Peter Sellers on stage, radio, screen and record

English actor and comedian Peter Sellers (1925–1980) performed in many genres of light entertainment, including film, radio and theatre. He appeared in the BBC Radio comedy series The Goon Show, recorded a number of hit comic songs and became known internationally through his many film characterisations, among them Chief Inspector Clouseau in The Pink Panther film series. English filmmakers the Boulting brothers described Sellers as "the greatest comic genius this country has produced since Charles Chaplin".

Sellers's career on radio, film, television and record spanned from 1948 until his death. He made his radio debut on ShowTime in 1948, followed by appearances in Ray's a Laugh, Starlight Hour, The Gang Show, Henry Hall's Guest Night and It's Fine to Be Young. Along with Spike Milligan, Harry Secombe and Michael Bentine, he took part in the radio series The Goon Show (1951–60). One newspaper described it as "probably the most influential comedy show of all time". For Sellers, the BBC considers it had the effect of launching his career "on the road to stardom".

Throughout his career, Sellers made a number of television appearances, in character roles and for interviews and advertisements. His stage appearances were few, largely because he had been unhappy with the touring he had done as a child with his family. During his career, he also released a number of albums containing sketches and comic songs; the songs were undertaken in a variety of comic characters. Sellers's versatility enabled him to portray a wide range of comic characters using different accents and guises, and he would often assume multiple roles within the same film, frequently with contrasting temperaments and styles. A feature of the characterisations undertaken by Sellers is that, regardless of how clumsy or idiotic they are, he ensured that they always retained their dignity.

Starting in the 1950s, Sellers appeared in over fifty films, including I'm All Right Jack, Dr. Strangelove, Lolita, Being There and the Pink Panther series. At the peak of his career, he was one of the most popular stars at the British box office: third in most popular films in 1962, and second in 1963. Sellers was nominated three times for an Academy Award, twice for the Academy Award for Best Actor. Turner Classic Movies calls Sellers "one of the most accomplished comic actors of the late 20th century". In 2005, Channel 4 conducted a survey of modern-day comedians, who ranked Sellers as the 14th most influential comedian of all time.

Stage credits

+ Stage credits of Peter Sellers Show Dates Theatre Role Notes Jack and the Beanstalk Théâtre Marigny Various Mother Goose – March 1955 London Palladium Brouhaha – February 1959 Aldwych Theatre

At the start of his career, Sellers also performed acts in a number of variety shows in various parts of Britain; his wartime service with the Gang Shows of Ralph Reader saw him perform in India, Ceylon and Burma.

Selected radio broadcasts

+ Selected radio broadcasts of Peter Sellers Programme Year(s) Number of episodes Notes ShowTime 2 Appeared in the 1 July and 19 August 1948 broadcasts It's Fine to Be Young 4 Appeared in the weekly 31 August–21 September 1948 broadcasts Third Division 6 First broadcast in late January 1949 Petticoat Lane 7 Unknown broadcast dates Sellers Market 8 Broadcast in March 1950 Crazy People 17 Broadcast under the show's original name, Crazy People, against the wishes of the Goons; broadcast 28 May – 20 September 1951 1 The Goon Show pantomime; broadcast 26 December 1951 25 Broadcast 22 January–15 July 1952 Broadcast 11 November 1952 –5 May 1953 1 The Goon Show special; broadcast 1 June 1953 30 Broadcast 2 October 1953 –19 April 1954 1 The Goon Show crossover with Educating Archie; broadcast 11 June 1954 The Goon Show special; broadcast 31 August 1954 26 Broadcast 28 September 1954 –22 March 1955 27 Broadcast 20 September 1955 –15 November 1955 1 The Goon Show special; broadcast 29 August 1956 25 Broadcast 4 October 1956 –1 November 1956 Sellers Market 8 Broadcast in March 1950 Desert Island Discs 1 Broadcast on 4 February 1957 26 Broadcast 30 September 1957 –24 March 1958 14 Selected remakes of past episodes of The Goon Show; broadcast 6 October 1957 –23 March 1958 17 Broadcast 2 November 1958 –23 February 1959 6 Broadcast 24 December 1959 –28 January 1960 1 Broadcast 5 October 1972

Sellers also appeared in supporting roles in a number of other radio programmes from the 1940s to the 1970s.

Filmography + Filmography of Peter Sellers Film Year Role Notes 1950 Lu Chung (voice only) Sellers dubbed the part played by Alfonso Bedoya (uncredited)Penny Points to Paradise 1951 The Major, Arnold FringeLet's Go Crazy Groucho, Giuseppe, Cedric, Izzy, Gozzunk, Crystal Jollibottom Short film. Also co-wrote screenplay (uncredited)Burlesque on Carmen Narrator 1951 re-release of Charlie Chaplin's 1915 shortDown Among the Z Men 1952 Major BloodnokOur Girl Friday 1953 Parrot Voice (uncredited)The Super Secret Service 1953 Sir Walter Smood / Reuben J. CrouchOrders Are Orders 1954 Private GriffinJohn and Julie 1955 Police Constable Diamond Harry Robinson 1956 Narrator, Supt. Quilt, Asst. Commissioner Sir Jervis Fruit, Henry Crun Short film. Also additional material Winston Churchill Voice onlyInsomnia Is Good for You 1957 Hector Dimwiddle Short film, Sellers co-wrote film with Mordecai Richler Percy Quill Sonny McGregorUp the Creek 1958 CPO DohertyTom Thumb AntonyCarlton-Browne of the F.O. 1959 Prime Minister Amphibulos Grand Duchess Gloriana XII, Prime Minister Count Rupert Mountjoy, Tully BascombeI'm All Right Jack Fred Kite Won: BAFTA Award for Best British Actor Mr. Martin 1960 Photographer Short film. Also co-writer and producerWon: San Francisco International Film Festival Award for Best Fiction ShortNominated: Academy Award for Best Live Action Short FilmNever Let Go Lionel Meadows Dr. Ahmed el KabirTwo-Way Stretch Dodger LaneMr. Topaze 1961 Auguste Topaze Also directorOnly Two Can Play 1962 John Lewis Nominated: BAFTA Award for Best British ActorWaltz of the Toreadors General Leo Fitzjohn Won: San Sebastián International Film Festival Award for Best Actor Indian Neurologist UncreditedLolita Clare Quilty Nominated: Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture (a.k.a. Trial & Error) Wilfred Morgenhall 1963 Pearly GatesHeavens Above! The Reverend John Smallwood Inspector Jacques Clouseau Nominated: BAFTA Award for Best British Actor Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or ComedyDr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb 1964 Group Captain Lionel Mandrake, President Merkin Muffley, Dr. Strangelove Nominated: Academy Award for Best Actor BAFTA Award for Best British Actor Henry Orient Inspector Jacques ClouseauCarol for Another Christmas King of the Individualists TV filmBirds, Bees and Storks 1965 Narrator Short filmWhat's New Pussycat? Doctor Fritz Fassbender 1966 Doctor PrattAfter the Fox Aldo VanucciCasino Royale 1967 Evelyn Tremble / James Bond Also additional screenplay (uncredited)Woman Times Seven Jean Juan Bautista 1968 Hrundi V. BakshiI Love You, Alice B. Toklas Harold Fine 1969 Sir Guy Grand KG, KC, CBE Also additional material 1970 Salesman Credited under the alias "A. Queen"Hoffman Benjamin HoffmanSimon, Simon Man with two cars (cameo) Short filmThere's a Girl in My Soup Robert DanversWhere Does It Hurt? 1972 Dr. Albert T. HopfnagelAlice's Adventures in Wonderland March HareGhost in the Noonday Sun 1973 Dick Scratcher Released posthumously in 1985 on VHS and Betamax Rouquet Shown at the Berlin Film Festival, but otherwise unreleased until 1978. Sam Won: Tehran Film Festival Award for Best ActorSoft Beds, Hard Battles 1974 Général Latour, Major Robinson, Herr Schroeder, Adolf Hitler, The President, Prince Kyoto Queen Victoria 1975 Inspector Jacques Clouseau Won: Nominated: Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or ComedyMurder by Death 1976 Sidney Wang Inspector Jacques Clouseau Nominated: Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or ComedyKingdom of Gifts 1978 Larcenous Mayor Voice onlyRevenge of the Pink Panther Inspector Jacques Clouseau 1979 Rudolf IV, Rudolf V, Syd FrewinBeing There Chance Won: Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or ComedyLondon Film Critics Circle Special AwardNational Board of Review Award for Best ActorNew York Film Critics Circle Award for Best ActorNominated: Academy Award for Best ActorBAFTA Award for Best British Actor 1980 Sir Denis Nayland Smith, Dr. Fu "Fred" Manchu Also director (uncredited; posthumous release) Trail of the Pink Panther 1982 Inspector Jacques Clouseau Sellers' new material consists entirely of previously cut footage from The Pink Panther Strikes Again, with clips from the previous films shown as flashbacks.

Awards and nominations

+ Awards and nominations for Peter Sellers's film workFilmYearAwardCategoryResult Notes 1959 32nd Academy Awards Short Subject (Live Action) Sellers was the producer and cast member I'm All Right Jack 13th British Academy Film Awards Best British Actor Waltz of the Toreadors 1962 San Sebastián International Film Festival Best Actor Lolita 20th Golden Globe Awards Best Supporting Actor Only Two Can Play 16th British Academy Film Awards Best British Actor Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb 1964 37th Academy Awards 22nd Golden Globe Awards Best Actor – Musical or Comedy Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb 18th British Academy Film Awards Best British Actor 1965 18th British Academy Film Awards 1973 Tehran Film Festival Best Actor 1976 33rd Golden Globe Awards Best Actor – Musical or Comedy 1976 The Evening News British Film Awards Best Actor 1977 34th Golden Globe Awards Best Actor – Musical or Comedy Being There 1979 51st National Board of Review Awards Best Actor 45th New York Film Critics Circle Awards 1980 37th Golden Globe Awards Best Actor – Musical or Comedy 52nd Academy Awards Best Actor 34th British Academy Film Awards Best Actor in a Leading Role London Film Critics' Circle Award Best Actor

Television Main series and appearances + Television: main series and notable appearances of Peter Sellers Programme Year Number of episodes NotesAnd So to Bentley 1954 13 1956 6 As "The Editor"; broadcast 24 February–23 April 1956 5 Broadcast 2–30 May 1956 Son of Fred 8 Broadcast 17 September–5 November 1956 Yes, It's the Cathode-Ray Tube Show! 1957 6 Broadcast 11 February–18 March 1957 1963 11 Broadcast 10 October–28 December 1963 1964 15 Broadcast 20 March–1 August 1964

Selected guest appearances + Television: guest appearances of Peter Sellers Programme Year Number of episodes Notes 1964 1 Broadcast on 20 March 1964 Not Only... But Also 19652 Broadcast in 1965 This Is Tom Jones19691Broadcast on 7 February 1969 Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In 1969–1970 3 Broadcast on 15 September 1969, 17 November 1969, and 16 March 1970 The New Bill Cosby Show1972 1Broadcast on 18 September 1972 Sykes Broadcast in October 1972Parkinson 1974 Broadcast in the autumn of 1974 1978 Broadcast in February 1978The Beatles: Get Back 2021 Streamed on Disney Plus

Peter Sellers on stage, radio, screen and record

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