Paying Tribute to the Comedy of Peter Sellers

By Scott Simon

Published December 4, 2004 at 12:00 AM EST

Among the most beloved characters in Britain's rich collection of comic talents was one of the oddest: the late Peter Sellers. He was especially memorable for his physical comedy, on display in films as diverse as The Pink Panther and Dr. Strangelove.

HBO's biopic, The Life and Death of Peter Sellers, debuts on the pay-cable network Sunday. Geoffrey Rush is in the title role, with a supporting cast featuring such stars as Emily Watson, John Lithgow, Stanley Tucci and Charlize Theron.

NPR's Scott Simon and New York Times critic Elvis Mitchell help movie fans brush up on some of Seller's finest screen moments.

Scott Simon

Scott Simon is one of America's most admired writers and broadcasters. He is the host of Weekend Edition Saturday and is one of the hosts of NPR's morning news podcast Up First. He has reported from all fifty states, five continents, and ten wars, from El Salvador to Sarajevo to Afghanistan and Iraq. His books have chronicled character and characters, in war and peace, sports and art, tragedy and comedy.

See stories by Scott Simon

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