The Only Main Actor Still Alive From The Pink Panther

"The Pink Panther" was never meant to have such a huge cultural impact — at least, not in the way that actually happened. The original 1963 film was conceived as a simple comedy about a jewel thief at an Alpine ski resort — a clever, witty farce in the style of the time. It wound up being far, far more, elevated to legendary status by Peter Sellers' iconic performance as the bumbling Inspector Clouseau and the equally iconic musical score from composer Henry Mancini.

Clouseau was never meant to be the main draw of the movie, nor Sellers the star. You need only look at the poster for "The Pink Panther" to see David Niven's name in the top spot. Niven's gentleman thief, Sir Charles Lytton, is really the first film's main character, but Sellers delivered such a memorable and hilarious performance that his character quickly became the franchise's centerpiece. To this day, the original is remembered as one of Peter Sellers' best movies. Sadly, though, neither he nor Niven are still alive, and many other actors from the original "Pink Panther" have also died.

Of the main cast, only one is still with us, carrying on the legacy of the film that launched a hundred animated intros. Stars like Claudia Cardinale, Capucine, Colin Gordon, John Le Mesurier, and Brenda de Banzie have all passed on. This is the only main actor still alive from "The Pink Panther."

The only surviving member of the main "Pink Panther" cast is Robert Wagner, who played Sir Charles Lytton's nephew George. A habitual gambler with building debts, George tries to follow in his uncle's criminal footsteps to steal the Pink Panther diamond, with lackluster results.

Though he'd made something of a name for himself prior to "The Pink Panther," Wagner's career really took off in the years after, with turns in hit films like "The Towering Inferno" and a string of TV starring roles that ran from the late-'60s through the mid-'80s. That small-screen run included "It Takes a Thief," "Switch," and a five-year run on the '80s mystery series "Hart to Hart." Wagner later found recurring roles on shows like "Two and a Half Men" and "NCIS."

Wagner is perhaps more famous these days for his alleged involvement in the death of screen icon Natalie Wood, his wife at the time in the midst of their second marriage. Wood was found drowned during a yacht excursion with Wagner and a few other notable parties, including Christopher Walken. Bruising on her body led to questions about her death, and reports later emerged of an argument with Wagner that took place during the trip. The case was still labeled unsolved as of 2022.