|2p=35}} To practise his voice, Sellers purchased a reel-to-reel tape recorder.{{sfn|Lewis|1995|p=478}} The film received critical acclaim in the United States<ref>{{cite news|author=A. H. Weiler. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9404E7D9173BE43BBC4952DFB7678383649EDE |title=Movie Review – Up the Creek – Up the Creek' at 55th |newspaper=NYTimes.com |date=11 November 1958 |accessdate=10 March 2014 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140309015023/http://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9404E7D9173BE43BBC4952DFB7678383649EDE |archivedate= 9 March 2014}}</ref> and Roger Lewis viewed it as an important practice ground for Sellers.{{sfn|Lewis|1995|p=478}} Next, Sellers featured with Terry-Thomas as one of a pair of comic villains in [[George Pal]]'s ''[[Tom Thumb (film)|Tom Thumb]]'' (1958), a musical fantasy film, opposite [[Russ Tamblyn]], [[Jessie Matthews]] and [[Peter Butterworth]]. Terry-Thomas later said that "my part was perfect, but Peter's was bloody awful. He wasn't difficult about it, but he knew it".{{sfn|Terry-Thomas|Daum|1990|p=93}} The performance was a landmark in Sellers' career and became his first contact with the Hollywood film industry.{{sfnm|1a1=Culhane|1y=1986|1p=156|2a1=Starr|2y=1991|2p=21}} Sellers released his first studio album in 1958 called ''[[The Best of Sellers]]''; a collection of comic songs and sketches, among them [[Balham - Gateway to the South]], where Sellers plays a variety of comic characters.{{sfn|Hall|2006|p=254}}{{sfn|Lewis|1995|p=79}} Produced by [[George Martin]] and released on [[Parlophone]],{{sfn|Rigelsford|2004|p=186}} the album reached number three in the [[UK Albums Chart]];<ref name="PS-A" /> The same year, Sellers made his first film with [[Boulting brothers|John and Roy Boulting]] in ''[[Carlton-Browne of the F.O.]]'', a comedy in which he played a supporting role for the film's lead, Terry-Thomas.{{sfn|Sikov|2002|p=123}} Before the release of that film, the Boultings, along with Sellers and Thomas in the cast, started filming ''[[I'm All Right Jack]]'', which became the highest-grossing film at the British box office in 1960.{{sfn|Sikov|2002|p=130}} In preparation for his role as Fred Kite, Sellers watched footage of union officials.<ref name="Boulting" />{{sfn|Evans|1980|p=85}} The role earned him a [[13th British Academy Film Awards|BAFTA]], and the critic for ''[[The Guardian|The Manchester Guardian]]'' believed it was Sellers' best screen performance to date.<ref name="ARJ Guardian" /> In between ''Carlton-Browne of the F.O.'' and ''I'm All Right Jack'', Sellers starred in ''[[The Mouse That Roared (film)|The Mouse That Roared]]'', a film in which [[Jean Seberg]] also appeared, and was directed by [[Jack Arnold (director)|Jack Arnold]]. He played three distinct leading roles: the elderly Grand Duchess, the ambitious Prime Minister and the innocent and clumsy farm boy selected to lead an invasion of the United States.{{sfn|Lewis|1995|p=536}} The film received high praise from critics.<ref>
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Sources:
*{{cite web|url=http://www.screenonline.org.uk/film/id/471274/index.html |title=Running, Jumping and Standing Still Film, The (1960) |last=Oliver |first=John |work=[[Screenonline]] |publisher=[[British Film Institute]] |accessdate=17 July 2012 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121007231851/http://www.screenonline.org.uk/film/id/471274/index.html |archivedate= 7 October 2012|ref=none}}
*{{cite web|title=The 32nd Academy Awards (1960) Nominees and Winners |url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1960 |work=Oscar Legacy |publisher=[[Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences]] |accessdate=9 July 2012 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706094204/http://www.oscars.org/awards/academyawards/legacy/ceremony/32nd-winners.html |archivedate= 6 July 2011}}</ref> In 1959 Sellers released his second album, ''[[Songs for Swingin' Sellers]]'', which—like his first record—reached number three in the UK Albums Chart.<ref name="PS-A" /> Sellers' last film of the fifties was ''[[The Battle of the Sexes (1959 film)|The Battle of the Sexes]]''
===1960–1963: ''The Millionairess'', ''Lolita'', ''The Pink Panther'' and divorce===
In 1960, Sellers portrayed an Indian doctor, Dr Ahmed el Kabir, in [[Anthony Asquith]]'s romantic comedy ''[[The Millionairess]]'', a film based on a [[George Bernard Shaw]] play [[The Millionairess (play)|of the same name]]. Sellers was not interested in the role until he learned that [[Sophia Loren]] would be his co-star.{{sfn|Sikov|2002|p=141}} When asked about Loren, he explained to reporters, "I don't normally act with romantic, glamorous women ... She's a lot different from Harry Secombe."{{sfn|Rigelsford|2004|p=84}} Sellers and Loren developed a close relationship during filming, culminating in Sellers declaring his love for her in front of his wife.{{sfn|Sikov|2002|p=146}} Sellers also woke his son at night to ask, "Do you think I should divorce your mummy?"{{sfn|Sellers|1981|p=72}} There is uncertainty if the relationship was anything more than platonic: a number of people, including Spike Milligan, consider it an affair, while others, including Graham Stark, think it remained only a strong friendship. Sellers' wife at the time, Anne, afterwards commented, "I don't know to this day whether he had an affair with her. Nobody does."{{sfn|Sikov|2002|p=145}}
Roger Lewis observed that Sellers immersed himself completely in the characters he enacted during productions, that "He'd play a role as an Indian doctor, and for the next six months, he'd be an Indian in his real [daily] life."<ref name="DM11296">{{cite news|last=Chollet|first=Laurence|title=Pursuing Peter Sellers, comic and madman|newspaper=[[The Record (Bergen County)|The Record]]|date=1 December 1996|location=New Jersey|page=Y06}}</ref> The film inspired the George Martin-produced [[Novelty song|novelty]] hit single "[[Goodness Gracious Me (song)|Goodness Gracious Me]]", with Sellers and Loren, which reached number four in the [[UK Singles Chart]] in November 1960.<ref name="PS&SL" /> A follow-up single by the duo, "Bangers and Mash", reached number 22 in the UK chart.<ref name="PS&SL" /> The songs were included on an album released by the couple, ''Peter & Sophia'', which reached number five in the UK Albums Chart.<ref name="PS-A" /> That year he also appeared in ''[[Never Let Go (1960 film)|Never Let Go]]'' (1960) playing a straight villain part.<ref name="ink">{{cite magazine|magazine=Filmink|first=Stephen|last=Vagg|title=John Guillermin: Action Man|url=https://www.filmink.com.au/john-guillermin-action-man/|date=17 November 2020}}</ref> In 1961, Sellers made his directorial debut with ''[[Mr. Topaze]]'', in which he also starred.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/42912|title=Mr. Topaze (1961)|work=Film & TV Database|publisher=[[British Film Institute]]|accessdate=17 July 2012|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140116075516/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/42912|archivedate=16 January 2014}}</ref> The film was based on the [[Marcel Pagnol]] play ''Topaze''.{{sfn|Walker|1981|p=108}} Sellers portrayed an ex-schoolmaster in a small French town who turns to a life of crime to obtain wealth. The film and Sellers' directorial abilities received unenthusiastic responses from the public and critics, and Sellers rarely referred to it again.{{sfn|Walker|1981|p=109}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.radiotimes.com/film/hqqzs/mr-topaze-1961 |title=Mr Topaze |work=[[Radio Times]] |accessdate=3 August 2012 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121003090529/http://www.radiotimes.com/film/hqqzs/mr-topaze-1961 |archivedate= 3 October 2012}}</ref>{{sfn|Sikov|2002|p=167}} The same year, he starred in the [[Sidney Gilliat]]-directed ''[[Only Two Can Play]]'', a film based on the novel ''[[That Uncertain Feeling (novel)|That Uncertain Feeling]]'' by [[Kingsley Amis]].{{sfn|Lewis|1995|p=733}} He was nominated for the [[BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role|Best British Actor]] award at the [[16th British Academy Film Awards]] for his role as John Lewis, a frustrated Welsh librarian whose affections swing between the glamorous Liz ([[Mai Zetterling]]) and his long-suffering wife Jean ([[Virginia Maskell]]).<ref name="BAFTA 62" />
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[[File:Sellers pinkpanther7.jpg|thumb|upright|Sellers as [[Inspector Clouseau]] in ''[[The Pink Panther (1963 film)|The Pink Panther]]'']]
In 1962, Sellers played a retired British army general in [[John Guillermin]]'s ''[[Waltz of the Toreadors (film)|Waltz of the Toreadors]]'', based on the [[The Waltz of the Toreadors|play of the same name]]. The film was widely criticised for its slapstick cinematic adaption, and director Guillermin himself considered the film "amateurish".{{sfn|Sikov|2002|p=171}} However, Sellers won the [[Silver Shell for Best Actor|San Sebastián International Film Festival Award for Best Actor]] and a BAFTA award nomination for his performance, and it was well received by the critics.{{sfn|Sikov|2002|p=171}}<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9907E0DD143BE53BBC4C52DFBE668389679EDE |title=Waltz of the Toreadors (1962) |work=The New York Times |date=4 August 1962 |accessdate=3 August 2012 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307071058/http://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9907E0DD143BE53BBC4C52DFBE668389679EDE |archivedate= 7 March 2016}}</ref> [[Stanley Kubrick]] asked Sellers to play the role of Clare Quilty in the 1962 film ''[[Lolita (1962 film)|Lolita]]'', opposite [[James Mason]] and [[Shelley Winters]].{{sfn|Evans|1980|p=98}} Kubrick had seen Sellers in ''The Battle of the Sexes'' and listened to the album ''[[The Best of Sellers]]'', and was impressed by the range of characters he could portray.{{sfn|Walker|1981|p=117}}
Sellers was apprehensive about accepting the role, doubting his ability to successfully portray the part of a flamboyant American television playwright who was, according to Sellers, "a fantastic nightmare, part homosexual, part drug addict, part sadist".{{sfn|Rigelsford|2004|p=91}} Kubrick encouraged Sellers to improvise and stated that he often reached a "state of comic ecstasy".{{sfnm|1a1=Walker|1y=1981|1p=118|2a1=LoBrutto|2y=1999|2pp=204–205}} Kubrick had American jazz producer [[Norman Granz]] record portions of the script for Sellers to listen to, so he could study the voice and develop confidence, granting Sellers a free artistic licence.{{sfn|Walker|1981|p=117}} Sellers later claimed that his relationship with Kubrick became one of the most rewarding of his career.{{sfn|LoBrutto|1999|p=205}} Writing in ''[[The Sunday Times]]'', [[Dilys Powell]] commented that Sellers gave "a firework performance, funny, malicious, only once for a few seconds overreaching itself, and in the murder scene which is both [[prologue]] and [[epilogue]] achieving the macabre in comedy Towards the end of 1962, Sellers appeared in ''[[The Dock Brief]]'', a legal [[satire]] directed by [[James Hill (British director)|James Hill]] and co-starring [[Richard Attenborough]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9D0DE4DC163BE63ABC4F52DFB7678389679EDE |author=Crowther, Bosley |title=Trial and Error (1962) |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=17 November 1962 |accessdate=3 August 2012 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160325015005/http://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9D0DE4DC163BE63ABC4F52DFB7678389679EDE |archivedate=25 March 2016|ref=none}}</ref> Sellers' behaviour towards his family worsened in 1962; according to his son Michael, Sellers asked him and his sister Sarah "who we love more, our mother or him. Sarah, to keep the peace, said, 'I love you both equally'. I said, 'No, I love my mum.'" This prompted Sellers to throw both children out, saying that he never wanted to see them again.{{sfn|Sikov|2002|p=254}} At the end of 1962, his marriage to Anne broke down.{{sfn|Sikov|2002|p=180}}{{efn|The ''[[decree nisi]]'' was granted in March 1963 and Anne married Elias 'Ted' Levy in October the same year.{{sfn|Walker|1981|p=114}}}} In 1963, Sellers starred as gang leader "Pearly Gates" in [[Cliff Owen]]'s ''[[The Wrong Arm of the Law]]'',<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9D03E4DE103FE731A25750C0A9629C946291D6CF |author=Crowther, Bosley |title=The Wrong Arm of the Law (1963) |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=3 April 1963 |accessdate=3 August 2012 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150203075326/http://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9D03E4DE103FE731A25750C0A9629C946291D6CF |archivedate= 3 February 2015}}</ref> followed by his portrayal of a vicar in ''[[Heavens Above!]]''<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9501EEDF133CE63ABC4951DFB3668388679EDE |title=Heavens Above (1963) |work=The New York Times |date=21 May 1963 |accessdate=20 August 2015 |author=Crowther, Bosley |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307192736/http://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9501EEDF133CE63ABC4951DFB3668388679EDE |archivedate= 7 March 2016}}</ref>
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{{quote box|width=25%|align=left|quote="I'll play Clouseau with great dignity, because he thinks of himself as one of the world's best detectives. Even when he comes a cropper, he must pick himself up with that notion intact. The original script makes him out to be a complete idiot. I think a forgivable vanity would humanize him and make him kind of touching. It's as if filmgoers are kept one fall ahead of him."|source=—Sellers on portraying Clouseau.{{sfn|Walker|1981|p=128}}}}
After his father's death in October 1962, Sellers decided to leave England and was approached by director [[Blake Edwards]] who offered him the role of [[Inspector Clouseau]] in ''[[The Pink Panther (1963 film)|The Pink Panther]]'', after [[Peter Ustinov]] had backed out of the film.{{sfnm|1a1=Walker|1y=1981|1pp=126–127|2a1=Sikov|2y=2002|2p=185}} Edwards later recalled his feelings as "desperately unhappy and ready to kill, but as fate would have it, I got Mr. Sellers instead of Mr. Ustinov—thank God!"{{sfn|Walker|1981|p=127}} Sellers accepted a fee of £90,000 (£{{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|90000|1963|r=-
''The Pink Panther'' was released in the UK in January 1964<ref>{{cite news|title=Peter Sellers triumphs as a detective|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|location=London|date=27 January 1964|page=7}}</ref> and received a mixed reception from the critics,{{sfn|Sikov|2002|p=187}} although [[Penelope Gilliatt]], writing in ''[[The Observer]]'', remarked that Sellers had a "flawless sense of mistiming" in a performance that was "one of the most delicate studies in accident-proneness since the silents".<ref name="Gilliatt (1964)" /> Despite the views of the critics, the film was one of the top ten grossing films of the year.{{sfn|Miles|2009|p=174}} The role earned Sellers a nomination for the [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy]] at the [[22nd Golden Globe Awards]],<ref name="Globes 64">{{cite web|title=The 22nd Annual Golden Globe Awards (1965)|url=http://cdn.goldenglobes.org/browse/year/1964|work=Golden Globe Awards|publisher=[[Hollywood Foreign Press Association]]|accessdate=9 July 2012|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20120722081234/http://cdn.goldenglobes.org/browse/year/1964|archivedate=22 July 2012}}</ref> and for a Best British Actor award at the [[18th British Academy Film Awards]].<ref name="BAFTA 64" />
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After the first day's shooting, Sellers sprained his ankle while leaving a restaurant and could no longer work in the cramped cockpit set.{{sfn|Sikov|2002|pp=192–193}} Kubrick then re-cast Slim Pickens as Kong.{{sfn|Sikov|2002|p=193}} The three roles Sellers undertook were distinct, "variegated, complex and refined",{{sfn|Sikov|2002|p=197}} and critic [[Alexander Walker (critic)|Alexander Walker]] considered that these roles "showed his genius at full stretch".{{sfn|Walker|1981|p=119}} Sellers played Muffley as a bland, placid intellectual in the mould of [[Adlai Stevenson II|Adlai Stevenson]];{{sfn|Sikov|2002|p=195}} he played Mandrake as an unflappable Englishman;{{sfn|Sikov|2002|p=197}} and Dr. Strangelove, a character influenced by pre-war German cinema, as a wheelchair-using fanatic.{{sfn|Walker|1981|p=120}} The critic for ''[[The Times]]'' wrote that the film includes, "three remarkable performances from Mr. Peter Sellers, masterly as the President, diverting as a revue-sketch ex-Nazi US Scientist ... and acceptable as an RAF officer,"<ref>{{cite news|title=Film Comedy about the End of the World|newspaper=[[The Times]]|date=30 January 1964|location=London|page=16}}</ref> although the critic from ''The Guardian'' thought his portrayal of the RAF officer alone was, "worth the price of an admission ticket".<ref>{{cite news|title=Intelligent, subtle, funny 'Dr Strangelove': At the cinema|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|date=2 March 1964|location=London|page=4}}</ref> For his performance in all three roles, Sellers was nominated for an [[Academy Award for Best Actor]] at the [[37th Academy Awards]],<ref name="Oscars 65">{{cite web|title=The 37th Academy Awards (1965) Nominees and Winners |url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1965 |work=Oscar Legacy |publisher=[[Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences]] |accessdate=9 July 2012 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141031093059/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1965 |archivedate=31 October 2014}}</ref> and the Best British Actor award at the 18th British Academy Film Awards.<ref name="BAFTA 64" />
Between November 1963 and February 1964, Sellers began filming ''[[A Shot in the Dark (1964 film)|A Shot in the Dark]]'',{{sfn|Sikov|2002|p=206}} an adaptation of a French play, ''[[L'Idiote]]'' by [[Marcel Achard]].{{sfn|Sikov|2002|p=205}} Sellers found the part and the director, [[Anatole Litvak]], uninspiring; the producers brought in [[Blake Edwards]] to replace Litvak. Together with writer [[William Peter Blatty]], they turned the script into a Clouseau comedy, also adding [[Herbert Lom]] as [[The Pink Panther|Commissioner Dreyfus]] and [[Burt Kwouk]] as [[The Pink Panther|Cato]]. During filming, Sellers' relationship with Edwards became strained; the two would often stop speaking to each other during filming, communicating only by the passing of notes.{{sfn|Sikov|2002|p=210}} Sellers' personality was described by others as difficult and demanding, and he often clashed with fellow actors and directors.<ref name="Milne (1980)" /> Upon its release in late June 1964, [[Bosley Crowther]] noted the "joyously free and facile way" in which Sellers had developed his comedy technique.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9C02E2DB163BE633A25757C2A9609C946591D6CF |author=Crowther, Bosley |title=A Shot in the Dark (1964) |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=24 June 1964 |accessdate=3 August 2012 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131210054953/http://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9C02E2DB163BE633A25757C2A9609C946591D6CF |archivedate=10 December 2013}}</ref>
{{quote box|width=25%|align=right|quote="I feel extremely vulnerable, and I need help a lot. A lot. I suppose I feel mainly I need the help of a woman. I'm continually searching for this woman. They mother you, they're great in bed, they're like a sister, they're there when you want to see them, they're not there when you don't. I don't know where they are. Maybe they're around somewhere. I'll find one, one of these days."|source=—Sellers on his need for women.<ref name="FH">{{cite
Towards the end of filming, in early February 1964, Sellers met [[Britt Ekland]], a Swedish actress who had arrived in London to film ''[[Guns at Batasi]]''. On 19 February 1964, just ten days after their first meeting, the couple married.{{sfn|Evans|1980|p=106}} Sellers soon showed signs of insecurity and paranoia; he would become highly anxious and jealous, for example, when Ekland starred opposite attractive men.<ref name="TM3109">{{cite web|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/tortured-love-letter-peter-sellers-409865 |title=Tortured love letter Peter Sellers wrote to Britt Ekland weeks after whirlwind marriage |work=Daily Mirror |date=31 July 2009 |last=Smith |first=Richard |accessdate=7 March 2021|url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160918101618/https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/tortured-love-letter-peter-sellers-409865 |archivedate=18 September 2016}}</ref> Shortly after the wedding, Sellers started filming on location in [[Twentynine Palms, California]], for [[Billy Wilder]]'s ''[[Kiss Me, Stupid]]'', opposite [[Dean Martin]] and [[Kim Novak]].{{sfn|Walker|1981|p=134}} The relationship between Wilder and Sellers became strained; both had different approaches to work and often clashed as a result.{{sfn|Sikov|2002|p=215}} On the night of 5 April 1964, prior to having sex with Ekland, Sellers inhaled [[amyl nitrite]] ([[poppers]]) as a sexual stimulant in his search for "the ultimate [[orgasm]]",{{sfn|Sikov|2002|p=217}} and suffered a series of eight [[myocardial infarction|heart attacks]] over the course of three hours as a result.{{sfnm|1a1=Evans|1y=1980|1p=116|2a1=Sellers|2y=1981|2p=96}} His illness forced him to withdraw from the filming of ''Kiss Me, Stupid'' and he was replaced by [[Ray Walston]].{{sfn|Walker|1981|p=138}} Wilder was unsympathetic about the heart attacks, saying that "you have to have a heart before you can have an attack".{{sfn|Sikov|2002|p=224}}
After some time recovering, Sellers returned to filming in October 1964, playing King of the Individualists alongside Ekland in ''[[A Carol for Another Christmas]]'',{{sfn|Sikov|2002|p=228}}{{efn|The character may have been called Imperial Me, according to ''[[The New York Times]]''.<ref name="NYT" />}} a feature-length United Nations special broadcast in the United States on the [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] channel on 28 December 1964.<ref name="NYT" /> Sellers had been concerned that his heart attacks might have caused brain damage{{sfn|Sikov|2002|p=228}} and that he would be unable to remember his lines, but he was reassured that his memory and abilities were unimpaired after the experience of filming.{{sfn|Walker|1981|p=139}} Sellers followed this with the role of the perverted Austrian psychoanalyst Doctor Fritz Fassbender in [[Clive Donner]]'s ''[[What's New Pussycat?]]'', appearing alongside [[Peter O'Toole]], [[Romy Schneider]], Capucine, [[Paula Prentiss]] and [[Ursula Andress]].{{sfn|Evans|1980|p=101}} The film was the first screenwriting and acting credit for [[Woody Allen]], and featured Sellers in a love triangle.{{sfn|Sikov|2002|p=231}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.film4.com/reviews/1965/whats-new-pussycat |title=What's New Pussycat? |website=[[Film4]] |accessdate=3 August 2012 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121007021027/http://www.film4.com/reviews/1965/whats-new-pussycat |archivedate= 7 October 2012}}</ref> Because of Sellers' poor health, producer [[Charles K. Feldman]] insured him at a cost of $360,000{{sfn|Rigelsford|2004|p=108}} (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|360000|1964|r=-5}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars).{{inflation-fn|US|df=yes}}
[[File:Britt Ekland and Peter Sellers 1964.jpg|thumb|left|Sellers and
On 20 January 1965, Sellers and Ekland announced the birth of a daughter, [[Victoria Sellers|Victoria]].{{sfn|Sikov|2002|p=233}} They moved to Rome in May to film ''[[After the Fox]]'', an Anglo-Italian production in which they were both to appear.{{sfn|Walker|1981|p=141}} The film was directed by [[Vittorio De Sica]], whose English Sellers struggled to understand.{{sfn|Walker|1981|p=142}} Sellers attempted to have De Sica fired, causing tensions on the set.{{sfn|Walker|1981|p=142}} Sellers also became unhappy with his wife's performance, straining their relationship{{sfn|Sikov|2002|p=238}} and triggering open arguments during one of which Sellers threw a chair at Ekland.{{sfn|Sikov|2002|p=240}} Despite these conflicts, the script was praised for its wit.<ref name="VarietyAF">{{cite web|url=https://www.variety.com/review/VE1117796695?refcatid=31 |title=After the Fox |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=31 December 1965 |accessdate=3 August 2012 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121111025852/http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117796695?refcatid=31 |archivedate=11 November 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.timeout.com/film/reviews/77583/after_the_fox.html |title=After the Fox (1966) |work=[[Time Out (company)|Time Out]] |accessdate=3 August 2012 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021033958/http://www.timeout.com/film/reviews/77583/after_the_fox.html |archivedate=21 October 2012}}</ref>
Following the commercial success of ''What's New Pussycat?'', Charles Feldman again brought together Sellers and Woody Allen for his next project, ''[[Casino Royale (1967 film)|Casino Royale]]'', which also starred [[Orson Welles]];{{sfn|Benson|1988|p=238}} Sellers signed a $1 million contract for the film{{sfn|Walker|1981|p=143}} (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|1000000|1967|r=-5}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars).{{inflation-fn|US|df=yes}} Seven screenwriters worked on the project,{{sfn|Benson|1988|p=238}} and filming was chaotic.{{sfn|Walker|1981|p=146}} To make matters worse, according to Ekland, Sellers was "so insecure, he won't trust anyone".{{sfn|Evans|1980|p=127}} A poor working relationship quickly developed between Sellers and Welles: Sellers eventually demanded that the two should not share the same set.{{sfn|Walker|1981|p=148}} Sellers left the film before his part was complete. A further agent's part was then written for [[Terence Cooper]], to cover Sellers' departure.{{sfn|Sikov|2002|p=252}}{{efn|Various theories have been given about the animosity between the two actors, including Sellers trying to get Welles to laugh and Welles not responding; Sellers hearing a young woman comment that Welles was sexy; Sellers' comments about Welles's weight being objected to; and Sellers' jealousy at Welles's friendship with [[Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon|Princess Margaret]], who was also a friend of Sellers.{{sfn|Sikov|2002|p=31}} Sellers' biographer Peter Evans declared that, "the real reason for this ... hostility is still uncertain",{{sfn|Evans|1980|p=130}} while another biographer, [[Ed Sikov]] commented that others were as much to blame for problems with the film.{{sfn|Sikov|2002|p=252}}}}
Shortly after leaving ''Casino Royale'', Sellers was appointed a [[Order of the British Empire|Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire]] (CBE) in honour of his career achievements.<ref>{{cite news|title=The Birthday Honours|newspaper=[[The Times]]|location=London|date=11 June 1966|page=14}}</ref> The day before the investiture at [[Buckingham Palace]], Sellers and Ekland argued, with Ekland scratching his face in the process; Sellers had a make-up artist cover the marks.{{sfn|Sellers|1981|p=113}} During his next film, ''[[The Bobo]]'', which again co-starred Ekland, the couple's marital problems worsened. Three weeks into production in Italy, Sellers told director [[Robert Parrish]] to fire his wife, saying "I'm not coming back after lunch if that bitch is on the set".{{sfn|Sikov|2002|p=259}} Ekland later stated that the marriage was "an atrocious sham" at this stage.{{sfn|Sikov|2002|p=264}} In the midst of filming ''The Bobo'', Sellers' mother had a heart attack; Parrish asked Sellers if he wanted to visit her in hospital, but Sellers remained on set. She died within days, without Sellers having seen her.{{sfn|Sikov|2002|p=261}} He was deeply affected by her death and remorseful at not having returned to London to see her.{{sfn|Sellers|1981|p=112}} Ekland served him with divorce papers shortly afterwards. The divorce was finalised on 18 December 1968, and Sellers' friend Spike Milligan sent Ekland a congratulatory telegram.{{sfn|Sikov|2002|p=285}} Upon its release in September 1967, ''The Bobo'' was poorly received.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9507E7D91238E53BBC4151DFBF66838C679EDE |author=Crowther, Bosley |title=The Bobo (1967) |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=29 September 1967 |accessdate=3 August 2012 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308212633/http://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9507E7D91238E53BBC4151DFBF66838C679EDE |archivedate= 8 March 2016}}</ref>
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[[File:Sellers-1971 signed.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Sellers in 1971]]
After a cameo appearance in ''[[A Day at the Beach]]'' (1970),<ref name="ST">{{cite web|url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/movies/2003860794_day31.html|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130130053234/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/movies/2003860794_day31.html|archivedate=30 January 2013|title=A Day at the Beach" was worth digging up|work=The Seattle Times|date=31 August 2007|accessdate=3 August 2012}}</ref> and a serious role later in 1970 as an
Sellers' next films, including [[Rodney Amateau]]'s ''[[Where Does It Hurt?]]'' (1972)<ref>{{cite news|author=Weiler, A. H. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/movies/movie/20706/The-Great-McGonagall/overview |title=Where Does It Hurt (1972) |accessdate=3 August 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160325034255/http://www.nytimes.com/movies/movie/20706/The-Great-McGonagall/overview |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=2016 |archivedate=25 March 2016}}</ref> and Peter Medak's ''[[Ghost in the Noonday Sun]]'' (1974), were again poorly received, and his acting was viewed as frenetic rather than funny.<ref>{{cite web|author=Mannika, Eleanor |url=https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/19661/Ghost-in-the-Noonday-Sun/overview |title=Ghost in the Noonday Sun (1974) |accessdate=3 August 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107122708/http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/19661/Ghost-in-the-Noonday-Sun/overview |department=Movies & TV Dept. |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=2012 |archivedate= 7 November 2012}}</ref> Despite these setbacks, Sellers won the Best Actor award at the 1973 Tehran Film Festival for his tragi-comedic role as a street performer in [[Anthony Simmons (writer)|Anthony Simmons]]'s ''[[The Optimists of Nine Elms]]''.<ref>{{cite journal|title=In the News|journal=[[Take One (Canadian magazine)|Take One]]|year=1972|volume=4|page=35|publisher=Unicorn Publisher}}</ref>{{sfn|WWW|1981|p=714}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.film4.com/reviews/1973/optimists-of-nine-elms-the |title=The Optimists of Nine Elms |website=[[Film4]] |accessdate=3 August 2012 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121010110240/http://www.film4.com/reviews/1973/optimists-of-nine-elms-the |archivedate=10 October 2012}}</ref> Fellow comedian and friend Spike Milligan believed that the early 1970s were for Sellers "a period of indifference, and it would appear at one time that his career might have come to a conclusion".<ref name="Milligan (DNB)" /> This was echoed by Sellers' biographer, Peter Evans, who notes that out of nine films in the period, three were never released and five had flopped, while only ''There's a Girl in My Soup'' had been a success.{{sfn|Evans|1980|p=235}} In his private life, he had been seeing the 23-year-old model [[Miranda, Countess of Stockton|Miranda Quarry]]. The couple married on 24 August 1970,{{sfnm|1a1=Walker|1y=1981|1p=171|2a1=Sikov|2y=2002|2p=310}} despite Sellers' private doubts—expressed to his agent, Dennis Selinger—about his decision to remarry.{{sfn|Walker|1981|p=172}}
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In 1974, Sellers portrayed a "sexually voracious" [[Queen Victoria]] in [[Joseph McGrath (film director)|Joseph McGrath]]'s comedic biographical film of the Scottish poet [[William McGonagall]], ''[[The Great McGonagall (film)|The Great McGonagall]]'', starring opposite Milligan and [[Julia Foster]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/20706/The-Great-McGonagall/overview |title=The Great McGonagall (1975) |accessdate=3 August 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107122359/http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/20706/The-Great-McGonagall/overview |department=Movies & TV Dept. |work=[[The New York Times]] |author=Hal Erickson |author-link=Hal Erickson (author) |date=2012 |archivedate= 7 November 2012}}</ref> However, the film was a critical failure, and Sellers' career and life reached an all-time low. As a result, by 1974 he agreed to accept salaries of £100,000 and 10 per cent of the gross to appear in TV productions and advertisements, well below the £1 million he had once commanded per film.{{sfn|Upton|2004|p=56}} In 1973, he appeared in a [[Benson & Hedges]] cinema commercial; in 1975, he appeared in a series of advertisements for [[Trans World Airlines]], in which he played several eccentric characters, including Thrifty McTravel, Jeremy "Piggy" Peak Thyme and an Italian singer, Vito.{{sfn|Rigelsford|2004|p=176}} Biographer Michael Starr asserts that Sellers showed enthusiasm towards these roles,{{sfn|Starr|1991|p=185}} although the airline campaign failed commercially.{{sfn|Segrave|2005|p=161}}
A turning point in Sellers' flailing career came in 1974, when he teamed up with Blake Edwards to make ''[[The Return of the Pink Panther]]'', starring alongside [[Christopher Plummer]], Herbert Lom and [[Catherine Schell]].{{sfn|Lewis|1995|p=469}} The film was shot on a budget of £3 million and earned $33 million at the box office upon release in May 1975, reinvigorating Sellers' career as an A-list film star and restoring his millionaire status.<ref name="Milligan (DNB)" />{{sfnm|1a1=Barnes&Noble|1y=2004|1p=828|2a1=Upton|2y=2004|2p=56}} The film earned Sellers a nomination for the [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy|Best Actor – Musical or Comedy]] award at the [[33rd Golden Globe Awards]].<ref name="Globes 74">{{cite web|title=The 22nd Annual Golden Globe Awards (1976)|url=http://cdn.goldenglobes.org/browse/year/1975|work=Golden Globe Awards|publisher=[[Hollywood Foreign Press Association]]|accessdate=9 July 2012|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130414205751/http://cdn.goldenglobes.org/browse/year/1975|archivedate=14 April 2013}}</ref> In 1976, he followed it with ''[[The Pink Panther Strikes Again]]''. During the filming from February to June 1976, the already fraught relationship between Sellers and Blake Edwards had seriously deteriorated. Edwards says of the actor's mental state at the time of ''The Pink Panther Strikes Again'', "If you went to an asylum and you described the first inmate you saw, that's what Peter had become. He was certifiable."<ref name="tcmarticle">{{cite web|url=http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title.jsp?stid=17706&category=Articles |title=The Pink Panther Strikes Again |website=[[Turner Classic Movies|TCM]] |author=Thames, Stephanie |accessdate=4 August 2012 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100122214231/http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title.jsp?stid=17706 |archivedate=22 January 2010}}</ref> With declining physical health, Sellers could at times be unbearable on set. His behaviour was regarded as unprofessional and childish, and he frequently threw tantrums, often threatening to abandon projects.{{sfn|Upton|2004|p=56}} His difficult behaviour during productions was widely reported and made it more difficult for Sellers to get employment in the industry at a time when he most needed the work.<ref name="WT1002" /> Despite Sellers' deep personal problems, ''The Pink Panther Strikes Again'' was well received critically. Vincent Canby of ''The New York Times'' said of Sellers in the film, "There is, too, something most winningly seedy about Mr. Sellers' Clouseau, a fellow who, when he attempts to tear off his clothes in the heat of passion, gets tangled up in his necktie, and who, when he masquerades—for reasons never gone into—as Quasimodo, overinflates his hump with helium."<ref name="NYT76" /> Sellers' performance earned him a further nomination at the [[34th Golden Globe Awards]].<ref name="Globes 77">{{cite web|title=The 23rd Annual Golden Globe Awards (1977)|url=http://cdn.goldenglobes.org/browse/year/1976|work=Golden Globe Awards|publisher=[[Hollywood Foreign Press Association]]|accessdate=9 July 2012|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130414215627/http://cdn.goldenglobes.org/browse/year/1976|archivedate=14 April 2013}}</ref>
In March 1976, Sellers began dating actress [[Lynne Frederick]], whom he married on 18 February 1977.{{sfn|Walker|1981|p=192}} Biographer Roger Lewis documents that of all of Sellers' wives, Frederick was the most poorly treated; Julian Upton likened it to a boxing match between a heavyweight and a featherweight, a relationship that "oscillated from ardour to hatred, reconciliation and remorse."{{sfn|Upton|2004|p=58}} On 20 March 1977, Sellers suffered a second major heart attack during a flight from Paris to London; he was subsequently fitted with a [[Artificial pacemaker|pacemaker]].{{sfn|Upton|2004|p=58}}<ref>{{cite news|last=Buchan|first=David|title=Sellers 'op'|newspaper=[[Daily Express]]|date=29 March 1977|location=London|page=7}}</ref> Sellers returned from his illness to undertake ''[[Revenge of the Pink Panther]]''; although it was a commercial success, the critics were tiring of Inspector Clouseau. Julian Upton expressed the view that the strain behind the scenes began to manifest itself in the sluggish pace of the film, describing it as a "laboured, stunt-heavy hotchpotch of half-baked ideas and rehashed gags".{{sfn|Upton|2004|p=58}} Sellers too had become tired of the role, saying after production, "I've honestly had enough of Clouseau—I've got nothing more to give".{{sfn|Rigelsford|2004|p=131}} [[Steven Bach]], the senior vice-president and head of worldwide productions for [[United Artists]], who worked with Sellers on ''Revenge of the Pink Panther'', considered that Sellers was "deeply unbalanced, if not committable: that was the source of his genius and his truly quite terrifying aspects as manipulator and hysteric."{{sfn|Lewis|1995|p=591}} He refused to seek professional help for his mental issues.<ref>
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A private funeral service was held at Golders Green Crematorium on 26 July, conducted by Sellers' old friend, [[Canon (priest)|Canon]] John Hester.{{sfn|Evans|1980|p=246}} Sellers' final joke was the playing of "[[In the Mood]]" by [[Glenn Miller]], a tune which all the Goons hated; he knew they would have to sit there in silence and listen to it.{{sfn|Rigelsford|2004|p=7}} A memorial service was held at [[St Martin-in-the-Fields]] on 8 September 1980—what would have been Sellers' 55th birthday.{{sfn|Sikov|2002|p=383}} Close friend [[Anthony Armstrong-Jones, 1st Earl of Snowdon|Lord Snowdon]] read the [[Psalm 23|twenty-third Psalm]], Harry Secombe sang "[[Bread of Heaven]]" and the eulogy was read by David Niven.{{sfn|Sikov|2002|p=383}}
Although Sellers was reportedly in the process of excluding Frederick from his will a week before he died,<ref name="Will change"/> she inherited almost his entire estate worth an estimated £4.5 million (£{{formatnum:{{Inflation|UK|4.5|1980|r=1}}}} million in {{Inflation-year|US}} pounds){{inflation-fn|UK|df=yes}} while his children received £800 each<ref name="Will change">{{cite news |title=Peter Sellers 'changed his will on the day he died', legal papers show |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/7892368/Peter-Sellers-changed-his-will-on-the-day-he-died-legal-papers-show.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/7892368/Peter-Sellers-changed-his-will-on-the-day-he-died-legal-papers-show.html |archive-date=10 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |accessdate=7 December 2020 |newspaper=The Telegraph}}{{cbignore}}</ref> (£{{formatnum:{{Inflation|UK|800|1980|r=-3}}}} in {{Inflation-year|
After his death, [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer]] tried to continue with ''Romance of the Pink Panther'' and offered the role of Clouseau to [[Dudley Moore]], who turned it down. The studio subsequently returned to Blake Edwards, who was adamant not to recast the character, feeling certain that no one could adequately replace Sellers. In 1982 Edwards released ''[[Trail of the Pink Panther]]'', which was composed entirely of deleted scenes from his past three ''Panther'' films.{{sfn|Sikov|2002|p=385}} Frederick sued, claiming the use of the clips was a breach of contract; the court awarded her $1{{nbsp}}million (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|1|1982|r=1}}}} million
== Technique ==
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| fontsize = 100%
| salign = center
| quote = “Peter was a marvelous improvisational actor, brilliant if you got him on the first take. The second take would be good, but after the third take he could be really awful. If he had to repeat the same words too many times they became meaningless. But it was such a joy to work with Peter because he was such an inspired actor. Sometimes he would literally knock me off my feet. I’d fall down convulsed with laughter.” —Filmmaker [[Jack Arnold (director)|Jack Arnold]], on directing Sellers in ''[[The Mouse That Roared (film)|The Mouse That Roared]]''.<ref>Reemes, 1988 p. 128</ref>
}}
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|-
! scope="row" | {{sort|Running Jumping & Standing Still Film|''[[The Running Jumping & Standing Still Film]]''}}
| rowspan="2" | 1959
| {{efn|Sellers appeared in the film but was nominated in his capacity as the producer. It was Sellers' only producing credit.}}
| Nominated – [[32nd Academy Awards|Academy Award]] for Short Subject (Live Action){{sfn|Sikov|2002|pp=120–121}}
|-
! scope="row" | ''[[I'm All Right Jack]]''
| Fred Kite
| Won – [[13th British Academy Film Awards|British Academy Film Award]] for Best British Actor<ref name="ARJ Guardian" />
|-
! scope="row" | ''[[Waltz of the Toreadors (film)|Waltz of the Toreadors]]''
| rowspan="3" | 1962
| General Leo Fitzjohn
| Won – [[San Sebastián International Film Festival]] for Best Actor{{sfn|Sikov|2002|p=171}}
|-
! scope="row" | ''[[Lolita (1962 film)|Lolita]]''
| Clare Quilty
| Nominated – [[20th Golden Globe Awards|Golden Globe Award]] for Best Supporting Actor
|-
! scope="row" | ''[[Only Two Can Play]]''
| John Lewis
| Nominated – [[16th British Academy Film Awards|British Academy Film Award]] for Best British Actor<ref name="BAFTA 62" />
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! scope="row" | {{sort|Pink Panther|''[[The Pink Panther (1963 film)|The Pink Panther]]''}}
| 1963
| rowspan="2" | [[Inspector Clouseau|Inspector Jacques Clouseau]]
| Nominated – [[22nd Golden Globe Awards|Golden Globe Award]] for Best Actor – Musical or Comedy<ref name="Globes 64"/><br />Nominated – [[18th British Academy Film Awards|British Academy Film Award]] for Best British Actor<ref name="BAFTA 64" />
|-
! scope="row" | ''[[A Shot in the Dark (1964 film)|A Shot in the Dark]]''
| rowspan="2" | 1964
| Nominated – [[19th British Academy Film Awards|British Academy Film Award]] for Best British Costume (Color)
|-
! scope="row" | ''[[Dr. Strangelove]]''
| Group Captain Lionel Mandrake/<br />President Merkin Muffley/<br />Dr. Strangelove
| Nominated – [[37th Academy Awards|Academy Award]] for Best Actor<ref name="Oscars 65"/><br />Nominated – [[18th British Academy Film Awards|British Academy Film Award]] for Best British Actor<ref name="BAFTA 64" />
Line 273 ⟶ 282:
! scope="row" | {{sort|Return of the Pink Panther|''[[The Return of the Pink Panther]]''}}
| 1975
| rowspan="2" | [[Inspector Clouseau|Inspector Jacques Clouseau]]
| Won – [[List of Evening Standard British Film Awards|''The Evening News'' British Film Award]] for Best Actor<br />Nominated – [[33rd Golden Globe Awards|Golden Globe Award]] for Best Actor – Musical or Comedy<ref name="Globes 74"/>
|- Revenge of the Pink Panther
! scope="row" | {{sort|Pink Panther Strikes Again|''[[The Pink Panther Strikes Again]]''}}
| 1976
| Nominated – [[34th Golden Globe Awards|Golden Globe Award]] for Best Actor – Musical or Comedy<ref name="Globes 77"/>
|-
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<ref name="Barker (DNB)">
{{cite ODNB | last = Barker | first = Dennis | title = Goons (act. 1951–1960) | url = http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/theme/95276 | accessdate = 11 July 2012
| doi = 10.1093/ref:odnb/95276 | year = 2004 }}
</ref>
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[[Category:English male radio actors]]
[[Category:English male television actors]]
[[Category:English male voice actors]]
[[Category:Jewish English male actors]]
[[Category:Jewish male comedians]]
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[[Category:Comedians from Hampshire]]
[[Category:Jewish film people]]
[[Category:British satirists]]
[[Category:British comedy musicians]]
[[Category:British satirical musicians]]
| |||