Secret Facts About Peter Sellers, The Tragic Comic
Peter Sellers always claimed that underneath his colorful roles and funny voices, there was nobody—that he “did not exist” as a person. The truth, however, was so much darker. Both on set and behind bedroom doors, Sellers got into some of the most dramatic and violent feuds and flings that Hollywood had ever seen. There was a man there, and he was equal parts disturbing and tragic.
Peter Sellers Facts
1. His Name Had A Chilling Meaning
In 1925, Sellers was born into comedy. His parents, Bill and Agnes Sellers, performed in variety shows, and Peter made his stage “debut” at just two weeks old, when a family friend carried him on from backstage. But from the beginning, his childhood was no laughing matter. Case in point: Although his parents originally christened him “Richard Henry,” they switched it to “Peter”…after his stillborn older brother. Yes, that’s more than a little creepy—and it wouldn’t get better.
2. He Had Big Mommy Issues
As a young boy, Peter showed inklings of the dysfunctional relationships that would eventually eat up his life. He and his mother had an extremely close bond, but it wasn’t necessarily a healthy one.
While Agnes was domineering, Peter was cringing and shy, and their dynamic had a dark symbiosis to it. Despite this, his mother had no problem fobbing her young, only child off for weeks at a time while she and his father went touring.
Hmm, I wonder why every adult relationship Sellers ever had turned out to be a horror story.
3. He Lied His Way Into Fame
By 1946, Sellers was 21 years old, had served in and survived WWII, and had decided to pursue a career in the theater. After some time spent scraping up revue shows and minor television parts, Sellers decided to make his mark in a very bold way. Even at this young age, he was clearly an excellent mimic, and he called up BBC producer Roy Speer and pretended to be star radio host Kenneth Horne to get the company’s attention.
Lucky for Sellers, it actually worked. Speers dubbed him a “cheeky young sod” and gave him an audition. It was a date with destiny.
