A party is a gathering of people who have been invited by a host for the purposes of socializing, conversation, or recreation. A party will typically feature food and beverages, and often music and dancing as well.

Some parties are held in honor of a specific person, day, or event (e.g., a birthday party, a Super Bowl party, or a St. Patrick’s Day party). Parties of this kind are often called ''celebrations.''

A party is not necessarily a private occasion. Public parties are sometimes held in restaurants, pubs or bars, and people attending such parties may be charged an admission fee by the host.

Types of parties

Birthday party

A birthday party is a celebration of the anniversary of the birth of the person who is being honored. Birthday parties are a feature of many cultures. The guests may be asked to bring a gift for the honored person. In Western cultures, birthday parties are often accompanied by colorful decorations, such as balloons and streamers. In these cultures, a birthday cake is usually served with lit candles that are to be blown out after a "birthday wish" has been made. The person being honored will be given the first piece of cake. While the birthday cake is being brought to the table, the song "Happy Birthday to You" or some other dedicated birthday song is sung by the guests.

Birthday parties are often larger and more extravagant if they celebrate someone who has reached what is regarded in the culture as a milestone age, such as transition from childhood to adulthood. Examples of traditional coming of age celebrations include the North American sweet sixteen party and the Latin American quinceañera.

Theme Party

Another popular type of party in our culture is a theme party. Theme parties are parties that are centralized around one idea, person, place, or even thing. The choice of theme can be almost anything. Themes are often used to add interest to different types of party such as a birthday parties, dinner parties, or holiday parties. Theme parties are created for children, teens, and adults, though the actual theme varies widely throughout the age groups.

• Theme Party Ideas
• Toddler Party Themes
• Childrens Party Themes
• Teenage Party Themes

Dinner party

A dinner party is a social gathering at which people eat dinner together, usually in the host’s home. At the most formal dinner parties, the dinner is served on a dining table with place settings. Dinner parties are often preceded by a cocktail hour in a living room or bar, where guests drink cocktails while mingling and conversing.

At less formal dinner parties, a buffet is provided. Guests choose food from the buffet and eat while standing up and conversing. Women guests may wear cocktail dresses; men may wear blazers.

At some informal dinner parties, the host may ask guests to bring food or beverages (a main dish, a side dish, a dessert, or appetizers). A party of this type is called a potluck or potluck dinner. In the United States, potlucks are very often held in churches and community centers.

Tea party

In Anglo-American culture, a tea party is a formal gathering for afternoon tea. These parties are traditionally attended only by women, but men may also be invited.

Tea parties are often characterized by the use of prestigious tableware, such as bone china and silver. The table, whatever its size or cost, is made to look its prettiest, with cloth napkins and matching cups and plates.

In addition to tea, larger parties may serve punch or, in cold weather, hot chocolate. The tea is accompanied by a variety of easily managed foods. Thin sandwiches such as cucumber or tomato, bananas, cake slices, buns, and cookies are all common choices.

Christmas caroling party

In English and American culture during the Christmas season, it is traditional to have a Christmas caroling party. People go from door to door in a neighborhood and sing Christmas carols. In Spain, this type of party is called "El Aguinaldo". It's the same as in England and the United States, but the only difference is that the kids who sing the carols are given tips.

Some popular Christmas carols are "We Wish You a Merry Christmas", "Deck the Halls", "The Twelve Days of Christmas", "Frosty the Snowman", "Jingle Bells", "Silver Bells", "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town", and "O Holy Night".

Reception

A reception is a style of party that is well suited to receiving many guests. The hosts and any guests of honor form a receiving line in order of precedence near the entrance. They greet each guest in turn as he or she arrives. Each guest greets the first person in the line (who, of course, is the person of lowest precedence). The first person then introduces the guest to the next person in the line and turns to the next guest. Each guest properly speaks little more than his name (if necessary) and a conventional greeting or congratulation to each person in the receiving line. Thus the reception progresses steadily without unnecessary delay. After formally receiving each guest in this fashion, the hosts may mingle with the guests.

Refreshments at a reception may be as minimal as coffee or lemonade, or as elaborate as those at a state dinner. Receptions are popular for large events such as holiday events at the White House.

Dances and balls

A dance is a social gathering at which the guests dance. It may be a casual, informal affair or a structured event, such as a school dance or a charity ball. Dances usually take place during the evening. An afternoon dance is formally known as a tea dance. Some dances feature specific kinds of dancing, such as square dancing.

A ball is a large formal party that features ballroom dancing. Women guests wear ball gowns; men wear evening dress.

Block party

A block party is a public party that is attended by the residents of a specific city block or neighborhood. These parties are typically held in a city street that has been closed to traffic to accommodate the party.

At some block parties, attendees are free to pass from house to house, socializing, and often drinking alcoholic beverages.

Showers

A shower is a party whose primary purpose is to give gifts to the guest of honor, commonly a bride-to-be or a mother-to-be. Guests who attend are expected to bring a small gift, usually related to the upcoming life event, like getting married or having a baby.

As a gift-giving occasion, it may not properly be hosted either by the guest of honor or the close relatives of the guest of honor, as requesting gifts from friends for a near relative is seen as either greedy or begging.

Costume or fancy dress party

At a masquerade ball, guests wear masks to conceal their identities. Guests at a costume party or a fancy dress party wear costumes. These parties are sometimes associated with holiday events, such as Halloween and Mardi Gras.

Surprise party

A surprise party is a party that is not made known beforehand to the person in whose honor it is being held.

Birthday surprise parties are the most common kind of surprise party. At most such parties, the guests will arrive an hour or so before the honored person arrives. Often, a friend in on the surprise will lead the honored person to the location of the party without letting on anything.

The guests might even conceal themselves from view, and when the honored person enters the room, they leap from hiding and all shout, "Surprise!" For some surprise birthday parties, it is considered to be a good tactic to shock the honored person. Streamers, silly string, and balloons may be used for this purpose. Evidence of a party, such as decorations and balloons, are not made visible from the exterior of the home, so that the honored person will suspect nothing.

Early discussions of the concept include a section of ''Rambles in America, past and present'', published in 1890, and an account of a "impromptu soiree" in 1850, described later in the text as a surprise party. The term previous had military attack meaning.

Parties for teenagers and young adults

A “house party” is a party where a large group of people get together at a private home to socialize. House parties that involve the drinking of beer pumped from a keg are called keg parties or “keggers.” These parties are popular in North America and Australia. Sometimes, even older party-goers run afoul of the law for having provided alcoholic beverages to minors. Arrests may also be made for violating a noise ordinance, for disorderly conduct, and even for operating a “blind pig.”

Dance parties are gatherings in bars or community centers where the guests dance to house music, techno music, or disco. The music for dance parties is usually selected and played by a disc jockey.

A spin-off of dance parties, the rave involves dancing to loud house music, techno music, or industrial music. Rave parties may be attended by as few as a score of people in a basement or, more likely, by a few hundred people in a club, to as many as thousands in a large warehouse, field, or even tens of thousands in a sporting arena, city block, or other large space.

Outdoor parties include bush parties and beach parties. Bush parties (also called “field parties”) are held in a secluded area of a forest (“bush”), where friends gather to drink and talk. These parties are often held around a bonfire. Beach parties are held on a sandy shoreline of a lake, river, or sea, and also often feature a bonfire.

School-related parties for teenagers and young adults include proms and graduation parties, which are held in honor of someone who has recently graduated from a school or university.

A crush party is a party in a sorority or fraternity where the sisters or brothers are given a certain number of invitations (according to their “crushes”). These are passed on to friends outside of the sorority/fraternity and given to the “crushes” (while keeping secret the name of the inviter). There may be some sort of disclosure at the party, so that the guests can find out who has a crush on her/him.

Singles dance party and mixer

A singles dance party and mixer is a party which is organized for people who are not married and who want to find a partner for friendship, dating, or sex.

Usually a “mixer game” is played, to make it easy for people to meet each other. For example, each guest may be given a card with an inspiring quotation on it. The game is to find someone of the opposite sex who has the same quotation. Couples who have matching cards may be given a small prize.

These parties are sponsored by various organizations, both non-profit and for-profit.

Fundraising party

A fundraising party, or fundraiser, is a party that is held for the purpose of collecting money that will be given to some person or to some institution, such as a school, charity, business, or political campaign. These parties are usually formal and consist of a dinner followed by speeches or by a presentation extolling whatever the money is being raised for.

It is very common to charge an admission fee for parties of this kind. This fee may be as high as several thousand dollars, especially if money is being raised for a political campaign.

Graduation party

In some places, parties to celebrate graduation from school, college or university are popular.

Marriage-related parties

Bridal shower

Bachelor party (aka UK: stag night; Australia: Bucks Night)

Bachelorette party (aka hen night, hen party)

Wedding reception

Divorce party

Housewarming party

A housewarming party may be held when a family, couple, or person moves into a new house or apartment. It is an occasion for the hosts to show their new home to their friends. Housewarming parties are typically informal and do not include any planned activities other than a tour of the new house or apartment. Invited family members and friends may bring gifts for the new home.

Welcome party

A welcome party is held for the purpose of welcoming a newcomer, such as a new club member, a new employee, or a family's new baby.

Farewell party

In many cultures, it is customary to throw a farewell party in honor of someone who is moving away or departing on a long trip (sometimes called a ''bon voyage'' party). Retirement parties for departing co-workers fall into this category.

Cast party

A cast party is a celebration following the final performance of a theatric event, such as a play, a musical, or an opera. A party of this kind may also be held following the end of shooting for a motion picture (called a “wrap party”) or after the season’s final episode of a television series. Cast parties are traditionally held for most theater performances, both professional and amateur.

Invited guests are usually restricted to performers, crew members, and a few others who did not participate in the performance.

Pre-party

A pre-party is a party that is held immediately before some event, such as a school dance, a wedding, a birthday party, or a bar mitzvah. These parties are usually of short duration and sometimes involve getting ready for the event (e.g., the guests may put on makeup or costumes). Guests usually leave at the same time and arrive at the event together.

After-party

An after-party is a party that is held after a musical or theatric performance or after some other event, such as a wedding or a school dance. Guests are usually limited to friends of the host.

Parties on special days

International

Halloween

Mardi Gras

New Year's Day

New Year's Eve

International Friendship Day

Christmas

Australia

Australia Day

Grand Final Saturday

Melbourne Cup Day (Melbourne metropolitan region only)

Canada

Canada Day

Victoria Day

France

Bastille Day

India

Chaand Raat (Eid)

Diwali

Holi

Christmas

Iran

Nowruz

Ireland

Saint Patrick’s Day

Israel

Passover

Hanukkah

Purim

Mexico

Cinco de Mayo

New Zealand

Waitangi Day

Pakistan

Pakistan Day

Yom-e-Istiqlal

Basant

Scotland

Hogmanay

Sweden

Midsummer Eve

United Kingdom

Guy Fawkes Night

United States

Independence Day, aka the Fourth of July

Leif Erikson Day

Super Bowl Sunday

Uruguay

Nostalgia Night, the night before the Declaration of Independence

Parties associated with religious events

Christian

Christmas

Easter

Mardi Gras

Saint Patrick’s Day

Islamic

Eid al-Adha

Eid ul-Fitr

Jewish

Hanukkah

Passover

Purim

Famous parties

Exotic Erotic Ball

Burning Man

Full Moon Party

Lollapalooza

Nuit Blanche

Woodstock Festival

Miscellaneous parties

A game party

:: A social gathering during which the guests play party games.

A LAN party

:: A party that involves multi-player computer games and uses a Local Area Network.

A political houseparty

: A party that is hosted in a private home for the purpose of supporting a particular candidate, political party, or ballot measure, or to share information and opinions about an upcoming election.

A pool party

:: A party in which the guests swim in a swimming pool.

A sleepover or pajama party, also called a slumber party

:: A party for which the guests are invited to stay overnight at the home of the host. These parties are usually for teenagers or young children.

A toga party

:: A party in which the guests wear togas.

See also

Cocktail party

Convention (meeting)

Crayfish party

Cuddle party

Event management

Event planning

Gate-crashing

List of party organizations

Naked party

Party stores

References

Bibliography

Category:Social events Category:Invitation

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name	Lauren Bennett
background	solo_singer
birth name
born	June 23, 1989Kent, United Kingdom
genre	Pop, R&B;
occupation	Singer, model, dancer
association acts	LMFAO, Pitbull
years active	2007–present
label	Interscope Records, Will.i.am music group
website	www.lauren-bennett.com }}

Lauren Bennett (born 23 June 1989) is a British singer, dancer, painter, photographer, and model. She is best known for her involvement with girl groups the Paradiso Girls and Pussycat Dolls and her work with Cee Lo Green and LMFAO.

Early life

Bennett was raised in Meopham, Kent and went to a song and dance school in Tunbridge Wells. She also auditioned for the third series of ''The X Factor'' in 2006 and made it to bootcamp, but got sent home.

Career

Paradiso Girls (2007–2010)

Bennett was part of a girl group called Paradiso Girls. The group consisted of seven members at its formation in 2007, but by 2008 it had dropped to five. Each member comes from a different country: Chelsea Korka from the United States, Aria Crescendo from France, Kelly Beckett from Barbados, Shar Mae Amo from the Philippines and Lauren herself from the United Kingdom. The band was signed to Interscope Records. Their debut single "Patron Tequila" featuring Lil’ Jon and Eve was released on 12 May 2009 and reached 3 on the Hot Dance Club Play Chart and 82 in Canadian Hot 100. After their second single, "Who's My B***" was unsuccessful, the group was put on an indefinite hiatus in 2010.

Solo career and The Pussycat Dolls (2010–present)

After the group split in 2010, she then went on to pursue a solo career. She featured in a remix of will.i.am's "I Got It from My Mama". She also joined in the Party Rock Tour with LMFAO. Later on that year she met Cee Lo Green, she was then featured on his album ''The Lady Killer'' on the track "Love Gun".

The following year, she was featured on LMFAO's international hit "Party Rock Anthem", which has sold over 5,000,000 digital downloads in the United States and reached number one in the U.S. for six weeks. She also is modeling for ViolentLips.

Bennett still works with Robin Antin and is featured in the Pussycat Dolls' second fitness DVD. It was confirmed on Pussycat Dolls' official Facebook that Lauren and Vanessa Curry (former Lakers Girl) are two of the new members in the group. Kristal "Lyndriette" Smith, Tiffany "Taz" Zavala are also rumored to be part of the new group. Talking to Billboard.com on the red carpet at the American Music Awards, Bennett confirmed herself as a part of the newly regrouped recording group. This makes her the first member of a brand new lineup that creator Robin Antin confirmed to Billboard was in the process of being built. "We're currently figuring out who's in the group and we're working on an album," Bennett says of the Pussycat Dolls.

Her debut solo single "I Wish I Wish" was released on 21 November 2011 via Interscope Records. The track was written by Esmée Denters, Billy Mann and produced by David Schuler.

Discography

With Paradiso Girls

Solo singles

!Year	Single	!Format	!Notes	Album
2011		Digital download		TBA

As a featured artist

Year

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Single

Chart Positions

Album

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2010

"Love Gun" (Cee Lo Green featuring Lauren Bennett)

The Lady Killer (album)>The Lady Killer''

2011

''Sorry for Party Rocking''

References

External links

Category:1989 births Category:British female singers Category:British pop singers Category:Living people Category:Pussycat Dolls members Category:Interscope Records artists

es:Lauren Bennett fa:لارن بنت fr:Lauren Bennett hu:Lauren Bennett pt:Lauren Bennett vi:Lauren Bennett

Name	Miley Cyrus
Background	solo_singer
Birth name	Destiny Hope Cyrus
Birth date	November 23, 1992
Birth place	Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
Genre	Pop, country pop, dance, electropop, teen pop
Occupation	Actress, musician
Instrument	Vocals, guitar, piano
Years active	2001–present
Label	Walt Disney, Hollywood
Associated acts	Hannah Montana, Billy Ray Cyrus, Demi Lovato
Url	100pxSignature of Miley Cyrus.}}

Miley Ray Cyrus (born Destiny Hope Cyrus; November 23, 1992) is an American actress and pop singer-songwriter. She achieved wide fame for her role as Miley Stewart/Hannah Montana on the Disney Channel sitcom ''Hannah Montana''.

Cyrus recorded music for the soundtracks, ''Hannah Montana'' (2006) and ''Hannah Montana 2/Meet Miley Cyrus'' (2007), released by Walt Disney Records. With the success of the ''Hannah Montana'' franchise she established herself as a teen idol. In 2007, Cyrus signed to Hollywood Records to pursue a solo career. She embarked upon the Best of Both Worlds Tour the same year, in which she performed as both herself and in character as Hannah Montana. The tour was eventually turned into a high-grossing concert film titled ''Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert'' (2008). In July 2008, Cyrus released her first solo album, ''Breakout'' (2008), which was commercially successful.

She began her foray into film by providing the voice of "Penny" in the animated film ''Bolt'' (2008). Cyrus earned a nomination for the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song for her performance of ''Bolt''s theme song, "I Thought I Lost You". She also reprised her role as Miley Stewart/Hannah Montana in ''Hannah Montana: The Movie'' (2009). The ''Hannah Montana: The Movie'' soundtrack introduced her to new audiences within country and adult contemporary markets.

She began to cultivate an adult image in 2009 with the release of ''The Time of Our Lives'' (2009), an extended play which presented a more mainstream pop sound, and by filming ''The Last Song'' (2010), a coming-of-age drama film. The former included Cyrus's best-selling single, "Party in the U.S.A." (2009). A studio album titled ''Can't Be Tamed'' was released in 2010 and presents a new dance-pop sound. The music video and lyrics of the album's lead single, "Can't Be Tamed", portrays a more sexualized image for the entertainer. Cyrus ranked number thirteen on ''Forbes'' 2010 Celebrity 100. For the 2011 ''Guinness World Records'', she was named the “Most Charted Teenager” following her 29th US ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart entry on November 7, 2009 with “Party in the USA”.

Early life

thumb|Cyrus at the 2010 Academy Awards.

Cyrus was born on November 23, 1992, in Nashville, Tennessee, to Letitia Jean "Tish" (née Finley) and country singer Billy Ray Cyrus. Her parents named her Destiny Hope because they believed that she would accomplish great things with her life. They gave her the nickname "Smiley", which was later shortened to "Miley", because she smiled so often as a baby. Cyrus suffers from a mild heart condition causing tachycardia which, though not dangerous, is often bothersome.

Against the wishes of her father's record company, Cyrus's parents secretly married a year after Cyrus's birth on December 28, 1993. Tish had two children from a previous relationship: Trace and Brandi. Billy Ray adopted Trace and Brandi when they were young. She has a half-brother, Christopher Cody, Billy Ray's son from a brief relationship, born the same year as Miley; he grew up with his mother in South Carolina. Tish and Billy Ray had two more children, Braison and Noah. Cyrus's godmother is entertainer Dolly Parton. Cyrus was very close to her paternal grandfather, Democratic politician Ronald Ray Cyrus. Cyrus has paid her grandfather several tributes since his death in 2006, including eventually changing her middle name to "Ray". According to Cyrus's father, "A lot of people say Miley changed her name to Miley Ray because of Billy Ray, but that's not true. She did that in honor of my dad, because the two of them just loved each other to pieces."

Cyrus grew up on a farm in Franklin, Tennessee, a suburb of Nashville, and attended Heritage Elementary School. She was raised Christian and was baptized in a Southern Baptist church prior to moving to Hollywood in 2005. She attended church regularly while growing up and wore a purity ring. Several of Cyrus's siblings also eventually entered the entertainment business: Trace became a vocalist and guitarist for the electronic pop band Metro Station, Noah became an actress, and Brandi became a guitarist.

Career

2001–05: Career beginnings

In 2001, when Cyrus was eight, she and her family moved to Toronto, Canada while her father filmed the television series ''Doc''. Cyrus said watching her father film the show inspired her to pursue acting. After Billy Ray took her to see a 2001 Mirvish production of ''Mamma Mia!'' at the Royal Alexandra Theatre, Cyrus grabbed his arm and told him, "This is what I want to do, daddy. I want to be an actress." She began taking singing and acting classes at the Armstrong Acting Studio in Toronto. In her first role, Cyrus played a girl named Kylie on ''Doc''. In 2003, Cyrus was credited under her birth name for her role as "Young Ruthie" in Tim Burton's ''Big Fish''.

At age 11, Cyrus learned about the casting for what became ''Hannah Montana'', a Disney Channel children's television series about a school girl with a secret double life as a teen pop star. Cyrus sent in a tape auditioning for the show's best friend role, but received a call asking her to audition for the lead, "Chloe Stewart". After sending in a new tape and flying to Hollywood for further auditions, Cyrus was told that she was too young and too small for the part. However, her persistence and ability to sing in addition to act led the show's producers to invite her back for further auditions. Cyrus eventually received the lead, renamed "Miley Stewart" after herself, at the age of twelve. During this time, she also auditioned with Taylor Lautner for the feature film ''The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl in 3-D'' and it came down to her and another actress, but Cyrus started doing ''Hannah Montana'' instead.

As Cyrus's career took off, Tish Cyrus made several critical decisions regarding her daughter's representation. She signed Cyrus with Mitchell Gossett, director of the youth division at Cunningham Escott Slevin Doherty. Gossett, who specializes in creating child stars, had arranged for Cyrus's auditions for Hannah Montana and is credited with "discovering" her. For Cyrus's music career, Tish followed the advice of Dolly Parton, Cyrus's godmother and a singer herself, and signed Cyrus with Jason Morey of Morey Management Group. "Dolly said the Moreys are people you can trust around your daughter," Tish Cyrus recalls, "and she said they have good morals, which is not always the case in this business." According to trade magazine ''The Hollywood Reporter'', Parton's advice was "the best advice [Tish] could [have gotten] on who should rep her daughter." Tish also recruited Billy Ray's business manager to manage her daughter's finances. Tish herself continues to co-manage or produce many of Cyrus's career decisions. For her education, Cyrus enrolled at Options for Youth Charter Schools and studied with a private tutor on the set of her television show.

2006–07: ''Hannah Montana'' and ''Hannah Montana 2: Meet Miley Cyrus''

thumb|Cyrus performing on the Best of Both Worlds Tour

''Hannah Montana'' became an instant hit and propelled Cyrus to teen idol status, according to ''The Daily Telegraph''. The series premiered on March 26, 2006, to the largest audience ever for a Disney Channel show and soon became one of the highest-rated series on basic cable, elevating Cyrus's wealth and fame along with it. ''Time'' magazine reports that Cyrus's "phenom[enal]" success is due partially to her talent and partially to "Disney learning to use its vast, multimedia holdings" and market Cyrus and ''Hannah Montana'' appropriately. Cyrus eventually became the first artist to have deals in television, film, consumer products, and music within The Walt Disney Company.

The first single was "The Best of Both Worlds", the theme song to ''Hannah Montana'', which was released on March 28, 2006. "The Best of Both Worlds" is credited to "Hannah Montana", the pop star Cyrus portrays on the series by the same name. As with other songs credited to Montana, Cyrus typically dressed as the character when performing the song live. Cyrus's first release under her own name was a cover of James Baskett's "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah", released on April 4, 2006, on the fourth edition of ''DisneyMania''. Dressed as Hannah Montana, Cyrus opened for The Cheetah Girls on twenty dates of their The Party's Just Begun Tour, beginning on September 15, 2006. On October 24 of same year, Walt Disney Records released the first ''Hannah Montana'' soundtrack. Of the nine tracks on the soundtrack performed by Cyrus, eight were credited to "Hannah Montana" and one, a duet with her father titled "I Learned from You", was credited to Cyrus as herself. The album peaked at number one on the U.S. ''Billboard'' 200 chart.

The second season of ''Hannah Montana'' premiered on April 23, 2007, and ran until October 12, 2008. Cyrus signed a four-album deal with Disney-owned Hollywood Records and, on June 26, 2007, released a double-disc album. The first disc was the soundtrack to the second season of ''Hannah Montana'', while the second, titled ''Meet Miley Cyrus'', was Cyrus's debut album credited to her own name. The double-disc album peaked at number one on the ''Billboard'' 200 and was later certified three times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). ''Meet Miley Cyrus'' generated "See You Again", Cyrus's first single to be released under her own name and her first top ten hit on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100. In fall 2007, Cyrus launched her first tour, the Best of Both Worlds Tour, to promote ''Meet Miley Cyrus'' and the ''Hannah Montana'' soundtracks. With the Jonas Brothers, Aly & AJ, and Everlife as her opening acts, Cyrus toured from October 17, 2007, to January 31, 2008, with stops in the U.S. and Canada. Tickets sold out in minutes and were scalped for up to $2,500 and an average of $214, well above their $26–$65 face value. A Ticketmaster official commented, "Hell hath no fury like the parent of a child throwing a tantrum. People who have been in this business for a long time are watching what's happening, and they say there hasn't been a demand of this level or intensity since The Beatles or Elvis."

2008–09: ''Breakout'', transitions and film career launch

thumb|upright|Cyrus at 2008 MTV Video Music Awards

After the end of the ''Best of Both Worlds Tour'' in January 2008, Walt Disney Pictures released ''Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert'', a 3D concert film of the tour, on February 1, 2008, for what was expected to be a one-week run. The film earned over $31 million at the box-office and an average of $42,000 per theater, twice the expected total, convincing Disney executives to extend the release for an indefinite run. "We don't want to turn away kids from the theaters who couldn't get into the concerts," said Chuck Viane, Disney's chief of distribution. The film's soundtrack was released by Walt Disney Records/Hollywood Records on March 11, 2008, and peaked at number three on the ''Billboard'' 200.

On July 22, 2008, Cyrus released her second studio album under her own name, titled ''Breakout''. Cyrus said ''Breakout'' was inspired by "what's been going on in my life in the past year." Cyrus co-wrote eight out of twelve songs on the album. "Songwriting is what I really want to do with my life forever, [...] I just hope this record showcases that, more than anything, I'm a writer." The album debuted at #1 on the U.S. ''Billboard'' 200 chart and its lead single, "7 Things", peaked at number 9 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100. She hosted the 2008 CMT Music Awards with her father in April and the 2008 Teen Choice Awards by herself in August. Cyrus provided the voice of Penny in the 2008 computer-animated film ''Bolt'', which was released on November 21, 2008, to critical acclaim. Cyrus also co-wrote and recorded the song "I Thought I Lost You" as a duet with John Travolta for the film, for which she received a Golden Globe nomination. In September 2009, she participated in the charity single "Just Stand Up!" in support of the anti-cancer campaign ''Stand Up to Cancer'' and in the City of Hope Benefit Concert in support of cancer research and training programs. She also became involved in Disney's Friends for Change, an environmentalist group, for which she recorded the charity single "Send It On" along with several other Disney Channel stars.

thumb|upright|Cyrus performing on the Wonder World Tour

Cyrus had already begun transitioning to a more grown-up image in late 2008, when her representatives negotiated a deal for novelist Nicholas Sparks to write the screenplay and novel basis for a film that would serve as a star vehicle for Cyrus by introducing her to audiences older than the young fans she had gained through ''Hannah Montana''. Sparks and co-writer Jeff Van Wie developed ''The Last Song''. It was important to Cyrus that she not be type cast as a singer: "I didn't want to be a singer in another film. I don't want to do that anymore. You have no idea how many musicals show up on my door. I want to do something a little more serious." In March 2009, Cyrus published ''Miles to Go'', a memoir co-written by Hilary Liftin chronicling her life through age sixteen. Cyrus starred as Miley Stewart/Hannah Montana in ''Hannah Montana: The Movie'', released April 10, 2009. Both the film and its soundtrack, which contained twelve songs performed by Cyrus, achieved commercial success. The soundtrack's lead single, "The Climb", became a Top 40 hit in twelve countries and introduced Cyrus to listeners outside her typical teen pop audience. Cyrus had considered ending ''Hannah Montana'' after its third season, which finished production on June 5, 2009, but Disney retained and exercised its option for a fourth season.

Production on ''The Last Song'' lasted from June 15, 2009, to August 18, 2009. In between, Cyrus launched the third ''Hannah Montana'' soundtrack, recorded the extended play ''The Time of Our Lives (EP)'', and released the EP's lead single, "Party in the U.S.A." Cyrus said ''The Time of Our Lives'' "is a transitioning album. [...] really to introduce people to what I want my next record to sound like and with time I will be able to do that a little more." "Party in the U.S.A." debuted at number two on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 for her best-ever ranking on the chart. ''The Time of Our Lives'' was released in conjunction with a clothing line co-designed by Cyrus and Max Azria for Walmart.

From September 14, 2009, to December 29, 2010, Cyrus toured on her Wonder World Tour to promote ''Breakout'' and ''The Time of Our Lives''. On December 7, 2009, Cyrus performed for Queen Elizabeth II and numerous other members of the British Royal Family at the Royal Variety Performance in Blackpool, North West England.

2010–2011: ''Can't Be Tamed'', focus on film career, and Gypsy Heart Tour

thumb|upright|Cyrus at 2010 MuchMusic Video Awards soundcheck.

Production on the fourth and final season of ''Hannah Montana'' began on January 18, 2010. In the aftermath of the 2010 Haiti earthquake, Cyrus appeared on the charity singles "We Are the World: 25 for Haiti" and "Everybody Hurts". Her third studio album, ''Can't Be Tamed'', was released on June 21, 2010. The album's first single is the title track, "Can't Be Tamed". The single was released for sale on May 18, 2010, and entered the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 at number eight. Cyrus's costumes and dances while promoting ''Can't Be Tamed'' were also considerably more provocative than previous performances, arousing media criticism. After releasing the album, Cyrus intends to take a break from the music industry in order to focus on her film career. She commented, "I've not taken, like, acting lessons or anything, but it doesn't mean I don't need to because I'm sure I do [...] I'm probably going to go book an acting coach." Cyrus has also decided to opt out of college for the same reason, saying "I'm a firm believer that you can go back at any age you want, because my Grandma went back to college at 62 [...] For right now, I really want to focus on my career. I've worked hard to get to where I am now, and I want to enjoy it while it lasts."

Cyrus starred in ''The Last Song'', which was released on March 31, 2010, and received generally poor reviews, as did Cyrus's performance. Nonetheless, the film was commercially successful, grossing more than $88 million at the worldwide box office. According to box-office analyst Exhibitor Relations, the film marked "a successful transition to adult roles for Miley Cyrus." The fourth and final season of ''Hannah Montana'' began airing on Disney Channel on July 11, 2010, and was ended on January 16, 2011. Cyrus filmed two more films, ''LOL: Laughing Out Loud'' and ''So Undercover'' in 2010. In ''LOL'', a remake of a 2008 French teen film of the same name, Cyrus plays "a daughter who is involved with all the wrong kids, doing drugs, failing school, but [...whose] mother has her on this perfect pedestal" and says "[She] just fell in love with the story." Cyrus' character loses her virginity, smokes cannabis, gets wasted and kisses two girlfriends on the lips. She will also star in ''So Undercover'', an action comedy film. Cyrus will play the part of "a tough, street-smart private eye hired by the FBI to go undercover in a college sorority." She learned street fighting for the role.

Despite her earlier announcement that she'd be focusing more on acting in the future, in February 2011, Cyrus confirmed she had no films lineup and was going to go on tour. On April 29, 2011, Cyrus embarked on her international Gypsy Heart Tour in South America and ended the tour on July 2, 2011, in Australia. Cyrus hosted ''Saturday Night Live'' on March 5, 2011, where she performed in several sketches. She also sang a brief song about her several controversies, such as the bong incident, the photo of her friend and she eating a Twizzler, and the "pole dance" on a hotel pole at the Teen Choice Awards, stating "I'm sorry that I'm not perfect." In March 2011, father Billy Ray Cyrus confirmed on talk show, ''The View'', that Cyrus had been in talks with producer Dr. Luke on a new album. In July 2011, it was announced that she would record her fourth studio album and she has no plans to sign onto any other film projects. However, it was reported on August 2, 2011, by Contact Music that Cyrus has signed on to star in a comedy in which she plays a woman who broke a promise to God.

Cyrus released on YouTube a remix of her song "Liberty Walk" in November 2011, dedicated to the Occupy movement, which she referred to as, "the thousands of people who are standing up for what they believe in."

2012–present: ''LOL'', ''So Undercover'', and focus on music career

In January, It was announced that Cyrus would be on ''Punk'd''. Cyrus would be on the show alongside friend and co-star in her new film ''So Undercover'', Kelly Osbourne. Cyrus and Osbourne on an episode of the show would punk reality star and TV personality Khloé Kardashian Odom. They punk Khloe by having a young food delivery man pretends to get his family jewels caught in his zipper while using Miley's bathroom.

On January 24, the album ''Chimes of Freedom: Songs of Bob Dylan Honoring 50 Years of Amnesty International'' was released in honor of Bob Dylan, Cyrus covered Dylan's song "You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go" from his 15th studio album ''Blood on the Tracks'', in which she also made a music video. Cyrus's version of the song earned positive reviews from music critics.

In February, Cyrus dropped out of the animated comedy ''Hotel Transylvania'', in which she was meant to play the role of Mavis, the daughter of Dracula who is voiced by Adam Sandler, the movie also stars Andy Samberg, Kevin James, Fran Drescher, and David Spade. It was later announced that she will be replaced by fellow Disney star and friend Selena Gomez. She later announced that she dropped out of the film because she wanted to work on her music this year.

Earnings

In 2008, Cyrus earned $25 million, up from her earnings of $18 million in 2007, and was ranked number 35 on ''Forbes'' magazine's "Celebrity 100" list. ''Parade'' magazine reported she was the richest teenage celebrity and that her franchise would be worth approximately $1 billion by the end of the year. In 2009, ''Forbes'' ranked her #29 on the ''Celebrity 100'' and reported she had earned a total of $25 million. Then Cyrus got ranked number thirteen on ''Forbes'' 2010 Celebrity 100 ranking $48 million. From the $48 million she made between June 2009 to June 2010 made her the no. 4 highest earners under 30 and the youngest on the list. between June 2010 and June 2011, Cyrus earned $54 million.

From working on Hannah Montana, Cyrus got paid $15,000 per episode she did on the hit show, making her the 6th highest paid child star on television behind fellow Disney stars Dylan and Cole Sprouse and Keke Palmer with $20,000 for their shows. Also, she is behind friend and Disney star Selena Gomez that makes $25,000 per episode of her show, Nick star Miranda Cosgrove with $180,000 per episode of her show, and one time co-star Angus T. Jones that got paid $250,000 for each episode of his show. Though she had not got paid as much as other Disney stars,when she was 17 she was named #19 on the "Top 20 World's Richest Female Singers Of All Time" list with over $100 million in 5 years active throughout her career, which made her the youngest female artist on the list. In 2011, she was named #1 on the "Top 10 Richest Teens in Hollywood" with $120 million.

Personal life and image

thumb|left|upright|Cyrus on the Red Carpet at VH1 Divas 2009

A Christian, she was baptized in a Southern Baptist church in 2005.

In February 2008, Cyrus and her friend Mandy Jiroux opened a YouTube account and began posting videos of what they called ''The Miley and Mandy Show.'' The show, described as a "YouTube hit," is said to be filmed for fun by Cyrus and Jiroux and to be entirely their work, with Cyrus and Jiroux editing the footage together.

With Cyrus's increased success came increased media attention. In a May 2008 interview with ''The Los Angeles Times'', Francois Navarre, the proprietor of the X17 photo agency, said Cyrus's market value had picked up considerably after the ''Vanity Fair'' photo controversy: "She's started to sell more. [...] It used to be $300, and now it's $2,000 for a picture." Estimates for a picture of the then-15 year old's first kiss ranged from $30,000 to $150,000. Navarre noted that Cyrus rarely behaved against her wholesome image or went out without a parent and stated, "She has people waiting for the moment she starts to be less traditional. [...] It's natural. Any teenager. But it's going to come very fast. [...] As soon as her mom lets her go out by herself. It's going to start to be interesting." ''Time'' magazine included her on the 2008 ''Time'' 100, the magazine's list of the 100 most influential people in the world. Her write-up was written by former child star Donny Osmond, who warned, "As an idol to tweens the world over, singer-actress Miley Cyrus, 15, is riding a huge tidal wave at the pinnacle of her career; this is as it should be. I hope she enjoys it. [...] Within three to five years, Miley will have to face adulthood. [...] As she does, she'll want to change her image, and that change will be met with adversity."

Cyrus celebrated her 16th birthday at Disneyland with a charity fundraiser for Youth Service America, a youth volunteer service organization.

In June 2009, Cyrus ended her nine-month relationship with model Justin Gaston shortly before flying to Georgia to film ''The Last Song''. While filming later that month, Cyrus began dating her co-star in ''The Last Song'', Australian actor Liam Hemsworth. She later called him her "first serious boyfriend". In August 2010, it was confirmed that her relationship with Hemsworth had ended. Cyrus and Hemsworth were seen together a month later, and were reportedly back together. It was announced in early November that the couple had split again. They have since rekindled their relationship.

At the end of 2009, ''Billboard'' magazine ranked Cyrus the fourth best-selling female artist and the fifth best-selling singer overall. Also in 2009, at the age of sixteen, she became the youngest artist to have four number one albums on the charts.

Controversies

thumb|Cyrus performing at the Kids Inaugural: We Are the Future concert in 2009.

In December 2007, a brief controversy emerged when photos Cyrus had posted on her private MySpace account, depicting her and a female friend sharing a piece of licorice and "almost kissing", were spread across the internet, prompting rumors of lesbianism. Cyrus comments, "For me, I was like, That's two girls—it's not a big deal. But they got spread around. Like someone copied and pasted and said, Omigod, look at this, and blah blah blah."

In April 2008, several provocative images of Cyrus in her underwear and swimsuit were leaked onto the web by a teenager who hacked Cyrus's Gmail account. Cyrus described the images as "silly, inappropriate shots" and stated, "I am going to make mistakes and I am not perfect. I never intended for any of this to happen and I am truly sorry if I have disappointed anyone." On April 25, 2008, the televised entertainment program ''Entertainment Tonight'' reported that Cyrus, then 15, had posed topless for a photoshoot taken by photographer Annie Leibovitz for ''Vanity Fair.'' On April 29, 2008, ''The New York Times'' clarified that though the pictures left an impression that she was bare-breasted, Cyrus was wrapped in a bedsheet and was actually not topless. Some parents expressed outrage at the nature of the photograph, which a Disney spokesperson described as "a situation [that] was created to deliberately manipulate a 15-year-old in order to sell magazines." Gary Marsh, president of entertainment for Disney Channel Worldwide, was quoted by ''Portfolio'' magazine to have said, "For Miley Cyrus to be a 'good girl' is now a business decision for her. Parents have invested in her a godliness. If she violates that trust, she won't get it back." In response to the Internet circulation of the photo and ensuing media attention, Cyrus released a statement of apology on April 27, 2008: "I took part in a photo shoot that was supposed to be 'artistic' and now, seeing the photographs and reading the story, I feel so embarrassed. I never intended for any of this to happen and I apologize to my fans who I care so deeply about." Leibovitz also released a statement: "I'm sorry that my portrait of Miley has been misinterpreted. The photograph is a simple, classic portrait, shot with very little makeup, and I think it is very beautiful."

In May 2008, Gossett, Cyrus's longtime acting agent, left Cunningham Escott Slevin Doherty for United Talent Agency, partially with the hope of "giving Cyrus the major-agency backing that would support a widening career", according to ''The Hollywood Reporter''. About a year later in June 2009, Cyrus left both Gossett and UTA, which had recently negotiated her deals for ''The Last Song'' and the fourth season of ''Hannah Montana'', and joined the Creative Artists Agency, which had already represented her for music. Nikki Finke, who broke the news, reported, "Is this fair to UTA? Of course not. But I hear the decision was made by Miley's mother Trish Cyrus".

thumb|left|Cyrus performing during the Wonder World Tour, in 2009.

Cyrus's performance of "Party in the U.S.A." at the 2009 Teen Choice Awards incited a media uproar, with some viewers criticizing Cyrus's provocative outfit and inclusion of a brief pole dance as inappropriate for her age, then sixteen, and for her young fans. Conversely, ''Newsday'' reported that her sexualization "has been coming for some time." Ian Drew, senior editor of ''US Weekly'', said, "She already has this risque image, so it really wasn't much of a stretch. That's how Britney [Spears] took off. She was the good girl gone bad, and it looks to be working for Miley as well." Cyrus was also criticized that year for dating Gaston, five years her senior, and for a photo displaying Cyrus and friends making "slant-eyed" expressions, which the Organization of Chinese Americans claimed was offensive to the Asian community. Cyrus apologized for the photo on her website, defending her actions and saying, "In NO way was I making fun of any ethnicity! I was simply making a goofy face."

Later in 2010, TMZ released a video of Cyrus, then 16, giving Adam Shankman, producer of ''The Last Song'', a lap dance at the film's wrap party. Cyrus's father defended her actions, saying Miley was just "having fun" and that "it's what people her age do". Later that year in December, TMZ released a video of Cyrus, which took place five days after her 18th birthday at her Los Angeles home, in which she is seen smoking from a bong. She claimed she was smoking the psychoactive plant ''salvia divinorum'', although this has not been confirmed by anybody but Cyrus herself. Salvia is legal in the state of California, and Cyrus was of legal age at the time the video was shot. Cyrus's father expressed his sadness regarding the matter on Twitter, saying, "Sorry guys. I had no idea. Just saw this stuff for the first time myself. I'm so sad. There is much beyond my control right now".

In a video obtained by ''The Daily'', taking place at Cyrus' 19th birthday party at the Roosevelt Hotel in Los Angeles, Cyrus went to the microphone and addressed the crowd. Immediately after her Bob Marley-themed birthday cake had been brought out, Cyrus said, "You know you're a stoner when your friends make you a Bob Marley cake. You know you smoke way too much f****n' weed." One week later, Cyrus' representative stated that Cyrus was just being a "smart-ass" and that the Bob Marley cake had just been an "inside joke" with Cyrus and her friends, as Cyrus' friend, Kelly Osbourne had been calling her "Bob Miley" since Cyrus' 2010 salvia incident.

Filmography

+ Film	! Year	! Title	! Role	Notes
2003	''Big Fish''	Young Ruthie	Film debut
2007	''High School Musical 2''	Girl at pool	Cameo
2008	''Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert''		3D Concert film
2008		Penny	Voice-over RoleNominated—Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best SongNominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Original SongNominated—Kids Choice Awards for Favorite Voice From an Animated Movie
2009	''Hannah Montana: The Movie''		Based on TV seriesNickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards for Best Movie ActressMTV Movie Award for Best Song from a Movie	Film adaption of book[[Teen Choice Awards">36th People's Choice Awards
2010	''''	Veronica "Ronnie" Miller	Film adaption of book[[Teen Choice Awards for Choice movie Hissy FitTeen Choice Awards for Choice Music: Love Song Nickelodeon Australian Kids' Choice Awards 2010
2010	''[[Sex and the City 2''	Herself	Cameo
2011		Herself	Cameo
2012		Lola
2012	''So Undercover''	Molly	Without release date

+ Television	! Year	! Title	! Role	Notes
2001–2003		Kylie	Recurring role (3 episodes)
2006–2011	''Hannah Montana''		Lead role
2006-2008	''Disney Channel''	Herself / Hannah Montana	Contestant, special performer
2006	''The Suite Life of Zack & Cody''	Miley Stewart / Hannah Montana	"That's So Suite Life of Hannah Montana" (Season 2, Episode 20)
2006–2008	''Disney 365''	Herself	In 9 episodes, 2006–2008.
2007	''''	Celebrity Star (voice)	"Frog Prince" (Season 2, Episode 5)
2007–2008	''''	Yata (voice)	Recurring role
2008	''E! True Hollywood Story''	Herself	TV special documentary
2009	''''	Miley Stewart / Hannah Montana
2011	''Saturday Night Live''	Herself	Host, March 5 episode.
2011		Herself	Back-to-school special.
2012	''The Conversation''	Herself	Interview series. April 14 episode.
2012	''Punk'd''	Herself	Guest on MTV prank series.

Discography

Studio albums

''Meet Miley Cyrus'' (2007)

''Breakout'' (2008)

''Can't Be Tamed'' (2010)

Extended plays

''The Time of Our Lives'' (2009)

''iTunes Live from London '' (2009)

Live albums

''Best of Both Worlds Concert'' (2008)

Soundtracks

''Hannah Montana'' (2006)

''Hannah Montana 2'' (2007)

''Hannah Montana: The Movie'' (2009)

''Hannah Montana 3'' (2009)

''Hannah Montana Forever'' (2010)

Tours

Best of Both Worlds Tour (2007–08)

Wonder World Tour (2009)

Gypsy Heart Tour (2011)

Awards and nominations

See also

References

Further reading

External links

Miley Cyrus at MTV

}} |- |- |- |- |- |-

Category:1992 births Category:21st-century actors Category:Actors from Tennessee Category:American child actors Category:American child singers Category:American female singers Category:American film actors Category:American pop singers Category:American pop singer-songwriters Category:American television actors Category:American voice actors Category:Bubblegum pop Category:Child pop musicians Category:Fascination Records artists Category:Hollywood Records artists Category:Living people Category:Musicians from Tennessee Category:People from Nashville, Tennessee Category:Southern Baptists Category:Walt Disney Records artists Category:Young Artist Award winners

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Name	Andrew W.K.
Alt	A close-up of a Caucasian adult male with long brown hair smiling.
Background	solo_singer
Birth name	Andrew Fetterly Wilkes Krier
Birth date	May 09, 1979
Birth place	Stanford, California
Origin	Ann Arbor, Michigan (raised), New York, New York (lives)
Instrument	Vocals, Piano, Keyboards, Guitar, Bass guitar, Drums
Genre	Heavy metal, hard rock, punk rock, pop rock
Occupation	MusicianProducerSingerActor
Years active	1998-present
Label	Universal Music Group, Hanson, Mercury, Island, Bulb, Skyscraper Music Maker, Steev Mike
Associated acts	Wolf Eyes, Current 93, To Live and Shave in L.A., Lab Lobotomy, Baby Dee, Lee "Scratch" Perry, Music Band, Mr. Velocity Hopkins, Kathode, Kangoo, The Beast People, Stormy Rodent, Scheme, the Malt Lickers, Isis and Werewolves, Sucking Coeds, Matt & Kim.
Website	Official Site }}

Andrew Fetterly Wilkes Krier (born May 9th 1979 in Stanford, California), better known by his stagename Andrew W.K., is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, entertainer, motivational speaker and music producer. He is the host of the television series ''Destroy Build Destroy''.

Biography

Early life and career

Andrew Wilkes-Krier was born in Stanford, California, and grew up in Ann Arbor, Michigan. At age 4, he began learning classical piano at The University of Michigan School of Music. He attended the private college preparatory Greenhills School for middle school before attending the alternative Community High School from 1993–1997, where he studied jazz keyboard. His father is Professor James E. Krier, a well-known legal scholar at the University of Michigan Law School and co-author of the widely used Dukeminier & Krier Property casebook.

In 1993, when he was 14, Andrew joined the band Slam, later to be called Reverse Polarity. His first public recording, "Mr. Surprise", came out on a compilation released by the Westside Audio Laboratories label (now known as Ypsilanti Records) out of Ypsilanti, Michigan. Over the next 5 years he was in many different bands in Michigan such as Lab Lobotomy, The Pterodactyls, Music Band, Mr. Velocity Hopkins, Kathode, The Portly Boys, Kangoo, The Beast People, Stormy Rodent, a later iteration of Scheme, the Malt Lickers, Isis and Werewolves, and Sucking Coeds. In 1994 he also started a group called Ancient Art of Boar, later making it a solo project titled AAB, which ended in 1998, when Andrew moved from Ypsilanti to New York City.

Later in 1998, his first official solo record as Andrew Wilkes-Krier, titled ''Room To Breathe'', was released on the Brighton (later Ann Arbor) label Hanson Records. The release was cassette-only and only 35 copies were made. Another tape, titled ''You Are What You Eat'' was supposed to be released shortly after, but the masters went missing. That same year, he appeared on the Hanson Records compilation ''Labyrinths & Jokes''. The track appearing on the compilation was a portion of the soundtrack Andrew made for ''Poltergeist'', a movie made by Aaron Dilloway and himself. The whole soundtrack also went missing for over 10 years, but it too has recently re-surfaced.

In 2000, he released his first EP, ''AWKGOJ'' on Bulb Records, which would be the first solo release under the Andrew W.K. name (he appeared under the name on a Wolf Eyes EP earlier that year). He released one more EP on this label, ''Party Til You Puke'', before moving on to Island Def Jam.

Music career

Andrew released his first album on Island, ''I Get Wet'', in 2001. The album is known for its cover art: a photo of Andrew W.K. with a stream of blood running from his nose onto his chin and neck. ''I Get Wet'' soon rose to the #1 position on Billboard's 'Heatseekers' list. Andrew W.K. joined Ozzy Osbourne's Ozzfest that summer. The track "Party Hard" was featured as the lead track for EA Sports video game ''Madden NFL 2003'' and on the ''Girls Gone Wild Music Volume 1'' CD, and is the subject of a popular internet meme (its repetition of the words "party hard" ad nauseam made it an ideal caption for animated .gif images). The opening track, "It's Time To Party", was featured in commercials for the video game ''NASCAR Thunder 2004'', Hotwire.com, Coors Beer, Expedia.com, and several movie and TV soundtracks. The song "Fun Night" was used in the Will Ferrell movie Old School. "She Is Beautiful" was used in the movies ''Freaky Friday'', ''American Pie: Band Camp'' and ''Out Cold'', as well as in early Nintendo GameCube advertisements. His track "Don't Stop Living in the Red" is featured in a Target commercial. The song has been played at the kickoff of every Saint John's football game since 2003 and whenever the Allen Americans of the Central Hockey League score a goal at home. It was also featured during KSDK-TV's coverage of the St. Louis Cardinals in 2005. In 2002, he and Alec Rominger re-recorded his song "We Want Fun" from ''AWKGOJ'' for the soundtrack of ''Jackass: The Movie'' that also had a video made, filmed and directed by Jeff Tremaine with additional camera work by Spike Jonze.

In late 2003, W.K. released ''The Wolf''. The album featured Andrew playing all the instruments on the recording (he had his full live band play on ''I Get Wet''). It spawned the singles "Tear it Up" and "Never Let Down" in the US (both had videos made, but only "Tear It Up" had a full retail single released) and the song "Long Live the Party" was a minor hit in Japan. "The Wolf" has many overdubbed instrument parts.

''The Wolf'' was not as commercially successful as ''I Get Wet''. On tour for ''The Wolf'', Andrew was injured on stage and broke his foot. After the concert, he signed autographs from the ambulance. Not wanting to let his fans down, he performed the remainder of the tour in a wheelchair.

A live-concert DVD entitled ''Who Knows?'' was released in February 2006. Similar to his audio recording the DVD combined many sources into single events - a technique Andrew refers to as "Synch Stacking". Andrew presented five screenings of the movie in New York City and Hollywood, in February and April, 2006. He also attended a screening of the movie at the University of Michigan Law School, presented by his father.

In March 2006, during an episode of Sex Pistols' guitarist Steve Jones' radio show, "Jonesy's Jukebox", Andrew W.K. debuted a new song, "I'm A Vagabond". A different version of the song was eventually released as a square 7" single (with the songs, "Doing Andrew W.K." and "Let's Go On A Date" - released by BSM on February 15, 2010). "I'm A Vagabond" was also included on the "Mother of Mankind" rare and unreleased album (February, 2010).

On November 26, 2008, Universal Music released three new Andrew W.K. collections. The first CD was brand new album of J-Pop covers entitled, ''The Japan Covers''. The second CD is a Greatest Hits Compilation entitled, ''The Very Best So Far'', which includes a previously unreleased song, "Party (You Shout!)". Both new releases are also available as a combined 2-disc package entitled, ''Premium Collection''.

On September 9, 2009 Andrew W.K. released a Japan-only album called ''Gundam Rock''. The album consists of covered music from the legendary Gundam anime TV series to celebrate its 30th Anniversary in Japan.

On the same date, he also simultaneously released ''55 Cadillac'', an album of improvised piano pieces. Writing about the release of ''55 Cadillac'' Andrew wrote, "I wanted this new 55 CADILLAC album to sound like freedom. The sound of a piano being played by a free man – nothing more, nothing less."

On March 23, 2010, Andrew released a two disc set, ''Close Calls With Brick Walls / Mother of Mankind''. The two albums contain 39 tracks total, and come packaged in a slipcase. The ''Close Calls With Brick Walls'' album had originally been released in 2006, but only in Japan (by Universal Music Group), and in South Korea (by Dope Entertainment). A limited edition gatefold double vinyl LP version of "Close Calls With Brick Walls" was released in 2007 by the US label, Load Records. The ''Mother of Mankind'' album features rare and unreleased tracks spanning the years 1999 to 2010.

To accompany this set, it was announced he would be featured as a headliner at the 2010 Warped Tour for the entire tour. It will be his first time to do so, since 2002.

In June 2010 Andrew released a music video for the single "I Want To See You Go Wild" off the ''Close Calls With Brick Walls'' album. The video was made by director Peter Glantz. Later that year he appeared in A Day to Remember's video for "All I Want."

Self-help and motivational performance

In 2005, Andrew announced that he would begin performing as a self-help, new age motivational speaker. He accepted invitations to speak at Yale University, New York University, The University of Wisconsin, Carnegie Mellon University, The Cooper Union, Missouri Western State University, and Northeastern University.

During 2007, Andrew performed a series of unpredictable happenings as part of his "One Man Show" tour. Each event began with Andrew improvising on the piano alone on a stage before they frequently evolved into giant parties, with most of the audience dancing on stage with Andrew, themselves playing the piano and singing the lyrics.

In March 2007, ''The New York Times'' put Andrew on the front page of its Arts section, in a feature article on Andrew's lectures. In 2008, Andrew's self-help work led to his second appearance as a sit-down guest on ''Late Night With Conan O'Brien''. In November 2008, ''Time'' magazine called him "truly cute."

Other work

Outside of his solo work, Andrew also performs with and produces music for the avant-garde ensemble To Live and Shave in L.A.. He first appeared on the band's 2004 release "God and Country Rally!". He co-produced their 2006 studio album ''Noon and Eternity'', and appears on the group's other 2006 release, the "chronological remix" project ''Horoscopo: Sanatorio de Molière''.

In late 2006, Andrew re-worked his song "Fun Night" into a theme song for the Arizona Sundogs, a hockey team. The song was titled "Sundogs (It Just Got Hotter)". The song "Fun Night" also appeared in the film ''Old School'' during one of the party scenes.

Andrew was also a judge for the 5th and 10th annual Independent Music Awards to support independent artists' careers.

On July the 7th 2007 (7/7/07) at 7:07 PM, Andrew appeared as one of the 77 drummers in the 77 Boadrum concert held at the Empire-Fulton Ferry State Park in Brooklyn, New York which was organized by Japanese noise rock group Boredoms.

In September 2007 Andrew's piano playing was featured on a jazz fusion CD release "électricité" with Mike Pachelli on guitar, Rich Russo on drums, and Dennis Harding on bass for Los Angeles based Fullblast Recordings (2007).

Andrew has also performed and recorded electric bass guitar for the artist Baby Dee, whom he met while playing live as the bassist of Current 93. Andrew played bass and drums on Dee's "Safe Inside The Day" album, and performed with her group at a 2008 show Manhattan. Andrew has performed bass guitar with Current 93 at the Donau Festival in Krems, Austria in April 2007, the UK All Tomorrow's Parties festival in May 2007, and the European tour in April 2008.

On Friday, December 5, 2008, an Andrew W.K. fan named Dominic Owen Mallary died after an accident while his band Last Lights performed at Boston University. Dominic had always said that he wanted to have Andrew W.K. play during his funeral. After several friends of Dominic emailed him, Andrew came to the wake, and played classical piano for the entire time after paying his respects.

Andrew has formed a group The Brill Sisters with guitarist Matt Sweeney and producer Don Fleming. They played their first show (without Fleming) at Santos Party House on April 2, 2009. The entire group performed together on April 21, 2009. Andrew is also the host on the Cartoon Network original Destroy Build Destroy.

TV and film appearances

Andrew has made multiple appearances on MTV, MTV2, and VH1, hosting shows such as ''The Most Outrageous Frontmen'', with Johnny Knoxville and ''Backstage Pass'' at the Warped Tour. Andrew was the focus of a televised live performance at Cleveland's Rock 'N' Roll Hall of Fame, broadcast on MTV. He's also made appearances on the shows, ''I Love The 90's'', ''I Love The New Millennium'', ''Black To The Future'', ''I Love The Holidays'', ''The Great Debate'', ''Best Week Ever'' and ''The Osbournes''. Andrew was also featured on a popular MTV show called ''Crashing With Andrew W.K.'', which documented Andrew's visit to a girl's dorm at North Carolina Central University.

In 2004, Andrew had a television show on MTV2 titled ''Your Friend, Andrew W.K.''. In the series, fans would write letters to Andrew, asking for his help. Andrew would pick certain letters and go to visit them. The series lasted for 11 episodes, each about 9 or 10 minutes in length. During the filming of the show, Andrew was in a car crash but sustained no serious injuries.

Andrew has performed on TV shows such as ''Late Night with Conan O'Brien'', ''Last Call with Carson Daly'', ''Saturday Night Live'', and the ''Spike TV Video Game Awards''. His most recent performance was with Bonnie 'Prince' Billy on ''Late Night with Conan O'Brien''. He recently had a cameo in the show ''Aqua Teen Hunger Force'', singing "Party Party Party", a song that combines elements of multiple previous Andrew W.K. songs. The song was released on ''Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film for Theaters the Soundtrack''. Andrew's only confirmed movie role is in ''Punk Rock Holocaust'', playing himself.

Andrew was also featured on the finale of the third season of ''Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List'' as Kathy's date in New York. The two attended one of Andrew's performance art shows.

''Late Night with Conan O'Brien'' has twice featured Andrew as a sit-down interview guest—the first in 2003 to speak about the ''Your Friend, Andrew W.K.'' show, and then again in 2007, to speak about his motivational performance tours.

Andrew is a frequent guest on the Fox News late-night program, ''Red Eye w/ Greg Gutfeld''.

Andrew has also been a featured interviewer and guest on ''The Daily Show'', ''DirecTV'', and mobile telephone network, GoTV.

Andrew also appears on the vocal-instructional DVD ''The Zen of Screaming''.

In the summer of 2009, the Cartoon Network announced that Andrew would be hosting and creating music for a new live-action TV program called, ''Destroy Build Destroy''. The show features Andrew working with two teams of teenagers, competing to "blow stuff up and use the wreckage to build amazing machines". The show premiered on June 20, 2009. The second season premiered on Wednesday, February 24, 2010 at 8:30PM, ranking #1 in their timeslot among boys 6-11 on all television. In early 2011, Cartoon Network confirmed they were beginning production on a third season of the show., which began airing on Wednesday, June 1, in its traditional 8:30pm time-slot.

Cartoon Network also used Andrew W.K. in a music video about the network's new live-action shows. The song and video, "Hearing What I Say" (adapted from Andrew's 2006 song, "Not Going to Bed") aired extensively on Cartoon Network and was available on YouTube. Later the clip was replaced by another bumper. In 2011, Andrew was part of a pyrotechnic stunt with motocross superstar Robbie Maddison performing a backflip on his motorcycle while Andrew presented the event for Cartoon Network's Hall of Game Awards.

Andrew recently had a cameo on Cartoon Network's ''Mad'', in the episode "Kung Fu Blander/Destroy Bob the Builder Destroy," which spoofed ''Bob the Builder'' and ''Destroy Build Destroy''.

Music producer

In addition to producing his own music on the albums ''I Get Wet'', ''The Wolf'' and ''Close Calls with Brick Walls'', Andrew has continued to expand his musical output to include producing and mixing music for other artists as well as working on special commercial and corporate music projects. These include the production of music exclusively for commercial use on television and radio.

In 2008, Andrew gained new notoriety for recording a song called "The McLaughlin Groove", based on an exchange between Pat Buchanan and John McLaughlin on the political television show ''The McLaughlin Group''. The song was commissioned by the Public Radio International show ''Fair Game'', on which Andrew has appeared for interviews.

In 2004, Andrew recorded a television jingle for Kit Kat candy bars, and rewrote their trademark "Give Me A Break" slogan into a new song. The recording appeared in a variety of 30 second, 45 second, and 1 minute commercials, broadcast on television worldwide.

"I avoided working with other people for many years, partly out of paranoia, and partly out of an earnest desire to stand on my own. After a while, I got tired of thinking that way, and it just seemed natural to do the opposite of what I had done before. I like making music with other people. I can still make music by myself too.".

Andrew's earliest external production work was with the group Wolf Eyes, on their now out-of-print 12" EP ''Fortune Dove''. The last track on that album, "what kind of band?" features Andrew W.K. on vocals explaining why he enjoys listening to Wolf Eyes. Since then, he's chosen to work on a select and seemingly random set of projects. Most recently, he completed production and mixing on the album, ''Through The Panama'', by Brooklyn, NY based three-piece art rock band, Sightings. The album was jointly released by Load Records and Thurston Moore's Ecstatic Peace! label in October 2007.

At the end of 2007 Andrew accepted an invitation to produce a new album, ''Repentance'', for veteran reggae artist Lee "Scratch" Perry. The two had met when Andrew interviewed Perry for DirecTV. "Repentance" was nominated for "Best Reggae Album" in the 2009 Grammy Awards.

On February 20, 2008, Andrew released an exclusive ringtone commissioned by Universal Music Japan for the Japanese mobile phone market. The song is called, "Sonnna no Kankei Ne Rock", which celebrates a then popular catch-phrase by a TV Talent, "Sonna no Kankei Ne, Hai Oppappi!" This translates to, "I Don't Give A Damn, Yes Oppappi!" The ringtone was first announced on a Japanese national T.V. program called ''Music Station'' and had over 3,500 downloads that day. Cumulative sales of ringtone are over 20,000. Andrew's song debuted at No.1 in Label Mobile's International daily ringtone chart. Label Mobile is the biggest mobile retailer in Japan.

Nightclub and live music venue

In Spring of 2008, Andrew and three partners opened a multi-level nightclub and live concert hall in downtown Manhattan, New York City. The venue is named Santos Party House, and features of dance floor and concert facilities, and over 150 loud-speakers. The space is designed for disco dancing and live music. It was one of the few new venues in New York City to be granted a liquor license and a cabaret license. The cabaret license means people can legally dance until 4am. Since opening, Santos Party House has received numerous awards, including: The People's Choice Award for Best Night Club, Best New Club, Best DJ Night (from Paper Magazine), Best New Dance Floor (from The Village Voice), and many more. In May 2009, Andrew and his work with Santos was the subject of an extensive four page article in New York Magazine. In 2010, the world famous Zagat Survey rated Santos Party House the "Top Dance Club" in all of New York City.

Record label

In February 2009, Andrew found a loophole in his contractual constraints and formed the record label, "Skyscraper Music Maker", based in London, England and Manhattan, New York City, United States. The label is manufactured and distributed exclusively by the UK based, Cargo Records. The first release for the label was the promotional compilation CD, "DAMN! The Mixtape Vol. 1", featuring Andrew's work as a producer for Skyscraper Music Maker artists, Bad Brilliance, Aleister X, and Cherie Lily and music by New York producer, DJ B-Roc. The CD was released in the UK on May 25, 2009, and on digital download sites like iTunes and Amazon.

The second release on the Skyscraper Music Maker label was Andrew's album of "spontaneous solo piano improvisations", entitled ''55 CADILLAC'', on September 9, 2009. This was Andrew's first album made "by himself", as he told the UK newspaper, The Guardian.

The third release on the label was the debut 12" EP from artist, Aleister X. The EP was called ''Bangers & Beans'', and featured four songs written by Aleister X and produced by Andrew W.K. The EP was released on November 10, 2009. In May 2010, it was announced that Aleister X would be releasing a second EP, ''The Git''.

In late 2009, the Louise Harland Corporation (LHC) went into heated negotiations with Andrew's management and the owners of the first "Andrew W.K. record label", Skyscraper Music Maker, based in London, England. LHC fought to take control of the label, after Skycraper released Andrew's 2009 solo piano album, ''55 Cadillac'' - which was recorded with their involvement - but sold without their permission. LHC demanded credit on each future Skyscraper release, among other financial stipulations. As a result, the Skyscraper Music Maker label name was changed to "STEEV MIKE".

In March, 2010, the newly named STEEV MIKE label presented its first official release: the repackaged 2-disc version of Andrew's 2006 album, ''Close Calls With Brick Walls''. In September, 2010, it was announced that Cherie Lily would be releasing her debut EP ''WERK'', on the STEEV MIKE label, which features her original song and six remixes.

In March 2011, Andrew released a new EP entitled ''Party All Goddamn Night''. It consists of five new tracks and two previously released singles.

"Steev Mike" accusation

Rumors suggest that another person, known as "Steev Mike", is behind Andrew W.K.'s music. The rumors began in late 2001 with the release of Andrew's first album, ''I Get Wet'', when music critics and industry insiders like Gary Mullholand (of the Guardian) and Ryan Schreiber (of Pitchfork) accused Andrew W.K. of being a corporate construction.

In late 2000, an article in UK magazine ''Dazed & Confused'' featured a full-page story on "Steev Mike", but showed a photo and discography of "Andrew W.K.". In April 2001, Bulb records (who had released the first AWK record), made a page with lots of references to Steev Mike where it would later be changed to "Andrew WK". The name, "Steev Mike" was listed as "Executive Producer" on Andrew's first album ''I Get Wet'' in 2001, and again in 2006 on Andrew's DVD ''Who Knows'' and third album, ''Close Calls With Brick Walls''. Steev Mike was not credited on the second album, "The Wolf", released in 2003.

A series of websites appeared in November 2004, supposedly created by someone calling himself "Steev Mike", consisting of easily decipherable coded messages. These messages included references to the Creative Artists Agency, a casting agency, and promises to reveal something. In the final message, a letter addressed directly to Andrew W.K., "Steev Mike" stated: "You know how much I believe in you and all that you stand for, because I stood for it first. You know how much I love your music, because I created it. You know that I love the way you look and act and talk and sing and dance because it was born in my brain." The message goes on to say: "Your recent efforts to exclude me from the 3rd album material will not be tolerated. I did not work for the last year on these new songs in order to have you break promises." and later: "If you refuse to comply, I will have no choice but to let the world know that you’re a backstabbing fraud."

Andrew W.K.'s official website also appeared to have been hacked during the same period, with someone leaving the same coded messages, taunting and insulting users.

It is unclear who was behind these messages, but they provoked a statement by Andrew himself, addressing the confusion, posted on his official website. In the statement, addressed "Dear everyone", he wrote, "PLEASE DON'T BELIEVE STEEV MIKE. I USED TO CALL MYSELF STEEV MIKE A LONG TIME AGO AND IT'S NOTHING NOW. Someone is trying to confuse you and make me look bad."

In March 2006, a 1992 Bulb Records 7" 45 recorded under the name "Steev Mike" was discovered. The tracks on the record were found to be from another Bulb band known as ''Couch''.

In May 2009 Andrew discussed the "Steev Mike" rumors once in an interview with British magazine, ''Front''. In the interview he stated, "Steev Mike is the executive producer on my first album. The nature of how we presented my initial offerings caused some confusion, even though I tried to make it as straightforward as possible". He also added, "most of what you've heard is exaggerated but the parts that are true may be more disturbing than you'd hoped".

According to corporate records filed with the Secretary of State of Michigan, "Andrew W.K. Inc." filed a certificate of assumed name on May 28, 2010 to transact business under the name "Steev Mike." Also according to corporate filings in Michigan, Andrew Wilkes-Krier is the president and sole officer of "Andrew W.K. Inc." and has been since the corporation's first annual report was filed in April 2000 if not earlier. "Andrew W.K. Inc." was formed in December 1999.

In an interview with MTV in January 2010, Andrew WK did his best to explain who "Steev Mike" is, noting that legal restraints prevent him from revealing everything: "The best way I can answer is [that Steev Mike is] a name given to a group of people who don't want to be named."

Legal disputes

In September 2009, writing in the British newspaper, ''The Guardian'', Andrew apparently acknowledged the "Steev Mike" website hacking: "At the end of 2004, an old friend of mine got in some business trouble and basically decided to take it out on me. To cut a long story short, this person is someone I worked very closely with and had a formal and family business relationship with. Due to various complaints this person had with me, they were able to turn my life and career upside down. I wasn't allowed to use my own name within certain areas of the US entertainment industry and we were in a debate about who owned the rights to my image, and who should get credit for "inventing" it. This made my life complicated and intense for a few years, but I kept working and doing whatever I could to keep moving forward."

Andrew WK's third album, ''Close Calls with Brick Walls'' apparently suffered from legal problems, possibly relating to the ones mentioned above, and was only released in 2010, despite being ready for release in 2006.

In December 2009, a lecture recorded at Madame Jojo's in London in September 2008 was published online. During the lecture Andrew W.K. jokingly stated that the Andrew W.K. persona was created by a committee including himself, his father, and other individuals, and that he was the "next person playing Andrew W.K." Claiming, "I'm not the guy you've seen from the ''I Get Wet'' album... I'm not that same person. I don't just mean that in a philosophical or conceptual way. It's not the same person at all."

He went further on to say: "Andrew W.K. was created by a large group of people. They met, and I was there, and we talked about how we could come up with something that would move people. It was done in the spirit of commerce. It was done in the spirit of entertainment, which usually goes hand in hand with commerce. I was auditioned, along side many other people, to fill this role of a 'great frontman', 'a great performer'. On the one hand it may be a little scary to admit this to you all, that I may not be exactly who you thought I was, and that the guy who was, in fact, first hired as Andrew W.K. is a different person than the guy sitting here on the stage tonight. I'm the next person who is playing Andrew W.K."

Finally, in an interview before the performance he said, "I thought it would be more interesting if my secret history was revealed after the fact rather than as a precursor".

On January 3, 2010, apparently in response to criticism to his previous statements, Andrew W.K. published an article on his official website declaring, "I am a real person who thinks for himself and am not the victim of anyone or group of people trying to influence my career or life. I take responsibility for everything in my life, including who I work for and what happens to me because of it. Just because a person has mentors or advisers doesn't mean they don't have their own brain and soul. And just because I work with other people who advise me doesn't mean that I am a puppet for an evil cult or have some sort of master plan."

"Ask Andrew WK Anything"

On February 14, 2010, Andrew WK hosted an event at Santos Party House in New York, where members of the public could ask him anything they liked. At the event W.K. admitted he could not answer certain questions, and that "when I agreed to do this, in 1999 or 2000, no one anticipated this level of questioning and doubt". He also stated that "I am Andrew W.K., the same that has been here from the beginning... I am... I am, I am the same Andrew W.K. at this appearance as at all Andrew W.K.-related appearances."

Personal life

Andrew has said in interviews that his parents sent him to a child psychologist following exploits in arson, baseball card forgery, mail fraud, and the composition of a controversial song about a school mate whom Andrew had a crush on. The song eventually earned Andrew a juvenile restraining order which lasted until he was 21.

On October 4, 2008, Andrew married Cherie Pourtabib (also known as Cherie Lily), four years after the couple met. They were introduced by their heavy-metal voice teacher. Andrew currently resides in Midtown Manhattan, in New York City.

Discography

References

External links

AndrewWK.com - Official site

AndrewWKMusic.com - Fansite

June 2009 Interview with Andrew Wk

SantosPartyHouse.com - Official site

The Rumpus Long Interview with Andrew W.K.

Andrew W.K. Interview at Disappear Here magazine

Andrew W.K. performs and is interview on Radio Happy Hour

Andrew W.K. interview on the Metal Injection Livecast

Andrew W.K. On VYou!

Category:1979 births Category:American male singers Category:American motivational speakers Category:American rock musicians Category:American rock pianists Category:People from Ann Arbor, Michigan Category:Music of Ann Arbor, Michigan Category:Living people Category:Musicians from Michigan Category:American record producers Category:American television personalities Category:American multi-instrumentalists

ca:Andrew W.K. da:Andrew W.K. de:Andrew W. K. es:Andrew W.K. fr:Andrew W.K. ko:앤드루 W.K. it:Andrew W.K. nl:Andrew W.K. ja:アンドリューW.K. pl:Andrew W.K. pt:Andrew W.K. simple:Andrew W.K.

name	Peter Sellers
birth name	Richard Henry Sellers
birth date	September 08, 1925
birth place	Southsea, Hampshire, England, United Kingdom
death date	July 24, 1980
death place	London, England, United Kingdom
death cause	Heart Attack
nationality	British
occupation	Actor, comedian
ethnicity	Jewish
years active	1948–1980
spouse	Anne Hayes(m. 1951-1961; divorced)Britt Ekland(m. 1964-1968; divorced)Miranda Quarry(m. 1970-1974; divorced)Lynne Frederick (m. 1977-1980; his death)
children	Michael (deceased), Sarah, Victoria }}

Richard Henry Sellers, CBE (8 September 1925 – 24 July 1980), known as Peter Sellers, was a British comedian and actor. Perhaps best known as Chief Inspector Clouseau in ''The Pink Panther'' film series, he is also notable for playing three different characters in ''Dr. Strangelove'', as Clare Quilty in ''Lolita'', and as the man-child and TV-addicted Chance the gardener in his penultimate film, ''Being There''. Leading actress Bette Davis once remarked of him, "He isn't an actor—he's a chameleon."

Sellers rose to fame on the BBC Radio comedy series ''The Goon Show''. His ability to speak in different accents (e.g., French, Indian, American, German, as well as British regional accents), along with his talent to portray a range of characters to comic effect, contributed to his success as a radio personality and screen actor and earned him national and international nominations and awards. Many of his characters became ingrained in public perception of his work. Sellers' private life was characterized by turmoil and crises, and included emotional problems and substance abuse. Sellers was married four times, and had three children from the first two marriages.

An enigmatic figure, he often claimed to have no identity outside the roles that he played, but he left his own portrait since, "he obsessively filmed his homes, his family, people he knew, anything that took his fancy right to the end of his life—intimate film that remained undiscovered until long after his death in 1980." The director Peter Hall has said: "Peter had the ability to identify completely with another person, and think his way physically, mentally and emotionally into their skin. Where does that come from? I have no idea. Is it a curse? Often, I think it's not enough, though, in this business to have talent. You have to have talent to handle [your] talent. And that I think Peter did ''not'' have."

Early life

Sellers was born in Southsea, Portsmouth, to a family of entertainers. Though christened Richard Henry, his parents always called him Peter, after his elder stillborn brother, and, according to Bryan Forbes, "was, during his formative years, totally smothered in maternal affection". He attended the North London Roman Catholic school St. Aloysius College, although his father, Yorkshire-born Bill Sellers, was Protestant and his mother, Agnes Doreen 'Peg' ''née'' Marks was Jewish. His great-great-grandfather was Daniel Mendoza, the 18th century British prizefighter of Jewish ancestry. As an adult, notes film critic Alexander Walker, Mendoza was the ancestor Sellers "most revered," and he usually kept an engraving of him hanging in his office. At one time he planned on having Mendoza's image for his production company's logo.

According to Sellers' biographer Roger Lewis, Sellers was intrigued by Catholicism, but soon after entering Catholic school, he "discovered he was a Jew—he was someone on the outside of the mysteries of faith." Sellers says that teachers referred to him as "The Jew", which led to his subsequent sensitivity to anti-semitic innuendos. He was a top student at the school, and recalls that the teacher once scolded the other boys for not studying: "The Jewish boy knows his catechism better than the rest of you!"

Later in his life, Sellers is quoted as saying "My father was solid Church of England but my mother was Jewish—Portuguese Jewish—and Jews take the faith of their mother." Film critic Kenneth Tynan noted after his interview with Sellers that one of the main "motive forces" for his ambition as an actor was "his hatred of anti-semitism." Tynan explained:

In scholars, lawyers, doctors and vaudeville comedians, Jewishness is tolerated. In legitimate actors, much less often. . . . Hence [Peter Seller's refusal] to be content with the secure reputation of a great mimic and his determination to go down in history as something more—a great actor, perhaps, or a great director.

Sellers was of the opinion that "becoming part of some large group never does any good. Maybe that's my problem with religion," he said during an interview. He explained:

"I wasn't baptized. I wasn't Bar Mitzvahed. I suppose my basic religion is doing unto others as they would do unto me. But I find it all very difficult. I am more inclined to believe in the Old Testament than in the New . . . .

Accompanying his family on the variety show circuit, Sellers learned stagecraft, which proved valuable later. He performed at age five at the burlesque Windmill Theatre in the drama ''Splash Me!'', which featured his mother. However, he grew up with conflicting influences from his parents and developed ambivalent feelings about show business. His father lacked confidence in Peter's abilities to ever become much in the entertainment field, even suggesting that his son's talents were only enough to become a road sweeper, while Sellers' mother encouraged him continually.

Sellers got his first job at a theatre in Ilfracombe, when he was 15, starting as a janitor. He was steadily promoted, becoming a box office clerk, usher, assistant stage manager, and lighting operator. He was also offered some small acting parts. Working backstage gave him a chance to see serious actors at work, such as Paul Scofield. He also became close friends with Derek Altman, and together they launched Sellers' first stage act under the name "Altman and Sellers," where they played ukuleles, sang, and told jokes. They also both enjoyed reading detective stories by Dashiell Hammett, and were inspired to start their own detective agency. "Their enterprise ended abruptly when a potential client ripped Sellers' fake moustache off."

At his regular job backstage at the theatre, Sellers began practising on a set of drums that belonged to the band "Joe Daniels and His Hot Shots." Joe Daniels began noticing his efforts and gave him some practical instructions. Sellers' biographer Ed Sikov writes that "drumming suited him. Banging in time Pete could envelop himself in a world of near-total abstraction, all in the context of a great deal of noise."

World War II period

As war broke out in Europe, Sellers continued to develop his drumming skills, which strongly impressed even his father and landed Sellers his first drumming job with a band in Blackpool.

He later enlisted, and during World War II Sellers was an airman in the Royal Air Force, rising to corporal, though he had been restricted to ground staff because of poor eyesight. His tour included India and Burma, although the duration of his stay in Asia is unknown and its length may have been exaggerated by Sellers himself. He also served in Germany and France after the war. As a distraction from the life of a non-commissioned officer, Sellers joined the Entertainments National Service Association (ENSA), which his father had earlier also signed up with, allowing him to hone his drumming and comedy. By the end of the war in 1945, more than four out of five British entertainers had worked for ENSA, whose focus was on boosting morale of soldiers and factory workers.

He occasionally impersonated his superiors, and his portrayal of RAF officer Lionel Mandrake in the film ''Dr. Strangelove'' may have been modelled on them. He bluffed his way into the Officers' Mess using mimicry and the occasional false moustache, although as he told Michael Parkinson in the 1972 interview, occasionally older officers would suspect him. The voice of ''Goon Show'' character Major Dennis Bloodnok came from this period.

Early career

The Goon Show

After his discharge and return to England in 1948, Sellers supported himself with stand-up routines in variety theatres whose impresarios needed to legitimise their business. Sellers telephoned BBC radio producer Roy Speer, pretending to be Kenneth Horne, star of the radio show ''Much Binding in the Marsh'', to get Speer to speak to him. Speer reportedly called Sellers a "cheeky young sod" for this.

As a result, Sellers was given an audition, which led to his work on ''Ray's a Laugh'' with comedian Ted Ray. His principal radio work was on ''The Goon Show'' with Spike Milligan, Harry Secombe and (originally) Michael Bentine. Sellers followed this with television work.

Records

In the late 1950s, Sellers released two comedy records produced by George Martin: ''The Best of Sellers'' and ''Songs for Swinging Sellers''. ''The Best of Sellers'' album cover (first released in 10" format in 1958 and his debut LP) pictured him polishing a Rolls-Royce motor car. The most popular tracks on this album were "Balham, Gateway to the South" (a parody travelogue) and "Suddenly It's Folksong" where a group of people end up smashing up a pub after a row over someone playing a bum note. The ''Songs for Swinging Sellers'' album, released in 1959, whose title parodied Frank Sinatra's album Songs for Swinging Lovers, contained material written by Frank Muir and Denis Norden, and featured Sellers performing "Puttin on the Style" (a parody of the skiffle movement's performer Lonnie Donegan). Sellers also appeared with guest Irene Handl on the track "Shadows on the Grass" where he played the part of a Frenchman befriending a lady in the park. Musical direction was by Ron Goodwin.

In 1963, Sellers worked with Anthony Newley, Leslie Bricusse and Joan Collins to produce the LP ''Fool Britannia''. This comprised a series of sketches satirizing the British political scandal the Profumo Affair, in which the Minister for War was revealed to have lied about his relationship with a prostitute who was also involved with a Russian diplomat. The album was controversial, in part perhaps because of material involving the royal family, and would-be buyers in the United Kingdom found it especially hard to obtain.

A 1965 hit was a spoof spoken version of the Beatles' "A Hard Day's Night", in the style of Laurence Olivier. This followed up various pieces of Olivier-style speech in the Goons.

In 1979 he released a new gatefold album entitled ''Sellers' Market'' (the cover shows him standing next to traders reading the ''Financial Times'' and the ''Wall Street Journal'' whereas Sellers is reading the ''Finchley Press'') which included comic singing and a feature called the "All England George Formby Finals" where he parodies the late George Formby and his ukulele playing. Also featured was the ''Complete Guide to Accents of the British Isles''. The album was not as popular as his first two in 1958 and 1959 although it is still sought after by collectors. All of his albums exploited Sellers's ability to use his flexible voice to comedic effect.

Acting technique and preparation

In an October 1962 interview for ''Playboy'', Sellers described how he prepared for acting roles once he agreed to play the part:

Film career

Sellers' film success arrived with British comedies, including ''The Ladykillers'', ''I'm All Right Jack'' and ''The Mouse That Roared''. In his early film roles, he continued to exploit his ability to do accents and different voices, often in character parts and occasionally playing several distinct roles in a single film. In his second movie, he played two parts; in his third, six (see chart below).

In ''The Smallest Show on Earth'', the 27-year-old actor played a doddering, drunken elderly projectionist twice his actual age. In ''The Mouse That Roared'', set in a small European country, he played three major and distinct roles, the elderly queen, the ambitious Prime Minister, and the innocent and clumsy farm boy selected to lead an invasion of the United States. In the United States he received considerable publicity for playing three parts, a stunt he would do again in ''Dr. Strangelove''.

He began receiving international attention for his portrayal of an Indian doctor in ''The Millionairess'' with Sophia Loren. The film inspired the George Martin-produced novelty hit single ''Goodness Gracious Me'' and its follow-up ''Bangers and Mash'', both featuring Sellers and Loren.

''Lolita''

In 1962, Stanley Kubrick asked Sellers to play the role of Clare Quilty in ''Lolita'' opposite James Mason and Shelley Winters. Kubrick had seen Sellers in his earlier films and was intrigued by his range, also demonstrated during ''The Goon Show'' period when Sellers had done impressions of famous people, such as Winston Churchill, the Queen, and Lew Grade.

However, Sellers felt the part of a flamboyant American television playwright was beyond his ability, mainly because Quilty was, in Sellers' words, "a fantastic nightmare, part homosexual, part drug addict, part sadist...". He became nervous about taking on the role, and many people came up to him and told him they felt the role believable. Kubrick eventually succeeded in persuading Sellers to play the part, however. Kubrick had American jazz musician and producer Norman Granz record Sellers' portions of the script for Sellers to listen to, so he could study the voice and develop confidence.

Unlike most of his earlier well-rehearsed movie roles, Sellers was encouraged by Kubrick to improvise throughout the filming in order to exhaust all the possibilities of his character. Moreover, in order to capture Sellers at his most creative heights, Kubrick often used as many as three cameras. Sellers and Kubrick created the multiple disguises used by Sellers, such as a state trooper and a German psychologist. As filming progressed, the other actors and the crew would notice Sellers' greatly enjoying his acting and, according to Kubrick, reaching "...what can only be described as a state of comic ecstasy". The movie's cinematographer, Oswald Morris, further commented that, "the most interesting scenes were the ones with Peter Sellers, which were total improvisations."

Because of this experience, Sellers found that his relationship with Kubrick became one of the most rewarding of his career.

''Dr. Strangelove''

{{Image gallery |title= |lines=1 |width=200 |height= |Dr. Strangelove - Group Captain Lionel Mandrake.png||Group Captain Mandrake |Dr. Strangelove - President Merkin Muffley.png||President Merkin Muffley |Dr. Strangelove.png||Dr. Strangelove }} In Kubrick's next film, ''Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb'' he asked Sellers to be in the leading role. Sellers played three extremely different characters: U.S. President Merkin Muffley, Dr. Strangelove, a heavily German-accented nuclear scientist, and Group Captain Lionel Mandrake of the RAF. Sellers was initially hesitant about taking on the task, but Kubrick convinced him that there was no better actor that could play these parts.

Muffley and Dr. Strangelove appeared in the same room throughout the film, with the help of Kubrick's special effects. Sellers was originally also cast to play a fourth role as bomber pilot Major T. J. "King" Kong but although script contributor Terry Southern (a native Texan) taped his own voice reading Kong's lines to coach the actor in the strong Texas accent required, Sellers was unable to master it. Shortly before he was to shoot the scenes as Kong, he reportedly fell and fractured his ankle, forcing Kubrick to recast the part with Slim Pickens. For his performance in all three roles, Sellers was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor. Kubrick again gave Sellers a free rein to improvise throughout the filming. Sellers once said, "If you ask me to play myself, I will not know what to do. I do not know who or what I am."

''Pink Panther''

thumb|left|175px|Peter Sellers as [[Inspector Clouseau|Chief Inspector Clouseau in the ''The Pink Panther'']] From 1963, Sellers was cast as the bumbling Chief Inspector Clouseau in the ''The Pink Panther'' movies. This character gave Sellers a worldwide audience, beginning with ''The Pink Panther'' and its sequel, ''A Shot in the Dark'', in which he featured more prominently. He returned to the character for three more sequels from 1975 to 1978. ''The Trail of the Pink Panther'', containing unused footage of Sellers, was released in 1982, after his death. His widow, Lynne Frederick, successfully sued the film's producers for unauthorized use. Sellers had prepared to star as Chief Inspector Clouseau in another Pink Panther film; he died before the start of this project, ''Romance of the Pink Panther''.

''Being There''

In 1979, Sellers played the role of Chance, a simple gardener addicted to watching TV, in the black comedy ''Being There'', considered by some critics to be the "crowning triumph of Peter Sellers's remarkable career," as well as a great achievement for novelist Jerzy Kosinski. During a BBC interview in 1971, Sellers said that more than anything else, he wanted to play the role of Chance.

Kosinski, the book's author, felt that the novel was never meant to be made into a film, but Sellers succeeded in changing his mind, and Kosinski allowed Sellers and director Hal Ashby to make the film, provided he could write the script. According to film critic Danny Smith, Sellers was "naturally intrigued with the idea of Chance, a character who reflected whatever was beamed at him".

Sellers's performance was praised by some critics as achieving "the pinpoint-sharp exactitude of nothingness. It is a performance of extraordinary dexterity", and "...[making] the film's fantastic premise credible".

Sellers's experience of working on the film was both humbling and powerful for him. During the filming, in order not to break his character, he refused most interview requests, and even kept his distance from other actors. He tried to remain in character even after he returned home. Sellers considered Chance's walking and voice the character's most important attributes, and in preparing for the role, Sellers worked alone with a tape recorder, or with his wife, and then with Ashby, to perfect the clear enunciation and flat delivery needed to reveal "the childlike mind behind the words."

Critic Frank Rich noted the acting skill required for this sort of role, with a "schismatic personality that Peter had to convey with strenuous vocal and gestural technique. . . . A lesser actor would have made the character's mental dysfunction flamboyant and drastic. . . . [His] intelligence was always deeper, his onscreen confidence greater, his technique much more finely honed."

''Being There'' earned Sellers his best reviews since the 1960s, a second Academy Award nomination and a Golden Globe award. A few months after the film was released, ''Time'' magazine wrote a cover-story article about Sellers, entitled, "Who is This Man?" The cover showed many of the characters Sellers had portrayed, including Chance, Quilty, Strangelove, Clouseau, and the Grand Duchess Glorianna XII. Sellers was pleased by the article, written by critic Richard Schickel, and wrote an appreciative letter to the magazine's editor."

Final projects

Sellers' last movie was ''The Fiendish Plot of Dr. Fu Manchu'', a comedic reimagining of the classic series of adventure novels by Sax Rohmer. In this new version, Sellers played both "Fu Manchu" and his arch nemesis, police inspector Nayland Smith. Production of the film ran into problems from the start, with Sellers' poor health and mental instability causing long delays and bickering between star and director Piers Haggard. With roughly 60% of the movie shot, Sellers had Haggard sacked and took over direction himself. Haggard later complained that the reshoots Sellers ordered added nothing to the production, and had resulted in the film being incoherent and unfocused. The movie contains references to Sellers' serious heart troubles, including scenes where Fu revives his ancient body with large electric shocks.

Sellers died shortly before ''Fu Manchu'' was released, with his very last performance being that of conman "Monty Casino" in a series of adverts for Barclays Bank. In 1982, Sellers returned to the big screen as Inspector Clouseau in ''Trail of the Pink Panther'', which was composed entirely of deleted scenes from his past three ''Panther'' movies, in particular ''The Pink Panther Strikes Again'', with a new story written around them. David Niven also reprised his role of Sir Charles Lytton in this movie. Along with what many, notably his widow Lynne Frederick, saw as exploitation of Sellers, the manner in which Niven's cameo was handled has earned the movie a lasting unsavoury reputation. Edwards continued the series with a further instalment called the ''Curse of the Pink Panther'', which was shot back to back with the framing footage for ''Trail'', but Sellers was wholly absent from this film.

After ''The Fiendish Plot of Dr. Fu Manchu'', Sellers was scheduled to appear in another Clouseau comedy, ''The Romance Of The Pink Panther''. Its script, written by Peter Moloney and Sellers himself, had Clouseau falling for a brilliant female criminal known as 'The Frog' and aiding her in her heists with the aim to reform her character. Blake Edwards did not participate in the planning of this new Clouseau instalment, as the working relationship between him and Sellers had broken down during the filming of ''Revenge Of The Pink Panther''. The final draft of the script, including a humorous cover letter signed by "Pete Shakespeare", was delivered to United Artists' office less than six hours before Sellers died. Sellers death ended the project, along with two other planned movies for which Sellers had signed contracts in 1980. The two films—''Unfaithfully Yours'' and ''Lovesick''—were rewritten as vehicles for Dudley Moore; both performed poorly at the box office upon release. Trade papers such as ''Variety'' carried an elaborately curlicued advert for the former movie, with Sellers at the top of the cast list, in early June 1980.

Other roles

Director Billy Wilder hired Sellers to co-star with Dean Martin for the ribald 1964 comedy ''Kiss Me, Stupid'', but six weeks into filming, Sellers suffered a heart attack. Wilder replaced him with Ray Walston.

Sellers was a versatile actor, switching from broad comedy, as in ''The Party'', in which he portrayed a bumbling Indian actor Hrundi Bakshi, to more intense performances as in ''Lolita''.

Sellers appeared in an episode of the American television series ''It Takes a Thief'' in 1969. By the early 1970s he faced a downturn, however, and was dubbed "box office poison". Sellers never won an Oscar but won the BAFTA for ''I'm All Right Jack''.

Sellers appeared on ''The Muppet Show'' television series in 1977. He chose not to appear as himself, instead appearing in a variety of costumes and accents. When Kermit the Frog told Sellers he could relax and be "himself," Sellers (while wearing a Viking helmet, a girdle and one boxing glove, claiming to have attempted to dress as Queen Victoria), replied, "There is no me. I do not exist. There used to be a me, but I had it surgically removed."

Personal life

Sellers was reticent about discussing his private life. He was invited to appear on Michael Parkinson's eponymous chat show in 1974, but agreed under the condition that he could appear in character. Sellers appeared dressed as a member of the Gestapo, impersonating the Kenneth Mars character in ''The Producers''. After a few lines in keeping with his assumed character, he stepped out of the role and settled down for what is considered one of Parkinson's most memorable interviews.

Marriages

Sellers was married four times and fathered three children:

Anne Hayes (née Howe, 1951–1961). They had a son, Michael, and a daughter, Sarah.

Swedish actress Britt Ekland (1964–1968). They had a daughter, Victoria Sellers. The couple appeared in three films together: ''Carol For Another Christmas'' (1964), ''After the Fox'' (1966), and ''The Bobo'' (1967).

Australian model Miranda Quarry (now the Countess of Stockton; 1970–1974).

English actress Lynne Frederick (1977–1980), who was briefly married to Sir David Frost shortly after Sellers' death.

Spike Milligan wrote Sellers' multiple marriages into his scripts, referring in one 1972 radio show to "The Peter Sellers Discarded Wives Memorial". At the time, Sellers was married to Quarry.

Depression, substance abuse, and health problems

It has been suggested that Sellers suffered depression spurred by deep-seated anxieties of artistic and personal failure and exacerbated by substance abuse. It is believed that his drug use, especially amyl nitrites, contributed to heart attacks in 1964 (see below). Sellers' difficulties in his career and life prompted him to seek periodic consultations with astrologer Maurice Woodruff, who seemed to have held considerable sway over his later career.

Relationships

Other celebrities

Sellers had casual friendships with two Beatles, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. Harrison told occasional Sellers stories in interviews, and Starr appeared with him in the anarchic movie ''The Magic Christian'', which was based on Terry Southern's novel and whose theme song was Badfinger's "Come and Get It", written by Paul McCartney. Starr's two-week hiatus from the Beatles during the ''White Album'' recordings was spent aboard Sellers's yacht, where he wrote "Octopus's Garden". Starr also gave Sellers a rough mix of songs from the Beatles' ''White Album''; the tape was auctioned and bootlegged after his death. Sellers recorded a cover version of "A Hard Day's Night", in the style of Laurence Olivier's interpretation of Richard III, as well as various versions of "She Loves You", including as Dr. Strangelove, a cockney, and an Irish dentist.

Sellers's friends included actor and director Roman Polanski, who shared his passion for fast cars. Sellers had a close relationship with Sophia Loren, but accounts differ on whether or not their relationship was consummated. Sellers was the first man on the cover of ''Playboy''—he appeared on the April 1964 cover with Karen Lynn.

Sellers was a Freemason and belonged to Chelsea Lodge No 3098, a lodge whose membership consists of celebrities and performers, through which means he socialised with a number of other actors and comedians.

Royal Family

In her autobiography ''True Britt'', Britt Ekland described Sellers' close relationship with the Royal Family. "I was completely unaware of his (Sellers) connection with the British monarchy. One afternoon before we married he had disappeared saying that he had to do something 'important'. I was to learn he had spent afternoon tea with the Queen Mother at Clarence House." He was a close friend of Princess Margaret, who appears in one of his home movies.

Obsession with automobiles

Sellers had a lifelong obsession with cars, briefly parodied in a fleeting cameo in the short film ''Simon Simon'', directed by friend Graham Stark. His love of cars was also referenced in ''The Goon Show'' episode "The Space Age," where Harry Secombe introduces Sellers by saying, "Good heavens, it's Peter Sellers, who has just broken his own record of keeping a car for more than a month." In "The Last Goon Show of All", announcer Andrew Timothy cued him with "Mr. Sellers will now sell a gross of his cars and take up a dramatic voice."

Personal conflicts

Sellers' personality was described by others as difficult and demanding and he often clashed with fellow actors and directors. He had a strained relationship with friend and director Blake Edwards, with whom he worked on the ''Pink Panther'' series and ''The Party''. The two sometimes stopped speaking to each other during filming.

His work with Orson Welles on ''Casino Royale'' deteriorated as Sellers became jealous of Welles's casual relationship with Princess Margaret. The relationship between the two actors created problems during filming, as Sellers refused to share the set with Welles, who himself was no stranger to strident behaviour.

Sellers could be cruel and disrespectful, as demonstrated by his treatment of actress Jo Van Fleet on the set of ''I Love You, Alice B. Toklas''. On one occasion, Van Fleet had declined an invitation to his house, soon followed by a misunderstanding between the two actors during filming. This prompted Sellers to launch a tirade against Van Fleet in front of actors and crew.

Sellers' difficulties to maintain civil and peaceful relationships also extended into his private life. He assaulted his then wife, Britt Ekland, prompted by jealousy. Sellers sometimes blamed himself for his failed marriages. In a 1974 ''Parkinson'' interview, he admitted that "I'm not easy to live with".

Death

In the spring of 1964, at age 38, Sellers suffered a series of heart attacks (13 in a few days) while working on the set of Billy Wilder's ''Kiss Me, Stupid'', and he was replaced by Ray Walston. At one point, Sellers was pronounced dead. Sellers reportedly saw a loving, bright white light, but then looked down at the operating table where he saw a doctor attempting to resuscitate him. He also reportedly heard a voice which told him that it wasn't his time, and he returned back to his body. Although Sellers survived, his heart was permanently damaged. Sellers chose to consult with psychic healers rather than seek Western medical treatment, and his heart condition continued to deteriorate over the next 16 years. In late 1977, he suffered a second major heart attack, resulting in his being fitted with a pacemaker to regulate his heartbeat. Once again, Sellers refused to slow down, nor did he follow doctors' orders and consider open heart surgery, which could well have extended his life by several years.

A reunion dinner was scheduled in London with his ''Goon Show'' partners, Spike Milligan and Harry Secombe, for 25 July 1980. But around noon on 22 July, Sellers collapsed from a massive heart attack in his Dorchester Hotel room and fell into a coma. He died in a London hospital just after midnight on 24 July 1980, aged 54. He was survived by his fourth wife, Lynne Frederick, and his three children. At the time of his death, he was scheduled to undergo heart surgery in Los Angeles on 30 July 1980.

Although Sellers was reportedly in the process of excluding Frederick from his will a week before he died, she inherited almost his entire estate worth an estimated £4.5 million while his children received £800 each. When Frederick died in 1994 (aged 39), her mother Iris inherited everything, including all of the income and royalties from Sellers' work. When Iris dies the whole estate will go to Cassie, the daughter Lynne had with her third husband, Barry Unger. Sellers' only son, Michael, died of a heart attack at 52 during surgery on 24 July 2006 (26 years to the day after his father's death). Michael was survived by his second wife, Alison, whom he married in 1986, and their two children.

In his will, Sellers requested that the Glenn Miller song "In the Mood" be played at his funeral. The request is considered his last touch of humour, as he hated the piece. His body was cremated and he was interred at Golders Green Crematorium in London. After her death in 1994, the ashes of his former widow Frederick were co-interred with his.

Legacy and influence

The stage play, “Being Sellers,” premiered in Australia in 1998, three years after release of the biography by Roger Lewis, “The Life and Death of Peter Sellers.” The play premiered in New York in December 2010. In 2004, the book was turned into an HBO film, ''The Life and Death of Peter Sellers'', starring Geoffrey Rush.

The film ''Trail of the Pink Panther'', made by Blake Edwards using unused footage of Sellers from ''The Pink Panther Strikes Again'', is dedicated to Sellers's memory. The title reads "To Peter ... The one and only Inspector Clouseau."

In a 2005 poll to find "The Comedian's Comedian", Sellers was voted 14 in the list of the top 20 greatest comedians by fellow comedians and comedy insiders. British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen frequently referred to Peter Sellers "as the most seminal force in shaping his early ideas on comedy". Cohen was considered for the role of the biopic ''The Life and Death of Peter Sellers'' (the role went to Australian actor Geoffrey Rush).

Filmography

Year	Film	Role	Notes
1950	''The Black Rose''	Alfonso Bedoya	Voice (uncredited)
	''Penny Points to Paradise''	The Major/Arnold Fringe
	Groucho/Giuseppe/Cedric/Izzy/Gozzunk/Crystal Jollibottom
1952	''Down Among the Z Men''	Major Bloodnok
1953	''Our Girl Friday''	Parrot	Voice (uncredited)
1954	''Orders are Orders''	Private Griffin
	''John and Julie''	Police Constable Diamond
''The Ladykillers''	Mr. Robinson
	''The Case of the Mukkinese Battle Horn''	Narrator/Supt. Quilt/Asst. Commissioner Sir Jervis Fruit/Henry Crun
''The Man Who Never Was''	Winston Churchill	Voice only
	''Insomnia Is Good for You''	Hector Dimwiddle	Short film
''The Smallest Show on Earth''	Leslie Quill
	Sonny McGregor
		CPO Doherty
	Antony
	''Carlton-Browne of the F.O.''	Prime Minister Amphibulos
''The Mouse That Roared''	Grand Duchess Gloriana XII / Prime MinisterCount Rupert Mountjoy / Tully Bascombe	Three roles.
''I'm All Right Jack''	Fred Kite
	Mr. Martin
	''The Running Jumping & Standing Still Film''	Photographer
''Never Let Go''	Lionel Meadows
''The Millionairess''	Dr. Ahmed el Kabir
''Two-Way Stretch''	Dodger Lane
1961	''Mr. Topaze''	Auguste Topaze	Also Director
	''Only Two Can Play''	John Lewis
	General Leo Fitzjohn
''The Road to Hong Kong''	Indian Neurologist	Uncredited
	Clare Quilty	Nominated — Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture
	Wilfred Morgenhall
	''The Wrong Arm of the Law''	Pearly Gates
''Heavens Above!''	The Reverend John Smallwood
	Chief Inspector Jacques Clouseau
	''Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb''	Group Captain Lionel Mandrake / President Merkin Muffley / Dr. Strangelove
''The World of Henry Orient''	Henry Orient
	Chief Inspector Jacques Clouseau
	''Birds, Bees and Storks''	Narrator	Voice
''What's New Pussycat''	Doctor Fritz Fassbender
	''The Wrong Box''	Doctor Pratt
''After the Fox''	Aldo Vanucci
		Evelyn Tremble	Also (Uncredited) Writer
''Woman Times Seven''	Jean
''The Bobo''	Juan Bautista
		Hrundi V. Bakshi
''I Love You, Alice B. Toklas!''	Harold
1969		Sir Guy Grand KG, KC, CBE	Also Writer
	''A Day at the Beach''	Salesman
	Benjamin Hoffman
''Simon, Simon''	Man with two cars
''There's a Girl in My Soup''	Robert Danvers
	''Where Does It Hurt?''	Dr. Albert T. Hopfnagel
	The March Hare
	''Ghost in the Noonday Sun''	Dick Scratcher
''The Blockhouse''	Rouquet
	Sam
	''Soft Beds, Hard Battles''	Général Latour / Major Robinson / Herr Schroeder / Adolf Hitler / The President / Prince Kyoto	Played six roles.
	Queen Victoria
1975	''The Return of the Pink Panther''	Chief Inspector Jacques Clouseau
	''Murder by Death''	Sidney Wang
''The Pink Panther Strikes Again''	Chief Inspector Jacques Clouseau	Fourth film by Sellers in the Pink Panther seriesNominated — Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy
			Episode 43 originally aired February 27, 1978 in New York, and February 24, 1978 in Los Angeles
''Kingdom of Gifts''	Larcenous Mayor	Voice only
''Revenge of the Pink Panther''	Chief Inspector Jacques Clouseau	Fifth film by Sellers in the Pink Panther series
		Rudolf IV / Rudolf V / Syd Frewin	Played three roles.
''Being There''	Chance	Fotogramas de Plata for Best Foreign PerformanceGolden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or ComedyLondon Film Critics Circle Award
1980	''[[The Fiendish Plot of Dr. Fu Manchu''	Dennis Nayland Smith / Dr. Fu 'Fred' Manchu	Last film. Played two roles.Also (Uncredited) Director
1982	''Trail of the Pink Panther''	Chief Inspector Jacques Clouseau	Footage of Sellers used.

Comedy singles

Sellers released several comedy singles, many of them produced by George Martin and released on the Parlophone record label. These include the following hits:

"Any Old Iron" (1957) UK # 17

"Goodness Gracious Me" (1960) with Sophia Loren UK # 4

"Bangers and Mash" (1961), a follow-up also featuring Sophia Loren UK # 22

"A Hard Day's Night" (1965) UK # 14. This consisted of him speaking the lyrics using the stereotypical voice of an actor playing Shakespeare's Richard III. He also performed the song in costume on television. The recording was re-issued in 1993 and reached Number 52 in the UK Top 75 Singles chart.

He covered several other Beatles hits, including "Help!" and "She Loves You". Sellers also recorded a parody version of "Unchained Melody", which long went unreleased.

When asked in 1960 what he thought the music business would be like in ten years' time, Sellers retorted: ''NME'', November 1960.

Albums

Sellers made several albums, mostly of comedy pieces using his talent for voices.

Discography:

''The Best of Sellers'' (1959) UK # 3

''Songs For Swinging Sellers'' (1959) UK # 3

''Peter & Sophia'' (1960) UK # 5 with Sophia Loren

''Fool Britannia'' (1963) UK # 10 with Anthony Newley and Joan Collins.

''How To Win An Election'' (1964) UK # 20 with Harry Secombe and Spike Milligan (Note: unlike ''The Last Goon Show Of All'' this release was not credited to The Goons.)

''He's Innocent of Watergate'' (1974) with Spike Milligan

''Sellers Market'' (1979) his final album

Further reading

1108 pages. Published in the U.S. via Applause Books Roger Lewis's biography of Sellers is very comprehensive, and includes a very comprehensive index. ''Mr Strangelove;A Biography of Peter Sellers'', a book by Ed Sikov ''P.S. I Love You'' by Michael Sellers 1981 ''A Hard Act to Follow'' Michael Sellers (with Gary Morecambe, 1996). '' Sellers on Sellers'' Michael Sellers (2000, co-written with Gary Morecambe)

See also

''The Life and Death of Peter Sellers'' (2004), HBO/BBC movie with Geoffrey Rush in the title role.

References

External links

John Atrobus recalls his memorable Christmas with Peter Sellers Daily Mail Dec. 27, 2009.

Video clips

"The Unknown Peter Sellers", documentary

Peter Sellers tribute

Peter Sellers on "The Goon Show," playing drums

in stage skit of "A Hard Day's Night"

in ''Lolita''

as U.S. president in ''Dr. Strangelove''

as Dr. Strangelove

as British captain Mandrake in ''Dr. Strangelove''

in ''The Party''

in ''Being There''

Category:1925 births Category:1980 deaths Category:BAFTA winners (people) Category:Best British Actor BAFTA Award winners Category:Best Musical or Comedy Actor Golden Globe (film) winners Category:Commanders of the Order of the British Empire Category:Deaths from myocardial infarction Category:English comedians Category:English film actors Category:English impressionists (entertainers) Category:English Jews Category:English radio actors Category:English television actors Category:Jewish actors Category:Jewish comedians Category:People from Southsea Category:People from Portsmouth Category:Royal Air Force airmen

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