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author needs. She’s the greatest, and I’m forever in her debt. Thanks to Natalie Kaire, this book sailed smoothly through its transition from manuscript to print, and I am thrilled with the way it turned out. Thanks also to Donna M. Ellis, senior production editor; Laura Starrett, copy editor; and Phil Rose, art director.

My parents, Irving and Betty Sikov; my partner, Bruce Schackman; and all of my extended family make me appreciate, each day, how lucky I am in every way—not least of which is that none of us are famous.

Mr. Strangelove

A Biography of Peter Sellers

Ed Sikov

The first American biography of one of film’s greatest comedians, MR. STRANGELOVE is the story of a screamingly funny, desperately unhappy soul—a man who thought he was empty. Sellers, who could mimic anyone and don any mask at will, was privately convinced that his personality had no core—that there was no personal substance under the put-on characters he so readily and hilariously assumed. ”The Goon Show“ made him famous; ”I Love You, Alice B. Toklas“ and ”What’s New, Pussycat?“ turned him into a 60s flower-power icon that still resonates today. And yet Sellers, whose blistering improvisations could ruin takes by sending the casts and crews of his films into peals of uncontrollable laughter while the camera was running—remained confused and lonely, difficult to work with, volatile one minute and hopelessly lethargic the next.

In this exhaustively researched book based on tons of interviews, Dudley Moore, John Cleese, Christopher Plummer, Goldie Hawn, Shirley MacLaine, Sophia Loren and many others recount colorful stories of working with this comic genius. From his adolescence in Catholic school (Sellers was Jewish), through his joining up with the Royal Air force, and his catapulting to fame due at least in part to one of the most fiercely driven stage mothers in the history of performing arts, MR. STRANGELOVE traces the development of Seller’s unique humor. Perhaps most valuable to his rabid fans are the in-depth behind-the-scenes accounts of his work with Stanley Kubrick, Blake Edwards, and Billy Wilder, among others. And endlessly fascinating are the women Sellers chose to fall in love with, marry and divorce.

No film comedian has had more influence over today’s comic stars than Peter Sellers, the man who broke all the rules of comedy. Thanks to him, those rules have never been reassembled. Written by Ed Sikov, respected film historian and highly praised author of ON SUNSET BOULEVARD, this is a riveting look at Peter Sellers’s work and his mysterious inner life, a portrait that will engross his endlessly renewing legions of fans.

Copyright © 2002 Ed Sikov

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or

reproduced in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of the Publisher.

For information address:

Hyperion,

77 West 66th Street,

New York, New York 10023-6298.

Visit our Web site at www.HyperionBooks.com.

ISBN: 1-4013-9897-9

First eBook Edition: November 2003

eBook Info

Title:Mr. Strangelove: A Biography of Peter Sellers

Creator:Ed Sikov

Publisher:Time Warner

Identifier:1401398936

Language:en-us

Price:10.95