'Sellers was nuts - really nuts,' Edwards told The Express. As early as the first Pink Panther film, Edwards vowed to never work with Sellers again.

His infamous behavior on and off movie sets would certainly hint at some kind of serious mental health issues, including bragging about a - by all accounts - imaginary love affair with Sophia Loren and his belief that he was in psychic contact with the dead comedian Dan Leno.

In more recent years, Sellers' ex-wife, Ekland, has said she suspected he suffered from undiagnosed bipolar disorder. Along with his substance abuse, Sellers preferred alternative methods of care, such as his daily sessions with a psychic.

Sellers' heart condition would continue to be an issue until his death, and his erratic behavior likely did little to help. Not only was Sellers known to regularly abuse cocaine and alcohol, but both Sellers and his young wife would regularly consume amyl nitrite - better known as 'poppers' - to enhance their performance in bed. It's more than likely substance abuse contributed to his heart's precarious position. Sellers suffered his first heart attack at the age of 38, just two months into his marriage with his second wife - Swedish actress Britt Ekland, who was 21 at the time. Of course, the 21st century brought a new Inspector Clouseau, and there's more Pink Panther media to come. The films also inspired a popular animated series based on the pink cartoon panther who appeared in the credits of the live-action films. Starting with 1964's A Shot in the Dark, Clouseau and the series' other recurring characters proved popular enough to spawn eight sequels, with the final one releasing 30 years after the original's premiere. The Pink Panther series is one of the most enduring comedy franchises, beginning with the 1963 hit The Pink Panther, a film about an infamous jewel thief, his quest to steal the priceless diamond after which the series is named, and Clouseau's mission to stop the heist. Or maybe your interests go deeper, to when the late Peter Sellers made audiences roar with laughter at the antics of Inspector Clouseau. Maybe Steve Martin's antics introduced you to the series. Maybe you're more familiar with cartoons featuring the eponymous feline. Even if you're not a fan, there's a good chance you've heard of the Pink Panther franchise.

Pink panther play characters