Although the bulk of his work was comedic, often parodying characters of authority such as military officers or policemen, he also performed in other film genres and roles. Sellers began his film career during the 1950s. During the early 1950s, Sellers, along with Spike Milligan, Harry Secombe and Michael Bentine, took part in the successful radio series The Goon Show, which ended in 1960.

After the war, Sellers made his radio debut in ShowTime, and eventually became a regular performer on various BBC radio shows. He developed his mimicry and improvisational skills during a spell in Ralph Reader's wartime Gang Show entertainment troupe, which toured Britain and the Far East. He first worked as a drummer and toured around England as a member of the Entertainments National Service Association (ENSA). He began accompanying his parents in a variety act that toured the provincial theatres.

Sellers featured on a number of hit comic songs, and became known to a worldwide audience through his many film roles, among them Chief Inspector Clouseau in The Pink Panther series.īorn in Southsea, Portsmouth, Sellers made his stage debut at the Kings Theatre, Southsea, when he was two weeks old. He first came to prominence performing in the BBC Radio comedy series The Goon Show. Peter Sellers CBE (born Richard Henry Sellers 8 September 1925 – 24 July 1980) was an English actor and comedian.