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John Cleese

Acting

Born October 27, 1939 · Weston-Super-Mare, Somerset, England, UK

Also known as John Marwood Cleese · Cleesey

Biography

John Marwood Cleese (born 27 October 1939) is an English actor, comedian, writer and film producer. He achieved success at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and as a scriptwriter and performer on The Frost Report. In the late 1960s he became a member of Monty Python, the comedy troupe responsible for the sketch show Monty Python's Flying Circus and the four Monty Python films: And Now for Something Completely Different, Holy Grail, Life of Brian and The Meaning of Life. In the mid 1970s, Cleese and his first wife Connie Booth, co-wrote and starred in the British sitcom Fawlty Towers. Later, he co-starred with Kevin Kline, Jamie Lee Curtis and former Python colleague Michael Palin in A Fish Called Wanda and Fierce Creatures. He also starred in Clockwise, and has appeared in many other films, including two James Bond films, two Harry Potter films, and three Shrek films. With Yes Minister writer Antony Jay he co-founded the production company Video Arts, responsible for making entertaining training films. Description above from the Wikipedia article John Cleese, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia

Awards & recognition

  • honorary doctorate · 2016
  • Rose d'Or · 2016
  • European Film Academy Lifetime Achievement Award · 2001
  • BAFTA AwardBest Actor in a Leading Role · 1989
  • Primetime Emmy AwardOutstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series · 1987
Show all 7 awards →
  • Primetime Emmy Award · 1987
  • Academy AwardBest Writing, Original Screenplay · 1989 · nominated

Filmography50+ titles

Over the Garden Wall

2014as Quincy Endicott (voice)

Monty Python's Personal Best

2006as Various Characters

Fawlty Towers

1975as Basil Fawlty

Monty Python's Flying Circus

1969as Various / Announcer

Concert for George

2003as Self

The Taming of the Shrew

1980as Petruchio

The Muppet Show

1976as Self - Special Guest Star

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

2001as Nearly Headless Nick

Doctor Who

1963as Art Gallery Visitor

Monty Python's Life of Brian

1979as Wise Man #1 / Reg / Jewish Official / First Centurion / Deadly Dirk / Arthur

Monty Python and the Holy Grail

1975as Second Swallow-Savvy Guard / The Black Knight / Peasant 3 / Sir Launcelot the Brave / Taunting French Guard / Tim the Enchanter

The Avengers

1961as Marcus Rugman

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

2002as Nearly Headless Nick (Sir Nicholas)

Ripping Yarns

1976

Monty Python: Almost the Truth - The Lawyer's Cut

2009as Self

Cheers

1982as Dr. Simon Finch-Royce

3rd Rock from the Sun

1996as Dr. Liam Neesam

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

1962as Self

At Last the 1948 Show

LOL: Last One Laughing Germany

2021as Self

The Croods: A New Age

2020Characters, Thanks

Monty Python: The Meaning of Live

2014as Self

Entourage

2004as John Cleese

Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl

1982as Various Roles

Monty Python's Fliegender Zirkus

as Various Characters

The Meaning of Monty Python

2013as Self

Shrek 2

2004as King Harold (voice)

Mickey's House of Villains

2002as Narrator (“Mickey's Mechanical House") (uncredited)

Monty Python's the Meaning of Life

1983as Various Roles

Clifford the Big Red Dog

2021as Mr. Bridwell

Conan

2010as Self - Guest

The Graham Norton Show

2007as Self - Guest

A Fish Called Wanda

1988as Archie Leach

Monty Python's and Now for Something Completely Different

1971as Announcer / Hungarian Citizen / self - Defence Teacher / Sir George Head / Policeman / Interviewer / Mr. Praline / Second General / Christopher Columbus / Mungo the Cook / Bank Robber / Accountant #2 (falling past the window) / Vocational Guidance Counselor / Vivian Smith Smythe Smith / Mountie / Town Guild Lady

Monty Python Live (Mostly)

2014as Self, others

Monty Python: Live at Aspen

1998as Self

Mad TV

1995as Self

Spud

2010as Mr. 'The Guv' Edly

Mickey's Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of Mouse

2001as Narrator (segment 'The Nutcracker') (voice)

Parrot Sketch Not Included: Twenty Years of Monty Python

1989as Self / Various Characters

Daddy Daughter Trip

2022as Frank

Speechless

2016as Martin

The Croods

2013Story

Spud 2: The Madness Continues

2013as Mr. 'The Guv' Edly

Winnie the Pooh

2011as Narrator (voice)

Will & Grace

1998as Lyle Finster (uncredited)

Silverado

1985as Sheriff John T. Langston

The Great Muppet Caper

1981as Neville

Saturday Night Live

1975as Self / Various / Mr. Praline (uncredited)

Canterbury Tales

as Comedy Role (archive footage) (uncredited)