Peter Sellers (1) (1925–1980)

Peter Sellers was born Richard Henry Sellers near Portsmouth, England, to a prosperous Anglo-Jewish family of entertainers. His parents both worked in a variety show troupe run by his grandmother. During World War II, he was drafted into the Royal Air Force. After the war, Sellers met Spike Milligan, Harry Secombe and Michael Bentine, who would become his close colleagues and frequent collaborators. He achieved sudden fame as the voices of numerous favorites on the BBC's long-running radio comedy series The Goon Show (1951-1960). He made his film debut in Penny Points to Paradise (1951) and had his first breakout role as one of the criminals in The Ladykillers (1955). In 1964, Sellers played three roles in Stanley Kubrick's now-classic film Dr. Strangelove, for which he was nominated for an Oscar. The same year, in The Pink Panther, he originated his signature role of the bumbling French police inspector Jacques Clouseau. He had many more leading roles in the 1960s that showed his versatility and comedic talents to the fullest. He made less successful films in the 1970s, and turned up more frequently on television as a guest star. Return of the Pink Panther (1975) was a major hit and restored him to prominence. Being There (1979) earned Sellers his second Academy Award nomination. He collapsed from a massive heart attack and died at age 54 after appearing in more than 60 films.