Peter Sellers - Comedic Genius

Admittedly Sellers was not always the funnest guy in real life, but he was undeniably a comic genius onscreen. I never was one for The Pink Panther films, maybe I didn’t give them a fair shake– but I love the madcap classics The Party (directed by Blake Edwards), What’s New Pussycat? (screenplay by Woody Allen), Dr. Strangelove (Stanley Kubrick’s dark classic), and the simply brilliant, Being There. He hung out with George and Ringo from The Beatles, and had a penchant for style that matched his rock star lifestyle. Peter Sellers will go down as one of the most unique comedic talents of the 20th century.


1968 — Peter Sellers in “The Party” directed by Blake Edwards


Peter Sellers in "The Party"


Peter Sellers in “The Party” w/Claudine Longet, infamous for shooting her boyfriend, ski racer Spider Sabich, in the mid-70s. The Rolling Stones wrote their Bo Diddley-esque song “Claudine” about her. she also did a sweet version of ‘Let’s Spend the Night Together’. — Simonside


Peter Sellers playing the sitar in “The Party” — Image by © John Springer Collection/Corbis


Peter Sellers playing the sitar in “The Party” — Image by © John Springer Collection/Corbis. I don't remember him smoking that big spliff in the movie. Is that photo-shopped?


1967 — Peter Sellers and Ravi Shankar during the filming of Blake Edwards’ cult film ”The Party.” — Image by © Ravi Shankar Center/Corbis


Peter Sellers getting "The Party" started.


Peter Sellers causing chaos at dinner in “The Party”


Sellers objecting to the psychodelic elephant in "The Party"


Here Sellers is inspiring the bucket brigade in "The Party"


Peter Sellers leading the elephant clean-up project in "The Party"

1964 — Seven stars of Woody Allen’s film ‘What’s New Pussycat’ in Paris. Seated, left to right, Woody Allen, Peter O’Toole and Peter Sellers (1925 – 1980), standing behind them, left to right, Paula Prentiss, Romy Schneider (1938 – 1982), Ursula Andress and Capucine (1933 – 1990). – Photo by Keystone/Getty Images


1965, Paris, France — British director Clive Donner (left) with Swiss actress Ursula Andress, Swiss actress Capucine, American actor and screenwriter Woody Allen, Irish actor Peter O’Toole, British actor Peter Sellers and Austrian-born German actress Romy Schneider on the set. — Image by © Sunset Boulevard/Corbis


Doctor Sellers treats patient Peter O'toole.


Peter Sellers on the go cart track in "What's New, Pussycat?"


The doctor is in. This doctor is really in.


Peters O'Toole and Sellers in "What's New. Pussycat?"


Peter Sellers and Capucine.


Peter Sellers in "What's New, Pussycat?"


Would you trust this man?

Peter in the title role.


ca. 1964 — Dr. Strangelove (Peter Sellers) gets up from his wheelchair in a scene from Kubrick’s classic 1964 film. — Image by © John Springer Collection/Corbis


For a little while, at least.


Peter Sellers in the Stanley Kubrick classic, Dr. Strangelove


Dr. Strangelove, the wheelchair-bound nuclear war expert and former Nazi, whose gloved but uncontrollable right hand apparently has a mind of its own


Promotional shot for Strangelove.


Peter as Strangelove struggling with his arm in an effort to give the Nazi salute.


Peter in the title role.


Peter Sellers as Group Captain Lionel Mandrake, a British RAF exchange officer and Sterling Hayden as Brigadier General Jack D. Ripper, a paranoid ultra-nationalist.


Peter as Mandrake trying to get a handle on the situation.


Hayden's character trying to comfort Seller's character.


Sellers as President Merkin Muffley, the American President and Commander-in-Chief with George C. Scott as General Buck Turgidson, an over-the-top and jingoist general who does not trust the Soviet ambassador.


Peter Sellers in the role of the President.


Another shot of Peter as President.

1963, Paris, France — Peter Sellers being hugged by a model wearing a dress by Pab, Ltd. and long Schreiner earrings. — Image by © Condé Nast Archive/Corbis


Swedish stunner Britt Ekland became an instant celebrity and sex symbol upon her marriage to Peter Sellers in 1964 — he soon suffered from a series (13) of brutal heart attacks the following Spring. They would divorce in 1968, and the voracious Ekland went on to have relationships with George Hamilton, Warren Beatty and Rod Stewart, just to name a few.


Feb 19th, 1964, England — Peter Sellers marrying Swedish actress Britt Ekland at Guildford Register Office. — Image by © Hulton-Deutsch Collection/Corbis


Peter Sellers & wife Britt Ekland


Feb 11th, 1963, New York — Britt Ekland kisses a picture of Peter Sellers just after he proposed to her over the telephone, after a 10-day romance. — Image by © Bettmann/Corbis


Peter Sellers & wife Britt Ekland — The denim jacket leads me to believe it was taken during the filming of “What’s New Pussycat?”


Anahiem, CA, April 7, 1964 — SELLERS ON OUTING BEFORE HEART ATTACK — Peter Sellers, critically ill in Hollywood of a heart attack, last Saturday as he and his bride, Swedish actress Britt Ekland, began a visit through Disneyland with Sellers’ children by a former marriage, Sarah, 4, and Michael, 8. Sellers was stricken early yesterday. via


1969, London — Peter Sellers, famous the world over for his comic disguises, dips a hand into a shoulder bag at Heathrow Airport. The mob garb was not a disguise, but only the casual style of a celebrity on his way to catch a flight to Nice, France. — Image by © Bettmann/Corbis


1965, Sant Angelo d’Ischia, Italy — Peter Sellers with his wife, Swedish actress Britt Ekland, during the filming of ‘Caccia alla Volpe’ Italy, 1960s. — Image by © Hulton-Deutsch Collection/Corbis


Peter Sellers


1951 — The cast of “The Goon Show” (l-r) Harry Secombe, Michael Bentine, Spike Milligan and a young Peter Sellers. — Image by © BBC/Corbis