Michael Sellers (actor) - Life

Life

Michael Sellers was Peter Sellers' son from his first marriage to actress Anne Howe. Growing up was difficult for Michael as he frequently witnessed his parents quarrelling and he described his father's temper as mercurial and irrational. His close friend at prep school (Hall School, Hampstead) was actor Donald Sinden's son Marc Sinden. 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". His mother remarried and his stepfather was a welcome change for Michael. During the school year he stayed with his mother and stepfather, while he spent the school holidays with Peter Sellers. He was whisked along with his sister to international as well as exotic locations depending on the particular purpose his father Peter had in mind. Peter Sellers would visit Rome, for example, because he had developed a romantic interest in Sophia Loren.

Other locations included Monte Carlo, New York and Hollywood. At home they would vacation in Windsor Great Park with Princess Margaret. But Peter Sellers was insecure about his relationship with his son and became vindictive at times going as far as telling his son that he disowned him. On another occasion he suggested that Michael change his surname. Despite all of this, Michael remained close to his father up until his death. They had spent some quality time together just before Peter's death.

When Peter Sellers married Miranda Quarry he brought Michael to Venice only to leave him there after he and his bride decided to travel somewhere else. The unpredictable father would sometimes ask the children's opinion about his future life partners.

When Michael’s first marriage ended in failure, he became closer with his father as the two started discussing Michael's life problems. This did not last long as Peter Sellers died a few months later. 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.