Now in paperback: "An authoritative biography and a compulsive page-turner." (Michael Palin,New York Times Book Review)

Peter Sellers' explosive talent made him a beloved figure in world cinema and continues to attract new audiences. With his darkly comic performances inDr. StrangeloveandLolitaand his outrageously funny appearances as Inspector Clouseau in thePink Pantherfilms, he became one of the most popular movie stars of his time.

In this lively and exhaustively researched biography, Ed Sikov offers unique insight into Sellers' comedic style. Beginning with Sellers' lonely childhood dominated by a mother who wouldn't let go, through his service in the Royal Air Force, and his success on BBC Radio'sThe Goon Show, Sikov goes on to detail the actor's relationships with his family, costars, directors, and admirers--a portrait that is as comic and tragic as Peter Sellers himself.