Michael Peter Anthony Sellers (2 April 1954 – 24 July 2006) was a British builder, car restorer, author and the son of actor

Peter Sellers Peter Sellers (born Richard Henry Sellers; 8 September 1925 – 24 July 1980) was an English actor and comedian. He first came to prominence performing in the BBC Radio comedy series ''The Goon Show'', featured on a number of hit comic songs ...

. He also had small parts in a couple of his father's films.The Telegraph UK
Detailed obituary on Michael Sellers, 05/08/2006 quote: ''In Michael Sellers's view the will had been carefully drafted to forestall legal challenge: " Had we been cut off with nothing, we could have challenged the will on the basis that he had forgotten to include us," he said.'' He was often interviewed by the media about his relationship with his father.Scotland on Sunday
''Michael Sellers on his father, Peter'' BY AIDEN SMITH The Scotsman Sat 21 Dec 2002 Despite a tenuous and troubled relationship with his father he frequently defended him and his legacy.
''Biopic's many strange faces of Peter Sellers incense the actor's son'' Fiachra Gibbons in Cannes Monday 19 May 2003

The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'', and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers ''The Observer'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the Gu ...

Life

Michael Sellers was

' son from his first marriage to actress Anne Howe. His close friend at prep school ( Hall School, Hampstead) was actor

Donald Sinden Sir Donald Alfred Sinden (9 October 1923 – 12 September 2014) was a British actor. Sinden featured in the film ''Mogambo'' (1953), and achieved early fame as a Rank Organisation film star in the 1950s in films including ''The Cruel Sea (195 ...

's son

Marc Sinden Marcus Andrew Sinden (born 9 May 1954) is an English actor and film & theatre director and producer. Sinden has worked in film and theatre (mainly in London's West End) as both actor and producer and directed the documentary series ''Great We ...

. When Michael was seven his parents divorced and in an interview Marc Sinden said that Peter Sellers always behaved badly towards Michael. He also recalled seeing some of the letters Michael received from his father and concluded that he was a "really, really nasty man". During the school year he stayed with his mother and stepfather, while he spent the school holidays with Peter Sellers. Sellers was insecure about his relationship with his son and became vindictive; despite this, Michael remained close to his father up until his death. They had spent some quality time together just before Peter's death.Sarah Sellers (sister) In his will Peter Sellers left Michael about £800 from his multi-million pound estate. Michael Sellers also claimed that the £800 he received was a calculated act to prevent him from contesting the will, since under English law only complete disinheritance provided the legal grounds for a challenge of the will.

Career

Michael Sellers' film career started early when at age seven he played the role of Gaston in the film '' Mr. Topaze'', directed by his father. As an adult he became a builder and property dealer. He went on to star in ''I Told You I Was Ill: The Life and Legacy of Spike Milligan'' (2005), a film he did in collaboration with the children of

Spike Milligan Terence Alan "Spike" Milligan (16 April 1918 – 27 February 2002) was an Irish actor, comedian, writer, musician, poet, and playwright. The son of an English mother and Irish father, he was born in British Colonial India, where he spent his ...

. He also wrote three biographical books about his father. Despite his turbulent relationship with his father, he often defended his father's legacy. Upon the release of the 2004 film ''

The Life and Death of Peter Sellers ''The Life and Death of Peter Sellers'' is a 2004 television film about the life of English comedian Peter Sellers, based on Roger Lewis's book of the same name. 1108 pagesPublished in the U.S. via Applause BooksA very comprehensive biography, w ...

'', based on the book of the same name by

Roger Lewis Roger Lewis (born 26 February 1960) is a Welsh academic, biographer and journalist. Biography Lewis was raised in Bedwas, Monmouthshire, and educated at Bassaleg School in Newport. He then attended the University of St Andrews, graduating MA, ...

, Sellers railed against Lewis and Stephen Hopkins, the film's director. Sellers was incensed at the portrayal of his father as clinically insane. Sellers, at the time, called

' book "400 pages of rubbish". Hopkins responded to Sellers’ comments when he appeared at the

film festival A film festival is an organized, extended presentation of films in one or more cinemas or screening venues, usually in a single city or region. Increasingly, film festivals show some films outdoors. Films may be of recent date and, depending upo ...

to promote the film, stating that the film was not disrespectful to Peter Sellers. In 2000 he produced his last book, ''Sellers On Sellers'', where he wrote: In the 2020 BBC Two documentary ‘’A State of Comic Ecstacy’’, Michael’s son Will said that the strained relationship between Peter and Michael, and particularly the situation with the will (greatly favouring Fredericks, which Will claimed was “the price he eterpaid” to get her back after a separation), “ate ichaelup. It played upon him throughout his life... I don’t think he ever really got over how things were left with him and Peter.”BBC Two, broadcast date 9 May 2020

Death

Michael Sellers died of a

heart attack A myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when blood flow decreases or stops to the coronary artery of the heart, causing damage to the heart muscle. The most common symptom is chest pain or discomfort which ma ...

, like his father. His death occurred on the 26th anniversary of his father's death.

Films

* '' Mr. Topaze'' (1961) (aka ''I Like Money'' (USA)) as Gaston * '' I Told You I Was Ill: The Life and Legacy of Spike Milligan (2005)'' (aka ''The Life and Legacy of Spike Milligan''), as Himself * '' This Morning'' (one episode, 29 September 2004), as Himself * '' Somebody's Daughter, Somebody's Son'' (Episode #1.2 (2004) TV) as Himself * ''

Kelly Kelly may refer to: Art and entertainment * Kelly (Kelly Price album) * Kelly (Andrea Faustini album) * ''Kelly'' (musical), a 1965 musical by Mark Charlap * "Kelly" (song), a 2018 single by Kelly Rowland * ''Kelly'' (film), a 1981 Canadi ...

'' (one episode, 20 October 2000) as Himself

Books published

* ''P.S. I Love You'' (1981) * ''A Hard Act to Follow'' (with Gary Morecambe; 1996)The Independent UK
Michael Sellers Obituary 7 August 2006 * '' Sellers on Sellers'' (with Gary Morecambe; 2000)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Sellers, Michael 1954 births 2006 deaths Car restorers English male film actors English people of Portuguese-Jewish descent English writers People educated at The Hall School, Hampstead People educated at Ibstock Place School Michael