Born:
September 08, 1925
in
Portsmouth
Trivia:
Released Goodness Gracious Me with Sophia Loren in 1960, reaching number four in the UK music charts.
Best Known For:
Being an acclaimed comedy actor.
Early-life:
Richard Henry Sellers was born in Portsmouth on September 8, 1925. In his parents' variety act, he made his stage debut in Southsea at the age of two weeks old. Peter got his first job at the age of 15 as a caretaker at the Victoria Palace Theatre in Illfracombe.
Career:
During his theatre job, he developed his skills as a drummer and played with a number of touring bands. He became a member of the Entertainments National Service Association, which provided entertainment for British forces and factory workers during the Second World War. In 1943, Sellers joined the RAF and toured with Ralph Reader's RAF Gang Show troupe. In 1948, he landed a six-week run at the Windmill Theatre in London, providing a comedy turn in-between the nude shows. He made his TV debut in 1948 doing impressions on New to You, but his big break came on the radio in 1951 when he appeared in The Goon Show. The hugely popular series ran until 1960. He took on a number of small film roles in the 1950s until he was offered one of the main roles in Ealing comedy The Ladykillers (1955). Other films followed, including I'm All Right Jack, which became the highest grossing film at the British box office in 1960. Further success came in the 1960s with roles in Lolita (1962), The Pink Panther (1962), Dr Strangelove (1964), A Shot in the Dark (1964), What's New Pussycat (1965) and Casino Royale (1967). After a serious of poorly received films, he returned to his Inspector Clouseau character in box-office success The Return of the Pink Panther (1975). He followed this up in 1976 with The Pink Panther Strikes Again, and the Revenge of the Pink Panther in 1978. In 1979 he starred in the acclaimed films The Prisoner of Zenda and Being There. He died on July 24, 1980 at the age of 54.
Quote:
"If you ask me to play myself, I will not know what to do. I do not know who or what I am."