Apr. 7, 1964 - Peter Sellers, the British film star, fought for his life today against a heart seizure.
The 38-year-old actor suffered two setbacks following a coronary thrombosis yesterday at his home in Hollywood. He was filming the Billy Wilder comedy, “Kiss Me, Stupid” (pictured).
“His condition is very, very serious. He had a complete heart block,” said a spokesman at Cedars of Lebanon Hospital, where Sellers was under treatment in the intensive care unit.
In a medical report issued late today, doctors said he had shown “encouraging progress” and that “for the first time we have hope that he might pull through.” However, Sellers was still in critical condition and the physicians said the crisis was likely to continue for 48 hours.
Sellers’ wife of less than two months, actress Britt Ekland, was at his side.
The actor’s first setback took place early today when he suffered shock and disturbance in the rhythm of his heartbeat. He was moved from his private room to the special care section. His condition worsened several hours later when the clot from the original seizure caused “complete blockage of his heart,” the hospital spokesman said. The spokesman said stimulants were being administered to maintain the heartbeat and stand-by electrical equipment was available “in the event of heart arrest.”
Sellers is being treated by Dr. Rexford Kennamer and Dr. Eliot Corday, heart specialists.
Yesterday, Sellers telephoned United Artists Studios, where he was co-starring with Kim Novak and Dean Martin, to complain that he was ill and unable to work. Shortly afterward, he was taken to the hospital where the seizure was described as a “moderate coronary attack.” The film in which he was working was shut down.
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