Highest rated as cast or director
Biography
Richard Henry Sellers, CBE (September 8, 1925 – July 24, 1980), known as Peter Sellers, was a British comedian and actor best known as Chief Inspector Clouseau in The Pink Panther film series, for playing three different characters in Dr. Strangelove, as Clare Quilty in Lolita, and as the man-child and TV-addicted Chance the gardener in his penultimate film, Being There. Leading actress Bette Davis once remarked of him, "He isn't an actor—he's a chameleon." Sellers rose to fame on the BBC Radio comedy series The Goon Show. His ability to speak in different accents (e.g., French, Indian, American, German, as well as British regional accents), along with his talent to portray a range of characters to comic effect, contributed to his success as a radio personality and screen actor and earned him national and international nominations and awards. Many of his characters became ingrained in public perception of his work. Sellers' private life was characterized by turmoil and crises, and included emotional problems and substance abuse. Sellers was married four times, and had three children from the first two marriages. An enigmatic figure, he often claimed to have no identity outside the roles that he played, but he left his own portrait since, "he obsessively filmed his homes, his family, people he knew, anything that took his fancy right to the end of his life—intimate film that remained undiscovered until long after his death in 1980." The director Peter Hall has said: "Peter had the ability to identify completely with another person, and think his way physically, mentally and emotionally into their skin. Where does that come from? I have no idea. Is it a curse? Often. I think it's not enough though in this business to have talent. You have to have talent to handle the talent. And that I think Peter did not have."
Acted in 88
2020s
- 2025
Love Left the Masquerade: Peter Medak's Cinema of Pretenders
Archive
2010s
- 2013
The 9th Wonder of the World: The Making of 'Gorgo'
The Villain Antony (archive footage)
2000s
- 2007
Hitler: The Comedy Years
Dr. Strangelove / Fred Kite (archive footage) (uncredited)
1990s
- 1992
Funny Business
(archive footage) · 6 episodes
- 1990
The Very Best of Peter Sellers
Movie
1980s
- 1982
- 1980
The Fiendish Plot of Dr. Fu Manchu
Fu Manchu / Nayland Smith
1970s
- 1979
- 1978
Rire et sourire : Le Splendid
Extrait du film « La Malédiction de la Panthère rose », 1978 · 1 episode
- 1977
To See Such Fun
Movie
- 1976
- 1975
Julie: My Favourite Things
Various
The Great McGonagall
Queen Victoria
- 1974
Soft Beds, Hard Battles
Général Latour / Major Robinson / Herr Schroeder / Adolf Hitler / The President / Prince Kyoto
- 1973
The Optimists of Nine Elms
Sam
The Blockhouse
Rouquet
Ghost in the Noonday Sun
Dick Scratcher
- 1972
- 1970
Wilton's: The Handsomest Hall in Town
G.W. Ross
Hoffman
Mr. Hoffman
Simon Simon
Man with Two Cars
1960s
- 1969
The Magic Christian
Sir Guy Grand KG, KC, CBE
One Pair of Eyes - No, But Seriously
Movie
- 1968
- 1967
Woman Times Seven
Jean
One Pair of Eyes
TV
The Bobo
Juan Bautista
- 1966
Alice in Wonderland
King of Hearts
El Rey en Londres
Movie
The Wrong Box
Doctor Pratt
- 1965
The Music of Lennon & McCartney
Movie
- 1964
- 1963
The Telegoons
TV
Heavens Above!
The Rev. John Smallwood
The Wrong Arm of the Law
Pearly Gates
- 1962
The Dock Brief
Wilfred Morgenhall
Waltz of the Toreadors
Gen. Leo Fitzjohn
The Road to Hong Kong
Indian Neurologist (uncredited)
Only Two Can Play
John Lewis
- 1961
Mr. Topaze
Auguste Topaze
- 1960
Two-Way Stretch
Dodger Lane
The Millionairess
Dr. Kabir
Never Let Go
Lionel Meadows
1950s
- 1959
The Running Jumping & Standing Still Film
Movie
I'm All Right Jack
Fred Kite / Sir John Kennaway
Carlton-Browne of the F.O.
Prime Minister Amphibulos
- 1958
Tom Thumb
Antony
Up the Creek
CPO Doherty
- 1957
Insomnia is Good for You
Hector Dimwittie
The Smallest Show on Earth
Percy Quill
Theatre Night
The Sultan · 1 episode
Dearth of a Salesman
Hector Dimwittie
- 1956
- 1955
John and Julie
Police Constable Diamond
- 1954
Orders Are Orders
Pvt. Goffin
- 1953
Our Girl Friday
Voice of Parrot
The Super Secret Service
Sir Walter Smood / Reuben J. Crouch
- 1952
Down Among the Z Men
Major Bloodnok
- 1951
Let's Go Crazy
Multiple Roles
Penny Points to Paradise
The Major / Arnold Fringe
The Slappiest Days of Our Lives
(archive footage)
- 1950
The Black Rose
Lu Chung (voice)
Wrote 2
1950s
- 1959
The Running Jumping & Standing Still Film
Writer
- 1951
Let's Go Crazy
Writer
Other crew 1
1960s
- 1969
The Magic Christian
Additional Writing
Directed 1
1960s
- 1961
Mr. Topaze
Director
Edited 1
1950s
- 1959
The Running Jumping & Standing Still Film
Editor
Produced 1
1950s
- 1959
The Running Jumping & Standing Still Film
Producer
Appearances34
2020s
- 2025
Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
- 2023
Peter Sellers: Genius at Work
Self (archive footage)
- 2021
Directed By Blake Edwards
Self
- 2020
Peter Sellers: A State of Comic Ecstasy
Self (Archival Footage)
2010s
- 2018
The Ghost of Peter Sellers
Self (archive footage)
- 2014
Spike Milligan: Love, Light and Peace
Self (archive footage)
2000s
- 2005
The Beatles: Get Back...Winter of Discontent
Self (archive footage)
- 2004
Best Sellers or: Peter Sellers and 'Dr. Strangelove'
Self (archive footage)
- 2003
The Peter Sellers Story - As He Filmed It
Self
- 2001
The Paranormal Peter Sellers
Self (Archive footage)
- 2000
The Unknown Peter Sellers
Self (archive footage)
1990s
- 1996
Spike
Self
- 1995
The Peter Sellers Story
Self
- 1994
- 1992
Sellers' Best
Self (archive footage)
1980s
- 1985
- 1983
- 1981
Eric Sykes: One of the Great Troupers
Self (archive material)
1970s
- 1978
Mickey's 50
Self
- 1976
- 1975
A Salute to Sir Lew Grade
Self
- 1974
Flip Wilson... Of Course
Self
- 1973
The Big Screen
Self
- 1972
The Last Goon Show of All
Self
1960s
- 1969
Will the Real Mr Sellers.....?
Self
This Is Tom Jones
Self · 1 episode
- 1968
- 1966
- 1961
Tempo
Self · 1 episode
Thanked in the credits1
1960s
- 1964
The Caretaker
Thanks