The MagazineCanada

7. Insp. Jacques Clouseau, the Pink Panther It was a spirited debate about whether to celebrate the original 1963 Pink Panther film starring Peter Sellers or to crown Steve Martin’s 2006 reboot. In the end, Sellers’ version stands tall, its humor and timing proving hard to top for any other performer who has tried to fill his shoes. Clouseau is a master at misreading a room while slipping into moments of surprising insight, a blend that makes audiences smile even when chaos erupts. The character’s charm comes from a bold willingness to stumble forward and still land the right deduction, a charisma that has echoed through decades of parodies and homages. The Pink Panther films crystallized a template where wit, reckless optimism, and clever surprises carry a mystery all their own. That magic keeps returning, inviting new generations to fall for Clouseau’s infectious confidence and blundering ingenuity.