Peter Sellers interview about Dr. Strangelove, Pink Panther, Being There & more

Peter Sellers interview about Dr. Strangelove, Pink Panther, Being There & more (1980) from NBC’s Today show.

[@michaelbrownlee9497]

Do i ever miss these days, when people with flaws could be so intelligent and entertaining with such developed talent.

[@pieterverhaeghe5143]

Easy to argue that he was one of the best actors that ever lived.

[@hodgod1056]

Sellers is up there with Oliver, Guinness, Brando imo.

[@georgeshelton6281]

@@hodgod1056 I have something to say to you about; what's going on in the entertainment business, mainly the new modern American comedy shows. The new comedy shows; they feature to you characters that are rude, gross and offensive. Argue with the Kentucky news reporter name Cindy Gosset. I could've told this to Simon Cowell about these brand new comedy shows.

[@burlatsdemontaigne6147]

He was an impressionist. His acting was non-existent/

[@johnmc3862]

​@@burlatsdemontaigne6147Incorrect, watch 'Being there'.

[@plane_guy6051]

@@burlatsdemontaigne6147 --lol, dude doesn't know what 'acting' is

[@neilmustow368]

Great talent was Peter Sellers so sad he died so young in his early 50's

[@spatty5]

Peter Sellers was only 54 when he died. He looks much older than that. Legend.

[@williamkao5747]

Not sleeping for days doing drugs can age you very quickly

[@WeWillAlwaysHaveVALIS]

As the other comment states drugs will do that, however he was in poor health generally, had a heart attack fairly early on in life and it was unfortunately his heart is what got him in the end.

[@trevorsmith7753]

@@WeWillAlwaysHaveVALIS Sellars abused illegal and legal drugs.

[@mangore623]

Multiple heart attacks, alcohol, illegal drugs, prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs, poor nutrition, no exercise, lots of stress = It’s a miracle he reached 54.

[@SenorZorrozzz]

Genius. But so tragic. His heart. He constantly working.

[@JohnKorvell]

Loved him in The Lady Killers. Actually the whole cast led by Sir Alec Guinness . Classic British understated comedy

[@Yngvarfo]

Interesting. Ladykillers is of course a comedy masterpiece, but I wouldn't say that that was much to Peter Sellers' credit. His antagonist from the Pink Panther movies, Herbert Lom, made much more of an impact in it. Even Danny Green as the big guy with something of a conscience, and Katie Johnson as the lady of the title, made a bigger impression. Of course, Alec Guinness stood above them all.

[@fupa3000]

The Great Peter Sellers, his Idian accent in "The Party" is exceptional. Dr. Strangelove is the best movie he's ever done. He should of won an oscar for that.

[@benblexbenblex]

Kinda racist though

[@roblinnbailey2359]

benblexbenblex different times. Doesn’t take anything away from Sellers performance.

[@waynej2608]

And one for, Being There.

[@deqimages]

@@benblexbenblex Whaaaaaat.... what a sad generation that takes everything so shallowly and literally. A couple of things. Humans (ie ALL races) have been dressing up and playing/acting as different cultures and sexes for thousands of years in plays! Boys as girls, girls as boys, black as white, et, etc. And it was NEVER until now seen as racist, and in fact Sellers part in the film 'The Party. is a very human and pure sole who ultimately shines above the callous despotic world of the then Hollywood film industry. Go see the film and then consider how 'racist' it was.

[@briandonovan1584]

Oh my God. The Party is hysterical. Fantastic movie. Sellers was a true genius. Dr. Strangelove might be the best movie ever made. Brilliant movie!

[@anthonyvaughan4853]

THE BRILLIANT PETER SELLERS

[@anthonyvaughan4853]

AMEN TO THAT !!!

[@waynej2608]

One of a kind!

[@ACNC1]

The last impression was of 'WeeGee' who was a photographer who was involved in Stranglelove and was the basis of the accent of Dr Strangelove himself.

[@TheBigMclargehuge]

Normally I'm the first guy to take umbrage with an interviewer Who has no class so I'm a little surprised that I'm in disagreement with so many commenters. He seems genuinely interested in what Peter has to say but still courageous enough to push for a little bit of entertainment for the viewers. Enthusiastic but not pushy, encourages Peter to show his entertaining side and brings out the best of a person known for being moody and difficult. I think he did a fine job.

[@davidevans3227]

my first reaction looking at this is what the hell is Peter sellers doing here!!?! maybe i should watch more than two seconds? lol 🙂

[@JootsyMann]

fantastic! the best!!

[@jimvinespresents...8463]

Oh, how he is so greatly missed.

[@VisionaryofMirage]

The way he described finding and developing the voice - genius.

[@rdklarnet4120]

His two favs are mine too! He is a gem, and fantastic...i wish i could play music with him...i feel that’s when he could be himself.

[@ldp2212]

Best impression of Michael Caine!

[@AccurateCrabLegs]

Two of the greatest minds of our generation together on one stage

[@321ssteeeeeve]

Sellers provided more on borrowed time, than current theatrical artists all will collectively in a lifetime

[@scottmorley3672]

Whew, I could not agree more. He was wickedly talented and brilliant.

[@kurikokaleidoscope]

That's right

[@swrennie]

Loved the book. I caught on to Kosinski's works browsing my high school's library (Painted Bird), and quickly devoured everything he had written. It did not endear me to my peers. I was also one of a few teen projectionists at my small town theater. When I wasn't running the movie, I was watching it. Great performances by everybody, beautifully staged, wickedly written. I always thought this could have easily been a Kubrick film.

[@paulbrimble8204]

This is gold

[@maxheadrom3088]

This is awsome! Thanks for the magic, FilmMagicians!

[@billger5710]

Brilliant... the best mimic ever and role model for every impersonator since

[@JudgeJulieLit]

Peter Sellers: mimetic genius of geniuses.

[@arkguy4ever393]

They left out one of his great movie roles, "Murder By Death." Great film!

[@chrisgarcia8097]

I'm with you. I absolutely love "Murder By Death". I read somewhere year's ago, that Sellers didn't like the film. Maybe that's why it wasn't mentioned.? But I love that film too. 😀👍

[@dieselfan7406]

I'm Allright Jack? His best of the early ones in my opinion

[@veganpeace_ATX]

I love "I love you Alice B. Toklas"!

[@lionheartroar3104]

This interview the year he passed/// absolutely brilliant

[@allys744]

Awww this was the year sellers died. RIP funnyman

[@PhilMoskowitz]

I've never seen Sellers so genuinely happy than during this time period. He must have been so proud of this movie and his performance.

[@chopin65]

Such a giant. All that laughter, and he had a bad heart.

[@tabansiobialo8881]

Being there was his greatest movie.

[@kristinpfanku3927]

Just watched it again after seeing it in 1987. So so funny!! The writing was superb.

[@waynej2608]

That or Dr. Strangelove. Lolita was real good too.

[@Patrick-il4es]

The approximate date of this interview was March 12, 1980. Peter Sellers died on July 24, 1980. A span of just 4 months.

[@ChaunceyGardener]

I like to watch.

[@paulaharrisbaca4851]

I loved Melvin Douglas too. He was so great in "Ninotchka"

[@ForbinColossus]

Gene Shalit, who was banned from UA screenings after he gave a negative review to 1972's Man of La Mancha, quipped "being banned from United Artists' films is like being deprived of rutabaga"

[@NothingMaster]

“Do you have for me the massage?”, has to be one of the funniest lines in movie history.

[@marklaperle]

I like: "Does your dog bite?" "I thought you said your dog does not bite!" Reply:" That is not my dog." LOL

[@63bplumb]

Such a tortured talent. Such an amazing talent!!! But probably Impossible to deal with personally! The highs and lows would be too much.

[@thomaswalker4806]

Such a talented actor, and well rehearsed for his performance as the main character in Being there. It was a perfect role model voice, he chose in Stanley Laurel. As the voice of Chancy Gardener. That's just pure genius.Excellent interview.

[@rosedrop4959]

1 of my fave actors

[@MrDavey2010]

Sellers was completely bonkers but an amazing talent.

[@joeyjennings9548]

AWESOME 👍

[@flemingcourt]

GEM!

[@Mrlaurens1987]

6:13 My childhood hero comes to life 😂😂😂

[@deanronson6331]

What a comic genius. Just in case you didn't know, the interviewer was Gene Shalit, an iconic TV movie critic of the time. After re-watching this clip, methinks Shalit is interrupting Sellers too much and behaving as if the interview were about himself.

[@electronixTech]

I always remember the impersonations done by Eugene Levy of SCTV fame doing Gene Shalit. Example: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hZ2TomCEnb2Kmq8

[@ACNC1]

pity, we got the real peter sellers until super mario asked him to 'sing for his supper' by performing his usual rota of different accents.

[@TheBigMclargehuge]

The Cockney speaking gentleman we got clearly didn't mind.

[@StarsandBarsRecords]

True, except this is a product of it's time and admittedly I super enjoyed all of those bits! So, sorry NOT sorry. Long live Peter the Great Sellers.

[@Bobmacca64]

I kinda get your point there. Just two or three minutes on Being There and the rest a kind of Best-of Peter Sellers. Who was great, mind you. But today it would be even more awful: the interviewers of this generarion would ask him constant questions about his relationships with women, his craziness, etc...you wouldn't get one minute on the actual movie he's doing the promotion of...sad state of things indeed...

[@paolamura3497]

Your'e so right!

[@mws755]

Genius

[@atomsmasha]

Legendary "Gong" show?? Think he means THE GOON SHOW.

[@felixcat4346]

Ultimate tribue to Wege, who was the inspiration for Dr. Strangelove.

[@jeffkaufman9875]

When sellers spoke in his Cockney accent, I heard Roger Daltrey…

[@watchtowersociety6995]

...the legendary gong show!

[@Studmasterify]

Watchtower Society gong show? It’s called the goon show

[@dodiesdiary]

Actually it was "The Goon Show". On BBC radio, it was recorded in front of a live audience and broadcast in the evening once a week.

[@anastasiabananastasia]

Studmasterify yes

[@brandonshaw7619]

I would grow an afro and a mustache like that to have lunch with Peter once more

[@verasmith4767]

One of three movies everyone should see. Also "Bob Roberts" "A Face in the Crowd".

[@ldp2212]

Thank you, Fimagicians. Great work!

[@kevbomevbo3492]

With his knowledge of accents he's a living version of Henry Higgins.

[@Mickcotton]

So Sad. He Died Very soon after this 😞

[@timwright4263]

I stumbled into this interview and heard the name 'Jerzy Kozinski' 5:17 Oh man. Read the book 'Steps' by Jerzy Kozinski. It might change your life.

[@TheBigMclargehuge]

Well I read the book lives and it changed my step so maybe you're right

[@deanchristensen4783]

The American accent he used was based on Groucho Marx. Thank you, Peter Sellars for everything.

[@lawrencedoliveiro9104]

And thanks to Peter Sellers, too.

[@tomkent4656]

That was like interviewing an empty vessel!

[@pepelepeau]

It makes you realize that BORAT is just a copy or based on this original!

[@billharris1847]

Great point I had not thought of that.

[@judithhand4987]

Wow. I saw a couple of other clips of Peter. He died in this year, at 54; sad, so sad.

[@paralentor]

Exact same candor and demeanor as David Bowie and I love both.

[@xxcelr8rs]

Bowie played Ziggy Stardust. And Ziggy played guitar.

[@marioghislandi]

March 12, 1980. 4 months before his death.

[@hkaka6029]

What a shame, such a unique talent!

[@cherylcampbell9369]

Being There brought me hete.

[@StockholmNative]

what a genius

[@knownpleasures]

He died the same year as David Janssen also of a heart attack

[@tonygibson5171]

He looks like a mix of old Clint Eastwood and Paul Newman

[@leplus1]

Did anyone notice when the host said he had no voice he starting mouthing words? lmao

[@katherinesage]

geniua

[@jubalcalif9100]

Holy Underwear, Batman ! Wonderful interview ! Thanks a lot for uploading ! :-)

[@opencurtin]

Gene is a year younger than Peter here Gene is still alive 97 now .

[@nomiddlenamenmn427]

I wonder if Gene has been a very clean living person. He has been doing something to live this long. Good for him. ❤

[@barbarastepien-foad4519]

Wow, the interviewer looks super doooper!

[@carltonbond6059]

Does your dog bite No Grrrrrr bite bite bite I thought you said your dog didn't bite. Its not my dog

[@davidevans3227]

hahaha... hehehe... *cough cough* thankyou! 😀 hahaha lool...

[@Ptpop]

Chance the Gardner was similar to Forest Gump.

[@tomallen5837]

Not even close, but like you, that's my opinion.

[@fanboy2015]

The Legendary Gong Show???? Gene meant Goon Show.

[@irishelk3]

The year he died, 15 heart attacks.

[@realityboost4405]

And weeks later he was gone…😌

[@seaningram4434]

I have never seen this. I must have been in school when this aired. I have never seen Peter Sellers without his Inspector Clouseau outfit :) I did see Dr. Strangelove a few months ago, this year - damn that was a Long movie :) lol RIP Peter Sellers :) From the first Pink Panther to Dr. Strangelove and finally The Revenge Of The Pink Panther (his last film)

[@apartofshiningthomas7121]

Me too The funniest movies I have ever seen

[@Jpriest13]

Gene Shalit can review movies......cannot conduct a respectable interview. Some of that was painful to watch. Luckily Peter was quite humble and accommodating.

[@android584]

I think Shalit's very long career must be owed to being Jewish. Long time Today hosts Katie Couric, Matt Lauer and possibly others also had Jewish ancestry.

[@johnmc3862]

Nothing on Letterman who is the most overrated interviewer of all time.

[@rsk5216]

The white Don King ...

[@nicholasjanke3476]

What would he have thought of Steve Martin's Pink Panther series?

[@8492grob]

he looks like me no not the hair bear bunch guy but peter sellers

[@charleswinokoor6023]

Good job by Shalit, who didn’t have a lot of time to play with.

[@moriazizi]

I do not understand people dislike this video!

[@stargate121]

The radio GONG show?????

[@HeavyMetalSonicRM]

I thought the interviewer was Peter in a disguise. Jesus Christ...

[@peterhotaling7148]

Love murder by death. I wonder when it will be canceled

[@AndrasNagy2001]

Who is the interviewer?

[@CompoundNihilist]

Gene meant "Goon Show" not "Gong Show".

[@nicholasjanke3476]

Being There, Big, THE Terminal, Forest Gump, Harry And The Hendersons-all had the formula of the simple guy who enriches everyone around him. Being There, Big, Forest Gump-all had a plotline of the simpleton confused with Being a scholar.

[@mikedee1771]

Is that Michael Bentine with Peter Sellers?

[@davidevans3227]

no 🙂 x

[@dennisgarrett2044]

Wish peter sellers was still alive! Fans really loved him and he worked so hard to become a star. Cried when he list his money and wife and he was burning his picitures on his front yard. Still think spies got him and spray chemicals gave him heart damage.

[@caterpillakilla]

lean back Gene

[@michaelsandford1015]

Strange man

[@JamesHawkeYouTube]

I bet Peter loathed the talk show circuit and being put on the spot to do accents.

[@WJCharliee]

Gene Shalit is the Host... en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gene_Shalit

[@davidevans3227]

thankyou!

[@haydenwalton2766]

I know that bloke - that's eddie felson. he used to be a pool hustler but these days he's moving whisky

[@37Dionysos]

Shalit should've just climbed in his lap and get it over with

[@FlyingDutch63]

a great talent, but a complicated man!

[@ColonelBummleigh]

Should have asked which medium gave him the most fun. Too late! Too late ! We heard the cry ,when the man with the questions has passed you bye. Aslo nice Mental Affro and 'stache combo.But back after this advert.

[@u.v.s.5583]

In retrospect, all non Pink Panther movies were kind of waste of time. Except perhaps the one about the commander who went a little bit funny in his head and ordered the order R.

[@davidthompson6834]

It's a human Muppet

[@jasoncha1973facup]

The Gong Show? What the hell is the interviewer thinking?

[@thegreatdominion949]

I think he meant the Goon Show.