Home> Facts and Trivia > Stars > Peter Sellers
Peter Sellers Facts
| Sign | Virgo |
| Born |
Sep 8, 1925 Southsea, England |
| Died |
Jul 24, 1980 London, England |
| Age | Died at 54 |
| Total Facts | 42 |
"Past lives leaking through and confusing him in this life." (Shirley Maclaine on Sellers in "Playboy interview).
Mel Brooks considered him for - and he expressed interest in - the role of "Leo Bloom" in The Producers (1968), but nothing ever came of it, and the role eventually went to Gene Wilder. However, Sellers was instrumental in the success of the film. After its release, he happened, almost by accident, to see a private screening of it and was so impressed that the next day he took out two full-page newspaper ads at his own expense proclaiming that it was one of the greatest comedies he had ever seen. This exposure helped promote the film at a critical time when it appeared that it was destined to sink without a trace.
Prince Charles had been a fan of Sellers since "The Goon Show". In 1975, after he had seen The Return of the Pink Panther (1975) in Montreal, Charles wrote to Sellers that he'd laughed so hard he had wet the dress of the woman in the next seat.
At the time of his death, he was due to undergo heart surgery in Los Angeles on July 30.
At the time of his death, Sellers was set to play Inspector Clouseau again in "Romance of the Pink Panther". The script had been written by Sellers and Jim Moloney and the film was to be directed by Clive Donner. Pamela Stephenson was to have played the female lead. Also in the pipeline were the leads in Lovesick (1983) and Unfaithfully Yours (1984). Both these roles were taken over by Dudley Moore.
Became friends with The Beatles, and visited them at Abbey Road Studios. Was given a tape of rough mixes from the "White Album", which was auctioned (and bootlegged) after his death.
Before his death he spoke very highly of Robin Williams and Steve Martin, both considered that a great honor.
Born at 6:00am-BST
Claimed in a 1980 interview with Rolling Stone that he had fathered a son by a girlfriend while serving in the Royal Air Force during World War II, and abandoned them.
Claims to have had a near-death experience during a heart attack, in which he saw Heaven.
Died a few days after filming a "Barclays Bank" commercial, which was never aired.
Died at 12:26am - BST after being in a coma for more than 30 hours after suffering a massive heart attack.
Duet with Sophia Loren, "Goodness Gracious Me," was released in 1960 and reached the top four. Also with Loren, "Bangers and Mash" peaked at 22 in the UK charts in 1961.
Father, with actress Britt Ekland, of actress Victoria Sellers.
Father, with Anne Howe, of Michael Sellers and Sarah Sellers.
First actor to be nominated for a single Academy award (best actor) for a film in which he potrayed three different characters in the same film: Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964).
He was awarded the CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in 1966 for his services to drama.
He was fitted with a pacemaker in the late 1970s for his failing heart.
He was one of the favorite actors of Elvis Presley who always had Sellers' Pink Panther films with him on the airplane while he was on tour.
He was voted the 41st Greatest Movie Star of all time by Premiere Magazine.
His "Goon Show" records, and other comedy recordings from the 1950s and early 1960s, were produced by George Martin, before he worked with The Beatles.
His father was Protestant and his mother was Jewish. He attended St. Aloysius College, a Roman Catholic School.
His performance as Chance the Gardener in Being There (1979) is ranked #49 on Premiere Magazine's 100 Greatest Movie Characters of All Time.
His performance as Dr. Strangelove in Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964) is ranked #75 on Premiere Magazine's 100 Greatest Movie Characters of All Time.
His performance as Inspector Jacques Clouseau in the "Pink Panther" franchise is ranked #67 on Premiere Magazine's 100 Greatest Movie Characters of All Time.
His third wife, Miranda Quarry, is now "The Countess of Stockton."
In addition to dubbing Alfonso Bedoya in "The Black Rose", Sellers also dubs the Chinese actor Ley On. In addition to providing the voice of an off-screen Winston Churchill in "The Man Who Never Was", he also provides at least two other briefly-heard voices in that film. An oft-repeated rumor suggest that he also dubbed a few lines for Humphrey Bogart in "Beat The Devil", but this is harder to confirm.
Interred at Golders Green Crematorium, London, England, UK.
Is portrayed by Geoffrey Rush in The Life and Death of Peter Sellers (2004).
Late one night, following a disappointing day wrestling with a troublesome scene in one of the Pink Panther films, director Blake Edwards was roused by a call from Sellers. "I just talked to God!" he exclaimed, "and he told me how to do it!" The next day Edwards humored Sellers - and the result was an unmitigated disaster. "Peter," Edwards suggested, "next time you talk to God, tell him to stay out of show business!".
Left the bulk of his estate--cash, cars, houses and art amounting to £4.5 million--to fourth wife Lynne Frederick. He left his son Michael and his daughter Sarah from his first marriage to actress Anne Howe only £800 each. "It was a calculated and considered act. Even his lawyers blushed when they told me," Michael said. Sellers had married Frederick, who was known primarily as David Frost's girlfriend (and subsequently his wife after Sellers' death), in 1977. Reportedly Sellers was in the process of excluding her from his will in the time immediately preceding his death by heart attack in 1980. A drug addict and an alcoholic, Frederick died at aged 39 and all income from Sellers' estate, including royalties from movie profit-sharing deals, was inherited by her daughter with third husband Barry Unger.
One afternoon the doorbell rang in Sellers' London flat. As he was busy in his study, his wife Anne went to the door, where she was handed a telegram. The message: "Bring me a cup of coffee. Peter".
Ranked #84 in Empire (UK) magazine's "The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time" list. [October 1997]
Recorded a comedic rendition of "Unchained Melody" which wasn't released until years afterwards.
Sellers also enjoyed success in the UK music charts, with "Any Old Iron" reaching 17 in 1957 and a cover of the Beatles' "A Hard Day's Night" released in 1965 and reaching 14.
Sellers was the first male to appear on the cover of Playboy Magazine, in April 1964
Sellers, Spike Milligan, Michael Bentine and Harry Secombe performed on BBC Radio as "The Goon Show" in the early 1950s.
Served in the Royal Air Force during World War II.
Together with Nicolas Cage (Adaptation. (2002)) and Lee Marvin (Cat Ballou (1965)), and José Ferrer (Moulin Rouge (1952) Sellers is the only actor with an Oscar nomination for playing multiple characters in a film (in (Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964), he plays three characters, Group Captain (G/C) Lionel Mandrake, President Merkin Muffley and Dr. Strangelove). Marvin is the only one who actually won one for a double role.
Turned down the role of George Webber in Blake Edwards' 10 (1979) (George Segal was cast instead but eventually replaced by Dudley Moore). Sellers made a cameo appearance but it wound up being cut out.
Was a vegetarian.
Was an amateur photographer and camera nut for most of his life.