Profile of the Day: Peter Sellers

Remember watching Peter Sellers as the bumbling Inspector Jacques Clouseau? On this day in 1925, the iconic comedian was born in Portsmouth, England.

Image: Peter Sellers / Wikimedia Commons

He was born Richard Henry Sellers, but his parents called him “Peter” after his elder stillborn brother. Both of his parents were vaudeville entertainers and Sellers often accompanied his parents on the variety show circuit. In 1943, he joined the Royal Air Force and traveled with the entertainment troupe to perform for soldiers during World War II.

In the early 1960s, Sellers introduced audiences to his most memorable role, Chief Inspector Jacques Clouseau, in the box office hit The Pink Panther. The film would launch several sequels. In 1964, Sellers took on multiple roles in Stanley Kubrick’s Dr. Strangelove. His performance earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. Throughout his career, he earned a total of three Oscar nominations for Best Actor and was lauded as one of the greatest comedians of his time.

Sellers died on July 24, 1980 after suffering a massive heart attack.

Explore Peter Sellers’s family tree on Geni and discover your connection to the legendary comedian.