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John Cleese

John Cleese Biography

by John Cleese

JOHN CLEESE is not just the most spiritually advanced, intellectually gifted and professionally distinguished of the Monty Python group. He is also the one who got landed with writing these fucking biographies. Twenty five minutes to midnight, and he's still sitting there, poor sod, staring into space, trying to think what he can write about himself, dog tired and he hasn't even had time for dinner. So give me a break.

I've got a script conference at nine in the morning. I've got to write an intro to a book by five in the afternoon, a press conference at five-thirty and dinner with four of the dullest people in Europe after that, and then up at six-thirty the next morning for seven days' filming on the trot. So let me off just this once, will you? I really would appreciate it. I'll make myself a cup of Horlicks and go straight to bed. Promise. I'm not the sort to give you an excuse like this and then nip out after a bit of tail. Honest. 0.K.? Thanks. I really appreciate it.

Mr. Cleese is happily unmarried and is the President of the Holland Park Schadenfreude Society.

Taken from PythOnline.

Alyce Faye Eichelberger (1992 - present)
Barbara Trentham (1981 - 1990)
Connie Booth (1968 - 1976) (divorced)

Father of Cynthia Cleese

Holds a law degree from Downing College, Cambridge University

Co-wrote several episodes of "Doctor in the House" (1969) and
its sequels with Graham Chapman, and also wrote some later
episodes as sole author.

John Cleese was a cast member of the highly successful radio
show "I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again". His fellow cast members
were Tim Brooke-Taylor, Graeme Garden, Bill Oddie and Jo
Kendall. It was in this radio show that Cleese's famous 'Ferret
Song' (later sung on the television series "At Last the 1948 Show")
was first heard.

Was a member of the prestigious Cambridge University Footlights Club.

Went to the United States with the Footlights stage show "Cambridge
Circus" in 1964, and appeared on the "Ed Sullivan Show".

When he had to join American Actors' Equity in 1989, for his third
appearance on American TV, none of the staff at the Equity office
recognised him, or had any idea who he was. Ever since one of his
most famous Monty Python sketches, The Ministry of Silly Walks,
he has found himself continualy pestered by admirers to do silly
walks for them.

Appeared on stage, on Broadway, New York, USA, with Tommy Steele
in the musical "Half a Sixpence" in 1964. He also appeared, on
stage on Broadway, in New York, with the Footlights revue,
"Cambridge Circus" in 1964.

TV commercial for Schweppes beverages (1992)

TV commercials for Magnavox TVs (1992)

Has written, acted in, and produced over 250 corporate training
videos.

Dutch TV commercial for Giro (1970s)

TV commercial for Lowney's Peanut Butter Cups

TV commercial for Comedy Central television network (1996)

TV commercial for Lexus (voice) (1998)

"Neon" (UK), February 1997, pg. 82, "Straight talking with the Man from the Ministry"

"Premiere" (UK), 1997, Vol. 5, Iss. 2, pg. 98, by: March S. Malkin, "Idol Banter"

"TV-Spielfilm" (Germany), 1997, Vol. 13, pg. 26-28, by: Volker Bleeck

"Premi�re" (France), 1997, Vol. March 1997, Iss. 240, pg. 108, by: Jean-Yves KATELAN, Diast�me, "Vous avez combien sur vous, John Cleese ?"

"Empire" (UK), 1997, Iss. 92, pg. 64-67, "ullo john gotta new ending?", by: Andrew Collins

Article

"TV Guide" (USA), 25 April 1998, Vol. 46, Iss. 17, pg. 5-6, by: Stef McDonald, "Walking On The Sun"

"Total Film" (UK), March 1997, Iss. 2

1. Love Boat: The Movie (1999)
2. "Funny Women" (1998) (mini) TV Series .... Himself
3. Out-of-Towners, The (1998) .... Hotel Consierge
4. Parting Shots (1998) .... Maurice Walpole
5. George of the Jungle (1997) (voice) .... An ape named 'Ape'
6. Fierce Creatures (1997) .... Rollo Lee ... aka Death Fish II (1996) (USA: working title)
7. Monty Python & the Quest for the Holy Grail (1996) (VG)
8. Wind in the Willows, The (1996) .... Mr. Toad's Lawyer ... aka Mr. Toad's Wild Ride (1997) (USA: video title)
9. "Look at the State We're In!" (1995) TV Series .... Himself
10. Jungle Book, The (1994) .... Dr. Plumford ... aka Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book (1994)
11. Frankenstein (1994/I) .... Mentor, Dr. Waldeman ... aka Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (1994)
12. Swan Princess, The (1994) (voice) .... Jean-Bob
13. Splitting Heirs (1993) .... Raoul P. Shadgrind
14. American Tail: Fievel Goes West, An (1991) (voice) .... Cat R. Waul
15. Bullseye! (1991) .... Man on the Beach in Barbados Who...
16. Erik the Viking (1989) .... Halfdan the Black
17. Big Picture, The (1989) .... Bartender
18. Fish Called Wanda, A (1988) .... Archie
19. Clockwise (1986) .... Brian Stimpson
20. Silverado (1985) .... Sheriff Langston
21. Secret Policeman's Private Parts, The (1984)
22. Yellowbeard (1983) .... Harvey "Blind" Pew
23. Monty Python's The Meaning of Life (1983) .... Various
24. "Whoops Apocalypse" (1982) TV Series .... Lacrobat
25. Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl (1982) .... Various roles
26. Privates on Parade (1982) .... Giles Flack
27. Secret Policeman's Other Ball, The (1982) .... Himself/Various Roles
28. Great Muppet Caper, The (1981) .... Neville
29. Secret Policeman's Ball, The (1981) .... Himself/Various Roles
30. Taming of the Shrew, The (1980) (TV) .... Petruchio ... aka BBC Television Shakespeare: Taming of the Shrew, The (1980) (TV)
31. Time Bandits (1980) .... Robin Hood
32. Away from It All (1979) (as Nigel Farquhar-Bennett) .... Narrator
33. Life of Brian (1979) .... Reg, Third Wise Man, Stoning Official, Centurion ... aka Monty Python's Life of Brian (1979)
34. To Norway, Home of Giants (1979) (TV) .... Norman Fearless
35. Monty Python Meets Beyond the Fringe (1977) ... aka Pleasure at Her Majesty's (1977)
36. Strange Case of the End of Civilisation as We Know It, The (1977) .... Arthur Sherlock Holmes
37. "Fawlty Towers" (1975) TV Series .... Basil Fawlty
38. Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1974) .... Sir Launcelot, + minor roles
39. Romance with a Double Bass (1974) .... Musician Smychkov
40. Goodies and the Beanstalk, The (1973) (TV) .... The genie
41. Love Ban, The (1973) ... aka It's a 2'6'' Above the Ground World (1973)
42. And Now for Something Completely Different (1971) .... Various roles
43. Statue, The (1971) .... Harry
44. "Monty Python's Flying Circus" (1969) TV Series .... Various roles ... aka "Monty Python" (1969)
45. Best House in London, The (1969) (uncredited) .... Jones
46. Magic Christian, The (1969) .... Director in Sotheby's
47. Interlude (1968)
48. Bliss of Mrs. Blossom, The (1968) .... Post Office Clerk
49. How to Irritate People (1968) (TV) .... Various ... aka John Cleese on How to Irritate People (1968) (TV)
50. "At Last the 1948 Show" (1967) TV Series .... Writer-performer
51. "Frost Report, The" (1966) TV Series

1. Fierce Creatures (1997) ... aka Death Fish II (1996) (USA: working title)
2. Monty Python & the Quest for the Holy Grail (1996) (VG) (screenplay Monty Python and the Holy Grail)
3. Fish Called Wanda, A (1988) (story)
4. Monty Python's The Meaning of Life (1983)
5. Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl (1982)
6. Life of Brian (1979) ... aka Monty Python's Life of Brian (1979)
7. Strange Case of the End of Civilisation as We Know It, The (1977)
8. Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1974)
9. Romance with a Double Bass (1974)
10. Rentadick (1972) (uncredited)
11. And Now for Something Completely Different (1971)
12. Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer, The (1970)
13. It's Marty (1969) (TV)
14. Magic Christian, The (1969)
15. How to Irritate People (1968) (TV) ... aka John Cleese on How to Irritate People (1968) (TV)

1. "Look at the State We're In!" (1995) TV Series (creator)
2. "Fawlty Towers" (1975) TV Series (creator)
3. "Monty Python's Flying Circus" (1969) TV Series (series creator) ... aka "Monty Python" (1969)
4. "At Last the 1948 Show" (1967) TV Series (series creator)

1. Fierce Creatures (1997) ... aka Death Fish II (1996) (USA: working title)
2. Fish Called Wanda, A (1988) (executive)

1. Monty Python's The Meaning of Life (1983) (songs)
2. "Monty Python's Flying Circus" (1969) TV Series ... aka "Monty Python" (1969)

1. Fish Called Wanda, A (1988) (uncredited)

1. "Dennis Miller Live" (1994) playing "Himself" 3/6/1998
2. "Look at the State We're In!" (1995) playing "Harold Kingsby" in episode: "Secrecy" 1995
3. "Look at the State We're In!" (1995) playing "minister" in episode: "Status Quo" 1995
4. "Unpleasant World of Penn and Teller, The" (1994) playing "Himself" 1994
5. "Cheers" (1982) playing "Dr. Simon Finch-Royce" in episode: "Simon Says" (episode # 5.21) 3/5/1987
6. "Doctor Who" (1963) playing "Art Gallery Visitor" in episode: "City of Death" (episode # 17.2) 1979
7. "Not the Nine O'Clock News" (1980) playing "Himself" in episode: "Pilot" 1979
8. "Ripping Yarns" (1977) playing "Passer-By" in episode: "Golden Gordon" 1979
9. "Muppet Show, The" (1976) playing "Himself" 1977
10. "Avengers, The" (1961) playing "Marcus Pugman" in episode: "There Were These Two Fellers" 1969

Academy Awards, USA
1989
Nominated
Oscar
Best Writing, Original Screenplay for: Fish Called Wanda, A (1988)
Nomination shared with: Charles Crichton

BAFTA Awards 1979
Won
BAFTA TV Award
Best Light Entertainment Performance for: "Fawlty Towers" (1975)
1975
Won
BAFTA TV Award
Best Light Entertainment Programme for: "Fawlty Towers" (1975)
1998
Nominated
Emmy
Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for: "3rd Rock from the Sun" (1996)
1987
Won
Emmy
Outstanding Guest Performer in a Comedy Series for: "Cheers" (1982)
- For playing "Dr. Simon Finch-Royce".
- For episode "Simon Says".
1989
Nominated
Golden Globe
Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy/Musical for: Fish Called Wanda, A (1988)