Top 10 Peter Sellers Performances

[@billywillis4390]

Dr. Strangelove is a movie that can be watched over and over. I never tire of it.

[@sonictrasher]

Being There is an absolute classic. Great film.

[@greatone777j]

'Being there' is a masterpiece and a film that paints the real Peter Sellers with remarkable tenderness and insight. I think he wanted to be remembered in his role as 'Chancy the gardener'.

[@Bram25]

Being there should have been at least top 3 material. That ending is so amazing it brings me to tears every single time!

[@oldskoolpaul89]

Indeed a Brilliant movie one of my favourites ... what an emotional Kind fuuny Movie by a great character Awesome top ten for me

[@AmericanDreamer]

my fav movie..yes, ending is sad, but how to interpret it? I still cannot figure it out even after seeing this film for many and many times

[@Bram25]

My theory is that "life is a state of mind".
If you want something you can do it, even walking on water. Only if you move your mind to it.
Because, besides all things in life, they do not matter.

[@almo2001]

My thought was always that he was a simple guy, and others elevated him to messianic status. Hence him sticking his stick in the water curiously as he goes. Like he doesn't quite understand it.

[@Jared_Wignall]

My top 10 Peter Sellers performances:
10. Fred Kite- I'm All Right Jack
9. Grand Duchess Gloriana XII, Prime Minister Count Rupert Mountjoy and Tully Bascombe- The Mouse That Roared
8. Doctor Fritz Fassbender- What's New Pussycat?
7. Général Latour, Major Robinson, Herr Schroeder, Adolf Hitler, The President and Prince Kyoto- Soft Heads, Hard Battles
6. Hrundi V. Bakshi- The Party
5. Clare Quilty- Lolita
4. Inspector Sidney Wang- Murder by Death
3. Inspector Jacques Clouseau- The Pink Panther Series
2. Chance the Gardener- Being There
1. Group Captain Lionel Mandrake, President Merkin Muffley and Dr. Strangelove- Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb
Also, Sellers never won an Academy Award. He was nominated for Dr. Strangelove, Being There, as well as a short film he made. He should've won an Oscar for Strangelove, but unfortunately didn't. I'd say he should've won for Being There as well, but for me it's a toss up between him and Roy Scheider in All That Jazz that year.

[@g5e8m1]

Jonathan Winters, Peter Sellers and Robin Williams will live on forever, loved them!

[@alanhandleman6513]

Your mention of these three in a single sentence is quite valid. There is a certain quality that links them, not to mention a certain sort of tragedy that (sadly) permeated all three lives. Much as they made us laugh, they, themselves, suffered emotionally. It's a sad irony. They were the ones who most needed a Jonathan Winters, a Peter Sellers, or a Robin Williams to make them laugh.

[@tomski70]

Peter Sellers is the only actor Stanley Kubrick gave a role in more than one of his unique movies and gave him more than one parts in his movies. Genius met genius. Outstanding performance of Peter in Kubrick films.

[@ZgjimT]

Hi there, this is Kirk Douglas, and I call bullshit.

[@tomski70]

+Zgjim Terziqi Bullshit is a very strong judgement. Maybe I did not tell enough about it. Well "Spartacus" is a movie, which Stanley Kubrick did get from Kirk Douglas, cause he fired director Anthony Mann. Douglas was the executive producer. That is why this doesn´t count in my view as an actors choice by Kubrick. In fact it was a choice by Kirk Douglas to engage Kubrick as a director (after they made "Path of Glory" together). Kirk Douglas in "Paths of Glory" was Kubricks choice. But in "Spartacus" Kirk Douglas already had the main part and took Kubrick as a director to replace Anthony Mann. I´m open for your opinion about that and greet you with respect.

[@jaxxrr]

+tomski70 kirk, stanley, and peter had something in common that made them work together and it had nothing to do with talent, they just shared same religion

[@JH-ng3hj]

tomski70 You're pulling at Daises. Kubrick directed Spartacus. Who hired him is irrelevant.

[@SuzeyTrump]

Nope. Philip stone was in the Shining and Clockwork Orange

[@coolst0rybruh]

Dr.Strangelove should be no1. And it's not one of the best comedies. It's THE best comedy of all times.

[@CliffLewis28]

I agree completely, a classic!

[@barryaiello3127]

Yup, it's not even close either, not to mention perhaps one of the best films ever made, period,

[@smjjohnson]

I Concur! #1 & #2 should be switched

[@gumunduringigumundsson9344]

I concur.

[@u.v.s.5583]

I disagree. While Strangelove is difficult to overrate, it is important and all, Pink Panther is far more funny. There is a story told, there is some darn good acting in Strangelove, all of that is true, and yet it has nothing on Pink Panther. Nothing!

[@QueenTeriquable]

I could watch Peter Sellers for days!

[@im50Brian]

After reading the novel Being There, in one of my classes I was doubtful that someone could truly portray Chance's character. I was totally wrong. Seller's performance was absolutely brilliant!

[@spyrosk.1881]

To be honest, I liked Dr. Strangelove, but Being There is my number 1. This movie reminds me of the renting store near my house that closed some years ago. I came across this film there.
Seller's portrayal of Chance is magical, superb. It is so inhibited yet elegant, so restrained yet colorful, so passive yet subtle. My icon is the film's poster. The screenplay and the pacing are just perfect and the other performances enhance the film. The ending still gets me sad and happy, yet the bloopers blow everything up.
Peter Sellers should have won the Academy Award for this film, change my mind.
A snapper case copy of this movie is a rare member of my collection and I'm so proud to own it. If you haven't seen this movie, you have to.

[@111oooo]

Dr Strangelove should be first IMO

[@kihntagious]

Alan Corbould it was his favorite after chance the gardener

[@GasCityGuy]

IMO, the 2nd Pink Panther movie, 'A Shot in the Dark' is his finest work. Brilliant in every way.

[@RBNightlinger]

A Shot in the Dark was far, far superior to The Pink Panther.

[@vincentfranklin17]

Would you kill for Maria?
OF COURSE!!!
Uh....not!
Classic line!

[@keithwhite2676]

After I got married, I learned that my wife didn't see what all the fuss was about with Peter Sellers. She is now my ex-wife.

[@EduardoRiter]

For me it's Chance the Gardner, it's simply transcendental.

[@GallifreyExile]

They SERIOUSLY need to correct this. Peter Sellers NEVER won an Oscar, let alone for The Pink Panther. Stop getting your information from Wikipedia, people.

[@XSecret666SquirrelX]

Get your own information correct before criticizing. Wikipedia makes no such claim.

[@StevenTorrey]

Sellers never won an Oscar; someone should check the facts before they release these incorrectly.

[@IamConnorMacLeod]

You're forgetting the most important fact: Motive.

[@marcuspi999]

Not only that, he wasn't even nominated for the Pink Panther.

[@tonykuli]

Wrong, He got an Oscar from me! What do other oscars mean when a killer like Obama gets one just for being black!!

[@marcuspi999]

Obama got an Oscar? Is that a joke or did you mean Nobel Peace Prize?

[@tonykuli]

Yes, it is a joke .... the Nobel PEACE prize has been reduced to Oscars for the best actors in politics, nothing Noble about it!

[@commanderkruge]

Doctor Strangelove isn't "hiding Nazi sympathies" - he IS a Nazi from Germany. He is clearly a shot at the fact that both the US and the Soviets after WWII picked some of the 3 Reich's better scientists and made them their own - no matter whether they were complete Nazis and involved in war crimes personally or not.
The most prominent example for this would be Werner von Braun (the guy who got men on the moon) who was never on trial for his involvement in the deaths of slave labourers - actually his involvement was knowingly played down by the US so they could turn him into an "American Hero"....

[@AIRBUS319BY319]

Best actor ever...

[@crammyhandleman7672]

Peter Sellers did not win the Oscar for playing Clouseau, he wasn't even nominated.

[@samspade3678]

+Batman
Academy Awards, USA
1980 Nominated
Oscar Best Actor in a Leading Role
Being There (1979)
1965 Nominated
Oscar Best Actor in a Leading Role
Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)
1960 Nominated
Oscar Best Short Subject, Live Action Subjects
The Running Jumping & Standing Still Film (1959)
Correct - and nothing surpasses Dr. Strangelove.

[@geokaplan59]

+Sam Spade You both beat me to pointing this out. It's galling for such an easily checked error to taint an otherwise welcome tribute. Sellers' performance(s) in "Strangelove" are monumentally brilliant, while his creation of and improvisational flourishes as Clouseau make Sellers my favorite comic actor of the sound era. His genius is on stunning display in his last great role, Chance, which he said was the role he was born to play. He could have won the Oscar for "Strangelove" (although it was so far ahead of its time no one quite got it, then) and should have won for "Being There."

[@carlpen850]

+Sam Spade -- You're right, nothing surpasses Dr.Strangelove... nothing. It's as viable today as it was 51 years ago. But only a wise detective such as yourself would be hip to that fact.

[@carlpen850]

+geokaplan59 -- Isn't it ironic that Sellers died after the release of "Being There"? I didn't know that he suffered from heart disease since the late 50's so his death kinda took me by surprise.

[@samspade3678]

Carl Pen and you have the great Slim Pickens, George C. Scott, Sterling Hayden and that guy playing the Russian Ambassador - great lines - great acting

[@gabrieledrewery5910]

Pink Panther any time. Still makes me laugh to this day!

[@byronleemarley9610]

We can all disagree on what his best film was, he was just that talented.
For me, he will always be Inspector Clouseau. My favorite character of all time.

[@Jugsywinkledorf]

strangelove will always be first in my heart

[@anonymouscommentator6715]

The Party I have to say was one of his best funny movies.

[@texshelters]

He's great in everything. Being there is my favorite, Dr. Strangelove is his best. PTxS

[@harunaabdulmumin727]

The Return of the Pink Panther and The Party are tops with me. Great acting from a greatly talented artist.

[@HMSConqueror]

MEIN FUHRER I CAN WALK!!!!!!!!!! EPIC one liner
Actually, I agree with the list..but i think that Dr. Strangelove is the best of Sellers
NOTE: This is the second time Watchmojo is making the same error: is GROUP CAPTAIN Leonel Mandrake, not "captain"...

[@LDixon007]

My favorite Inspector Clouseau scene is the one with Herbert Lom, when his wax nose starts melting.

[@brettthebassist]

Leonard Dixon Revenge of the pink panther movie is all time favorite

[@Jugsywinkledorf]

Leonard Dixon i love that ons

[@smegmanachos]

Truly a thespian giant among his peers. He could perfectly act in a Shakespearean play as easily as he could play the bumbling inspector on the big screen. Would have given damn near anything to have known him.

[@katarinakrnjevic8183]

Peter was comedy legend even before he died

[@torsteinbakketunkyte7419]

He's portrayal of "a old salthy swedish sea dog" in the Pink Panther is hilarious. Just type it in the search bar and watch!

[@SamJonesPlatypus]

Did anyone see William Hartnell at 1:00? Peter Sellers is amazing, I don't know why he did not get an Academy Award for at least Dr Strangelove.

[@StacieMMeier]

He was nominated for Best Actor in a leading role. Regrettably, it was the wrong year for Mr Sellers, who was beaten out by Rex Harrison in MY Fair Lady. Had he been one year earlier (Sidney Poitier, Lilies of the Field) or one year later (Lee Marvin, Cat Ballou), he easily could have won.

[@thenumbdave]

Fred Kite in "I'm all right Jack" wasn't a company owner fighting for his worker's rights, he was the head of the union branch at the company, fighting for his coworker's rights. That's an important difference.

[@MegaMusas]

"Being there" was outstanding

[@jologs-si8un]

The Fiendish Plot of Dr. Fu Manchu where he played both the title villain and his antagonist Nayland Smith

[@clairemcnally6293]

The Magic Christian has so many hilarious scenes!

[@einsteindrieu]

Great,great man.

[@williefinn4932]

dr. strangelove...still marvellous.

[@NellieKAdaba]

RIP Peter Sellers

[@Thecharliejay1]

Peter Sellars is hilarious and my favourite role is his character Inspector Jacques Clouseau

[@Rodrigoteacher]

"Hoffman"!!! (1970) incredible!!

[@modrozelenaalga9607]

I just watched Murder by Death. For me the best performance by Peter Sellers, even though not that famous.

[@fitafterforty2116]

Possibly the best physical actor, ever.

[@MOGGS1942]

"Being there" is my No.1 choice. For sheer laughs, "Two way stretch"

[@mattcrouch9348]

"brian morgan"? you a soccer fan?

[@mattcrouch9348]

"brian morgan"? you a soccer fan?

[@MOGGS1942]

Why do ask ?

[@jackj9070]

Honestly his performance in The Party was my favourite

[@Rodeo_Wizard]

RIP Peter Sellers, you will always be Jacques Clouseau and no one can replace the role. Steve Martin tried and failed.

[@JonAnderson90125]

this is perfect. 100 percent agree

[@mikesomerset6338]

This is Sellers the movie actor. I am just about to old enough to remember Sellers the radio star. One of the true comedy greats

[@markrichmond2168]

This is comedy that will outlive the crass vulgar garbage of today. Sellers didnt have to be crude to be great.

[@SavereoJohnMusic]

The commentary on Im alright Jack is nonsense - they haven't understood the movie at all.Fred Kite isn't the factory owner he is the communist union boss, always prattling on about the how much better life is in the Soviet Union. You are supposed to laugh at him and the corrupt owners for being two sides of the same coin with the poor worker being stuck in the middle, manipulated by both.

[@computerjantje]

I think Being there was his best performance. He showd in this movie he could also very well underplay.

[@citizenintime]

I might have put "I Love You, Alice B. Toklas" somewhere in the top 10.

[@guyripley9466]

This video is mis-titled. The proper title is: American woman talks a lot punctuated by a selection of 5 second snippets of Peter Sellers.

[@acajaxcospan4]

Yes! Thank you! All of the mojo top ten lists are like that.

[@stephencrean1616]

[@T16MGJ]

Shuffle his Top 10 performances as you wish. No end to this man's exceptional talent. My all time No.1 favourite was his Fred Kite in the film I'm alright Jack. His other lead actors and supporting cast in that film were also some of Britain's finest. Being a child of the 40s, I was a Seller's fan before he made the big time. His 1950s Radio and TV shows were great stuff too. My father who otherwise had a fine sense of humour never ever "got" the Goon Show... his loss.

[@cfjeldstrom]

A list like this without mentioning "The fiendish plot of Dr. Fu Manchu" is incomplete

[@MissBooful]

His intellectual approach at portraying a character never fails to impress me. But to me, his stand out performances were Clare Quilty and Benjamin Hoffman - so magnetic and exquisitely precise. They're ones I can watch over and over and never, ever get tired of them. Interestingly, with 'Hoffman', I think he played himself too closely on that one.

[@resonator_95]

Sellers will always be THE Inspector Cleasou

[@adrianoramos4346]

What a genious!

[@ditkacigar89]

Dr. Strangelove is #1, you are free to have your opinions, but fact is Dr. Strangelove is #1

[@gumunduringigumundsson9344]

That is right.

[@samidejong106]

Damn straight!

[@jamesmatthew3681]

Exactly! Agreed with the three of you.

[@riptorn5552]

In I'm All Right Jack Peter Sellers played a union rep Not a factory owner ...

[@Ingens_Scherz]

rip torn Exactly. This channel is so lazy - mistakes everywhere.

[@Miklos82]

Good catch. His Fred Kite character was awesomely portrayed by Sellers. His delivery of Socialist/communist dogma was perfect.

[@Clearanceman2]

So much talent!

[@marguskiis7711]

No Evelyn Tremble/James Bond from "Casino Royale`67"??? It was hilarious!

[@mksd1236]

And of course his genius of voice characterisations in ‘The Goons’ radio show (only last show televised) beside Spike Milligan & Harry Secombe.

[@vincentfranklin17]

Peter Sellers was the best Clousea!

[@alexalex13131]

I recall he had a small but memorable roll in the film "The Wrong Box" in which he played a doctor in a house overrun with cats.

[@williamwallace1307]

I would say Dr Strangelove is first

[@arul20]

watchmojo doesn't give a shit .. all they care about are "popular fan favs" and those will always be number 1.

[@1969spooge]

I agree Doctor Strangelove is Peter Sellers' tour de force.

[@georgemagill807]

I've watched it hundreds of times and he still has me pissing myself.

[@aldershot5100]

The usual outcome was for him to be arrested by his own police force.The film would usually cut to a police van dashing through Paris with a siren sound consisting of two short notes with a long gap until the next two.I was in Paris recently and heard the very siren.I laughed my head off

[@jimslancio]

Another Sellers role worth seeing is Dr. Pratt in the British comedy "The Wrong Box."

[@mayburgess4517]

this wonderful peter was mad but will never get the place in deserves..his movements are music

[@bluerose679]

Love his rendition of A Hard Day's Night as Richard the 3rd

[@josiecolquhoun]

Wonder why don't we see more of him on TV these days he was outstanding .

[@onenation8707]

Peter Sellers was Sacha Baron Cohen's inspiration for his iconic characters.

[@KlunkerRider]

Do you have a lee-sance for that min-key...?
Missing from this list "After the Fox" . Extra glad to see the brilliant "The Mouse That Roared" and one of my favs "Murder by Death" on this list. Murder by Death is a hugely underrated film written with great wit by Neil Simon that seams almost forgotten today, but its a real hoot to watch. Look for a young aspiring actor named James Cromwell first feature film debut, as James Coco's Inspector Perrier's chauffeur.

[@Milo-fn1bj]

After the fox is an underrated masterpiece

[@PatOShea]

Strangelove is the greatest movie of all time, yet it's #2 here, for some reason...

[@u.v.s.5583]

One single King Crimson song had more meaning than that whole movie.

[@donedwards5301]

Although Sellers was nominated a number of time for an Oscar, as far a I can tell he never won. I thought he may have won for Being There, but just a nomination.
No matter. He is still on of the greats.

[@torsteinbakketunkyte7419]

The Mouse That Roared is fantastic!

[@stuartlawsonbeattie1411]

Being there is his best movie, it is terribly under-rated and followed by Dr Strangelove.
There is no argument, that is it. God Bless.

[@dadodydo]

You couldn't get away with that performance today? Ha, ha. Better say, NO ONE will ever be able to come even close to his talent.

[@ingonessel4625]

I call it a tie between Hrundi Bakshi from the Party and Dr. Stangelove. The Party is one of the funniest movies ever.

[@999locke]

you missed the point of the movie KITE was not the owner he was union leader

[@misonoresoconto]

They said Sellers got an Oscar for Pink Panther but that's not true. Sellers never got an Oscar. He deserved one but never got one.

[@T4SelNiNO]

Algo Maas they never once said he got an Oscar for the pink panther

[@misonoresoconto]

Yes, they did say he got an Academy Award for Inspector Clouseau, The Pink Panther, number one on the list at minute marker 5:50 - " taking the top spot on our list is the role that earned Sellers an Academy Award for Best Actor". It starts at 5:50 minute mark. Sellers never got an Academy Award. They said he did for The Pink Panther, number one on their list. Not true.

[@misonoresoconto]

dave brumby
Yes, they did say he got an Academy Award for Inspector Clouseau, The Pink Panther, number one on the list at minute marker 5:50 - " taking the top spot on our list is the role that earned Sellers an Academy Award for Best Actor". It starts at 5:50 minute mark. Sellers never got an Academy Award. They said he did for The Pink Panther, number one on their list. Not true.

[@T4SelNiNO]

Algo Maas my mistake. Sorry.

[@spyrosk.1881]

He should have won the Oscar for Best actor on Being there (1979), it was just terrific.

[@jimic111154]

Being There, His last and favorite. Good list.

[@realar]

Inspector Clouseau IS my favorite Sellers role bar-none.

[@samiam261]

After the Fox is one of the funniest movies ever made. Cant believe it didn't make the list.

[@johndemslayer2861]

He was an incredible actor and his talents that goes way beyond todays "talents"! He was also able to portray all ethnicities without any backlash! Those days are long gone! Those were the days when we could all laugh at ourselves and others! We'll never have the privilege of seeing something like this again!

[@trevorphillips1207]

Dr Strangelove, The Pink Panther films & The Ladykillers are my favourite Peter Sellers movies.

[@gkunapuli]

This is correct. He was nominated for Academy Awards three times, but never won. He did win a British Academy Award for Best Actor but that was for "I'm All Right Jack", not "The Pink Panther".

[@LuckyMissLonely]

Peter Sellers is one of my favorite actors, even though I still have so many of his works to be seen. I look forward to seeing all the films listed here (embarrassingly I have only seen Lolita and the Pink Panther movies). But I still think that What's New Pussycat would be on my personal list even if I had seen all of his work, he's so hilarious in it. :)

[@czwirner]

He was awesome, thats all i can say

[@janetlieb2507]

Just watched Peter Seller's And The Supernatural. A total put down! He had to be crazy because he believed in the spirit world!

[@thezenkibo]

Magic Christian!!! 💞💕❤️💕💞

PETER WAS BIG COMEDIAN AND ENTERTAIMER!!!
AND MAGIC!!!
TODAY, 35 YEARS AGO
when
PETER SELLERS
(July 24, 1980)
was died

[@simonpearn479]

Comedy great, giant, genius!

[@capricorn1550]

You forgot "After The Fox" - Sellers was wonderful as a con man turned "director" to steal gold. Victor Mature spoofs himself.

[@fidomusic]

The Pink Panther Strikes Again was the funniest film I've ever seen.

[@petermcfarrgon1810]

The Ladykillers should be in this list !

[@jimbrownza]

@5:22 that should be Group Captain not Captain. He's in RAF uniform and has 4 rings on his sleeve. An RAF Group Captain is equivalent to Royal Navy Captain, but way above an Army Captain, an OF-5 being equivalent to an army full Colonel.

[@richardbyquist6618]

Esp. agree with your #1, all his Pink Panther movies, and Herbert Lom deserves almost equal billing.

[@williambrady323]

though I love the inspector, I have to say that chance the Gardner is my favorite