5 Things You Never Knew About Comedy Mastermind Peter Sellers
Peter Sellers would have turned 100 this year, and for many, he remains one of the most unforgettable comic actors of the 20th century. Born Richard Henry Sellers on September 8, 1925, he first won fans through the wildly inventive BBC Radio hit The Goon Show before transitioning into film.
Whether as the bumbling Inspector Clouseau in The Pink Panther films, the multiple personas of Stanley Kubrick‘s Dr. Strangelove, or the quietly brilliant Chance in Being There, Sellers proved time and again that he could transform into just about anyone. His career was decorated with accolades, from BAFTAs to Golden Globes and even Academy Award nominations.
In honor of his birthday, let’s take a look at some interesting facts about the star.
1 Elvis Presley was a huge fan
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Of all the fans Sellers collected over the years, one of the most devoted was Elvis Presley. The King kept Pink Panther films with him on his airplane while touring, watching them repeatedly for laughs. Presley was said to admire Sellers’ ability to create unforgettable characters.
2 He made history with Dr. Strangelove
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Sellers was the first actor ever nominated for a single Academy Award for playing three different roles in a single film. In Stanley Kubrick‘s Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964), he transformed into President Merkin Muffley, RAF officer Lionel Mandrake, and the bizarre Dr. Strangelove himself. It cemented his reputation as one of cinema’s most daring comedic actors.
3 He was the first man to grace Playboy’s cover
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In April 1964, Sellers broke an unlikely barrier as the first man to appear on the cover of Playboy magazine. Known for its in-depth interviews with influential figures ranging from politicians to actors, Playboy was a natural fit for Sellers, who was part of Hugh Hefner’s inner circle. Riding high on his international fame, his cover appearance underscored just how popular the comedic actor had become.
4 He helped save The Producers
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When Mel Brooks released The Producers in 1967, the film wasn’t an immediate hit. That changed after Sellers happened to see a private screening. He was so impressed that he paid for two full-page ads in major newspapers, declaring it one of the funniest films he had ever seen. His endorsement gave the movie a second life, eventually helped turn it into a cult classic, and later a Broadway show, according to the Guardian.
5 His connection with the Beatles
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Sellers struck up a friendship with the Beatles and even visited them at Abbey Road Studios. During one of those visits, he was given a tape of rough mixes from what would become their legendary White Album. After his death, the tape was auctioned and eventually bootlegged, making it one of those rare cultural artifacts that tie together two of Britain’s greatest creative forces.
Turner Classic Movies will be celebrating Peter Sellers all month long. See the schedule below.
Remind 
1968 Retrospective
January 2018
This special expanded issue celebrates all things pop culture in 1968.
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