Herbert Lom Dies, 'Pink Panther' Actor Mourned in Hollywood
Czech-born actor Herbert Lom died at age 95 on Thursday in London.
The actor was best known for his role as Charles Dreyfus, the irritable boss to Peter Seller's detective Closeau in the "Pink Panther" series.
His son, Alec Lom, said his father died in his sleep peacefully at home, according to the Associated Press.
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The London-based star worked alongside icons such as Kirk Douglas, Stanley Kubrick, and Charlton Heston and appeared on over 100 films over the course of his 60-year career.
Lom's son Alec revealed that his father was forever grateful to director Blake Edwards for giving him a comedy role after he had been cast as "the suave Eastern bloc gangster with the dark looks," reported AP.
Also, Alec said that Lom and his co-star in both "Pink Panther" and "A Shot in the Dark" Peter Sellers had fun working together until Seller's death in 1980.
"He had many funny stories about the antics that he and Peter Sellers got up to on the set," said Lom. "It was a nightmare working with Peter because he was a terrible giggler and, between my father and Peter's laughter, they ruined dozens and dozens of takes."
Born Herbert Karel Angelo Kuchacevic ze Schluderlacheru in Prague, Lom later changed his last name to the shortest he could find, according to the Huffington Post.
Along the course of his career, Lom also appeared in the "Ladykillers" film series. Other films included "The Seventh Veil," "The Man Who Watched Trains Go By," "Spartacus," and many others.
Lom starred in 1957's "Fire Down Below" alongside Robert Mitchum and Rita Hayworth and also played Napoleon Bonaparte twice in "The Young Mr. Pitt" and in "War and Peace."
Twitter users are mourning the Hollywood star on Thursday.
"R.I.P. Herbert Lom," wrote the AV Club. "Actor of The Pink Panther, The Ladykillers, and War and Peace."
Brent posted, "So long, Herbert Lom. He went toe to toe with Sellers. No easy task! Great character man."
"RIP Herbert Lom the good and funny actor," posted Vibro.
Michael wrote, "RIP Herbert Lom. Thanks for the laughs!"
