Which actor played the role of which bumbling inspector in the 1964 film, The Pink Panther?

The iconic, comically inept French detective in the 1964 film was brought to life by the brilliant British actor Peter Sellers. He portrayed Inspector Jacques Clouseau, a man whose clumsy nature and misplaced confidence made him a cinematic legend. Sellers' performance was a masterclass in physical comedy and character work, defining Clouseau with a ridiculously exaggerated French accent, a trademark trench coat, and an uncanny ability to turn any situation into a slapstick disaster. His portrayal was so memorable that the character quickly overshadowed everyone else in the film.

Interestingly, Inspector Clouseau was not originally intended to be the star of the movie. The film was designed as a vehicle for David Niven, who played the suave jewel thief Sir Charles Lytton. The titular "Pink Panther" refers not to the detective, but to a priceless diamond with a flaw resembling a leaping panther. However, Sellers' hilarious and scene-stealing performance as the bumbling inspector proved so popular with audiences that the subsequent sequels shifted focus entirely to his character, cementing Clouseau as the true heart of the long-running franchise.