Biography

An instigator of some of the more groundbreaking developments in twentieth-century comedy, John Cleese is one of Britain's best-known actors, writers, and comedians. Famous primarily for his comic efforts, such as the television series Fawlty Towers and the exploits of the Monty Python troupe, he has also become a well-respected actor in his own right.

Born John Marwood Cleese (after his family changed their surname from "Cheese") on October 27, 1939, Cleese grew up in the middle-class seaside resort town of Weston-Super-Mare. He enrolled at Cambridge University with the intention of studying law, but soon discovered that his comic leanings held greater sway than his interest in the law. He joined the celebrated Cambridge Footlights Society--he was initially rejected because he could neither sing nor dance, but was accepted after collaborating with a friend on some comedy sketches--where he gained a reputation as a team player and met future writing partner and Python Graham Chapman.

Cleese entered professional comedy with a writing stint on David Frost's The Frost Report in 1966. While working for that BBC show, he and Chapman (who was also writing for the show) met fellow Frost Report writers Eric Idle, Terry Jones, and Michael Palin. Continuing his writing collaboration with Chapman (with whom he wrote the 1969 Ringo Starr/Peter Sellers vehicle The Magic Christian), Cleese soon was working on what would become Monty Python's Flying Circus with Chapman, Idle, Jones, Palin, and Terry Gilliam. The show, which first aired in 1969, was an iconoclastic look at British society: its genius lay in its seemingly random, bizarre take on the mundane facets of everyday life, from Spam to pet shops to the simple act of walking. Cleese stayed with Monty Python for three series; after he left, he reunited with his fellow Pythons for three movies. The first, Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1974), was a revisionist take on the Arthurian legend that featured Cleese as (among other things) the Black Knight, who refuses to end his duel with King Arthur even after losing his arms and legs. Life of Brian followed in 1979; a look at one of history's lesser-known messiahs, it featured lepers, space aliens, and condemned martyrs singing a rousing version of "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" while hanging from their crucifixes. The Pythons' third outing, the 1983 Monty Python's the Meaning of Life, was a series of increasingly outrageous vignettes, including one about the explosion of a stupendously obese man and another featuring a dinner party with Death.

In addition to his work with the Pythons, Cleese, along with first wife Connie Booth, created the popular television series Fawlty Towers in 1975. It ran for a number of years, during which time Cleese also continued to make movies. Throughout the 1980s, he showed up in films ranging from The Great Muppet Caper (1981) to Privates on Parade (1982) to Silverado (1985), which cast him as an Old West villain. In 1988, Cleese struck gold with A Fish Called Wanda, which he wrote, produced, and starred in. An intoxicating farce, the film won both commercial and critical success, earning Cleese a British Academy Award and an Oscar nomination for his screenplay, and an Oscar for co-star Kevin Kline. Cleese continued to work steadily through the 1990s, appearing in Splitting Heirs (1993) with Idle, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (1994), The Wind in the Willows (1997) and George of the Jungle (1997). Fierce Creatures, his 1997 sequel to A Fish Called Wanda, proved a disappointment, but Cleese maintained his visibility, reuniting with the surviving Pythons on occasion and starring in The Out-of-Towners and The World is Not Enough, the nineteenth Bond outing, in 1999. ~ Rebecca Flint, All Movie Guide

Filmography

Shrek 2 (2004) (voice) .... Fiona's Father
Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle (2003) .... Alex's Father
Scorched (2002) .... Charles Merchant
Best Ever Bond (2002) (TV) .... Himself/R/Q
Die Another Day (2002) .... Q
... aka D.A.D. (2002) (USA: promotional abbreviation)
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002) .... Nearly Headless Nick
Pinocchio (2002) (voice: US version) .... The Cricket
Mickey's House of Villains (2002) (V) .... Narrator (segment: "Mickey's Mechanical House")
Adventures of Pluto Nash, The (2002) .... James
... aka Pluto Nash (2002) (UK) (USA: working title)
"Wednesday 9:30 (8:30 Central)" (2002) TV Series .... Red
... aka "My Adventures in Television" (2002) (USA: new title)
Taking the Wheel (2002)
Making 'Rat Race' (2001) (V) .... Himself
Mickey's Magical Christmas: Snowed In at the House of Mouse (2001) (V) .... Narrator
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001) .... Nearly Headless Nick
... aka Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001) (International: English title) (UK)
... aka Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001) (USA)
"Sketch Show Story, The" (2001) TV Series .... Himself
... aka "Victoria Wood's Sketch Show Story" (2001) (UK: complete title)
Rat Race (2001) .... Donald P. Sinclair
100 Greatest TV Characters, The (2001) (TV) (archive footage) .... Basil Fawlty
"Human Face, The" (2001) (mini) TV Series .... Host
Comic Relief Short Pants (2001) (TV) .... Himself
"House of Mouse" (2001) TV Series .... Narrator
Edwurd Fudwupper Fibbed Big (2000) (voice)
Rockstar (2000) .... Interviewer in lounge
Magic Pudding, The (2000) (voice) .... Albert the Magic Pudding
007 Racing (2000) (VG) (voice) .... R
World Is Not Enough, The (2000) (VG) (voice) .... R
Night of a Thousand Shows (2000) (TV) .... Himself
Quantum Project (2000) .... Alexander Pentcho
Isn't She Great (2000) .... Henry Marcus
... aka Ist sie nicht großartig? (2000) (Germany)
World Is Not Enough, The (1999) .... R
... aka Pressure Point (1999) (USA: changed title)
... aka T.W.I.N.E. (1999) (UK: promotional abbreviation)
John Cleese & Anders Lund Madsen (1999) (TV) (also archive footage) .... Himself
"Mickey Mouse Works" (1999) TV Series (voice) .... Narrator
Out-of-Towners, The (1999) .... Mr. Mersault
"Laughter in the House: The Story of British Sitcom" (1999) (mini) TV Series .... Himself/"Basil Fawlty"
Comic Relief: The Record Breaker (1999) (TV) .... Himself
Lemurs (1998) (TV) .... Presenter/Narrator
... aka Born to Be Wild: Operation Lemur with John Cleese (1998) (TV) (UK)
Parting Shots (1998) .... Maurice Walpole
Starship Titanic (1998) (VG) (as Kim Bread) .... The Bomb
Funny Women (1998) (TV) .... Himself
Monty Python's Flying Circus: Live at Aspen (1998) (TV) .... Himself/Various roles (also achive footage)
... aka US Comedy Arts Festival Tribute to Monty Python (1998) (TV) (USA)
Monty Python's The Meaning of Life (1997) (VG) .... Various
John Cleeses fornemmelse for humor (1997) (TV) .... Himself
... aka John Cleese's Sense of Humour (1997) (TV) (literal English title)
George of the Jungle (1997) (voice) .... An Ape Named 'Ape'
Fierce Creatures (1997) .... Rollo Lee
"...And It's Goodnight From Him..." (1996) TV Series (archive footage)
Monty Python & the Quest for the Holy Grail (1996) (VG) .... Sir Lancelot, et. al.
Spike (1996) (TV) .... Himself
Wind in the Willows, The (1996/I) .... Mr. Toad's Lawyer
... aka Mr. Toad's Wild Ride (1997) (USA: video title)
What You Really Need to Know About... Ulcers: Gastric and Duodenal Peptic Ulcers (1995) (V) .... Introduction
Monty Python's Complete Waste of Time (1994) (VG) .... Various
Jungle Book, The (1994) .... Dr. Julien Plumford
... aka Libro de la selva, El (1994) (USA: Spanish title)
... aka Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book (1994)
Swan Princess, The (1994) (voice) .... Jean-Bob
Frankenstein (1994) .... Dr. Waldeman
... aka Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (1994)
Doctor Who: Thirty Years in the Tardis (1993) (TV) .... Art gallery patron
... aka Doctor Who: More Than Thirty Years In the Tardis (1993) (TV) (UK: video title)
Splitting Heirs (1993) .... Raoul P. Shadgrind
It's the Monty Python Story (1993) (TV) .... Himself
... aka Life of Python (1999) (TV) (USA: DVD title)
American Tail: Fievel Goes West, An (1991) (voice) .... Cat R. Waul
Grime Goes Green: Your Business and the Environment (1990) (V) .... Mr. Grime
Helping Hand, The (1990) (V)
Life of Python (1990) (TV) (also archive footage) .... Himself
... aka Life of Python: Monty Python 20th Anniversary Omnibus (1990) (TV) (UK)
Bullseye! (1990) .... Man on the Beach in Barbados Who...
Hysteria 2! (1989) (TV) .... Himself
Parrot Sketch Not Included: Twenty Years of Monty Python (1989) (TV) .... Himself (cameo)/Various roles (achive footage)
Big Picture, The (1989) .... Bartender Frankie
Erik the Viking (1989) .... Halfdan the Black
... aka Erik viking (1989) (Sweden)
Fish Called Wanda, A (1988) .... Archie
Secret Policeman's Third Ball, The (1987) .... Himself
Grand Knockout Tournament, The (1987) (TV) .... Himself
Return on Investment (1986) (V) .... Julian Carruthers
Clockwise (1986) .... Brian Stimpson
Silverado (1985) .... Sheriff John T. Langston, Turley
Budgeting (1984) (V) .... Julian Carruthers
More Bloody Meetings (1984) (V)
Secret Policeman's Private Parts, The (1984) .... Himself
Group Madness (1983) .... Himself/Harvey 'Blind' Pew
Yellowbeard (1983) .... Harvey 'Blind' Pew
Monty Python's The Meaning of Life (1983) .... Fish #2/Dr. Spenser/Humphrey Williams/Sturridge/Ainsworth/Waiter/Man/Maitre D/Grim Reaper
Privates on Parade (1982) .... Major Giles Flack
Secret Policeman's Other Ball, The (1982) .... Himself/Various Roles
Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl (1982) .... Various roles
"Whoops Apocalypse" (1982) TV Series .... Lacrobat
Secret Policeman's Ball, The (1981) .... Himself/Various Roles
You'll Soon Get the Hang of It (1981) (V)
Time Bandits (1981) .... Robin Hood
Great Muppet Caper, The (1981) .... Nevil
Peter Cook & Co. (1980) (TV) .... Various Characters
Taming of the Shrew, The (1980) (TV) .... Petruchio
... aka Complete Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare: The Taming of the Shrew, The (1980) (TV) (USA: video title)
Away from It All (1979) (as Nigel Farquhar-Bennett) .... Narrator
Pythons: Somewhere in Tunisia, Circa A.D. 1979, The (1979) (TV) (also archive footage) .... Himself
To Norway, Home of Giants (1979) (TV) .... Norman Fearless
Life of Brian (1979) .... Wise Man #1/Reg/Jewish Official/Centurion/Deadly Dirk/Arthur
... aka Monty Python's Life of Brian (1979) (UK: complete title)
Balance Sheet Barrier, The (1977) (V) .... Julian Carruthers
How Am I Doing? (1977) (V) .... Ethelred the Unready/Ivan the Terrible/William the Silent
Monty Python Meets Beyond the Fringe (1977) .... Various
... aka Pleasure at Her Majesty's (1977)
Strange Case of the End of Civilization as We Know It, The (1977) .... Arthur Sherlock Holmes
Unorganized Manager: Part One: Damnation, The (1977) (V) .... St. Peter
Unorganized Manager: Part Two: Salvation, The (1977) (V) .... St. Peter
Meetings, Bloody Meetings (1976) (V)
Awkward Customers (1975) (V)
... aka Selling Line: Awkward Customers, The (1975) (V) (UK: complete title)
Decisions, Decisions (1975) (V) .... Field Marshal Montgomery/Queen Elizabeth I./Brutus/Sir Winston Churchill
In Two Minds (1975) (V)
... aka Selling Line: In Two Minds, The (1975) (V) (UK: complete title)
More Akward Customers (1975) (V)
... aka Selling Line: More Awkward Customers, The (1975) (V) (UK: complete title)
How Not to Exhibit Yourself (1975) (V)
I'll Think About It (1975) (V)
Competitive Spirit, The (1975) (V)
It's Alright, It's Only a Customer (1975)
Who Sold You This, Then? (1975) (V) .... Charlie Jenkins
... aka Selling Line: Who Sold You This, Then?, The (1975) (V) (UK: complete title)
"Fawlty Towers" (1975) TV Series .... Basil Fawlty
Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975) .... 2nd Soldier with a keen interest in birds/The Black Knight/Relatively Smart Villager somewhat keen on burning witches/Sir Lancelot, the Brave/The Ferocious French Taunter/Tim the Enchanter
"Sez Les" (1969) TV Series .... Various Characters (1974)
Man Hunt (1974) (V) .... Ethelred the Unready/Ivan the Terrible/William the Silent
Romance with a Double Bass (1974) .... Musician Smychkov
Golf Etiquette (1973) .... A Golfer
Love Ban, The (1973) .... Contraceptives Lecturer
... aka Anyone for Sex? (1973) (UK: changed title)
... aka It's a 2'6'' Above the Ground World (1973)
Goodies and the Beanstalk, The (1973) (TV) .... The genie
Monty Python's Fliegender Zirkus (1972) (TV) .... Various roles
"Jokers Wild" (1969) TV Series .... Himself (1971, 1974)
Statue, The (1971) .... Harry
And Now for Something Completely Different (1971) .... Various roles
... aka Monty Python's And Now for Something Completely Different (1971) (UK: complete title)
Ronnie Barker Yearbook, The (1971) (TV)
Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer, The (1970) .... Pumer
"Monty Python's Flying Circus" (1969) TV Series .... Various roles (1969-1972)
... aka "Monty Python" (1974) (UK: new title)
Light Entertainment Killers (1969) (TV)
Magic Christian, The (1969) .... Mr. Dougdale, Director in Southeby's
Best House in London, The (1969) (uncredited) .... Jones
How to Irritate People (1968) (TV) .... Various
... aka John Cleese on How to Irritate People (1968) (TV)
Bliss of Mrs. Blossom, The (1968) .... Post Office Clerk
Goon Show, The (1968) (TV) .... Himself/Announcer
Interlude (1968) .... TV Publicist
"At Last the 1948 Show" (1967) TV Series .... Writer-performer
"Frost Report, The" (1966) TV Series .... Himself
All Change (????) (V) .... H.G. Wells
Can We Please Have That the Right Way Round? (????) (V)
Cold Call, The (????) (V)
Control of Working Capital, The (????) (V) .... Julian Carruthers
Cost, Profit, and Break-Even (????) (V) .... Julian Carruthers
Depreciation and Inflation (????) (V) .... Julian Carruthers
I'd Like a Word with You (????) (V) .... Ethelred the Unready/Ivan the Terrible/William the Silent
Importance of Mistakes, The (????) (V) .... Himself
Meeting of Minds, The (????) (V)
Unorganized Manager: Part Four: Revelations, The (????) (V) .... St. Peter
Unorganized Manager: Part Three: Lamentations, The (????) (V) .... St. Peter