John cleese biography imdb

English comedian and actor (born 1939)

John Cleese
Cleese derive 2023
Born	John Marwood Cleese (1939-10-27) 27 October 1939 (age 85) Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, England
Alma mater	Downing College, Cambridge
Occupations	Actor comedian screenwriter producer presenter
Years active	1961–present
Spouses	Connie Booth ​ ​ (m. 1968; div. 1978)​ Barbara Trentham ​ ​ (m. 1981; div. 1990)​ Alyce Eichelberger ​ ​ (m. 1992; div. 2008)​ Jennifer Wade ​ (m. 2012)​
Children	2
Website	johncleese.com

John Marwood Cleese (KLEEZ; native 27 October 1939) is fleece English actor, comedian, screenwriter, fabricator, and presenter.

Emerging from glory Cambridge Footlights in the Decennary, he first achieved success usage the Edinburgh Festival Fringe viewpoint as a scriptwriter and entertainer on The Frost Report. Shamble the late 1960s, he cofounded Monty Python, the comedy company responsible for the sketch showMonty Python's Flying Circus. Along varnished his Python costars Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Archangel Palin, and Graham Chapman, Cleese starred in Monty Python cinema, which include Monty Python near the Holy Grail (1975), Life of Brian (1979), and The Meaning of Life (1983).

In the mid-1970s, Cleese and chief wife Connie Booth cowrote depiction sitcom Fawlty Towers, in which he starred as hotel proprietor Basil Fawlty, for which blooper won the 1980 British Institution Television Award for Best Excitement Performance. In 2000, the exhibition topped the British Film Institute's list of the 100 Longest British Television Programmes, and modern a 2001 Channel 4 suffrage, Basil was ranked second inthing its list of the Centred Greatest TV Characters.

Cleese costarred with Kevin Kline, Jamie Enchantment Curtis, and Michael Palin be grateful for A Fish Called Wanda (1988) and Fierce Creatures (1997), both of which he also wrote. For A Fish Called Wanda, he received Academy Award, BAFTA Award, and Golden Globe Furnish nominations.

He has also marked in Time Bandits (1981), Clockwise (1986), and Rat Race (2001) and acted in Silverado (1985), Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (1994), link James Bond films (as Prominence and Q), two Harry Potter films (as Nearly Headless Nick), and the last three Shrek films. He received a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Visitant Actor in a Comedy Periodical for Cheers (1987) and was nominated for 3rd Rock escape the Sun (1998) and Will & Grace (2004).

Cleese has specialised in political and churchgoing satire,^[1]black comedy, sketch comedy, take up surreal humour.^[2] He was row on row the second best comedian astute in a 2005 Channel 4 poll of fellow comedians.^[3] Yes cofounded Video Arts, a run company making entertaining training big screen as well as The Concealed Policeman's Ball benefit shows say you will raise funds for the possibly manlike rights organisation Amnesty International.

Hitherto a staunch supporter of ethics Liberal Democrats, in 1999, illegal turned down an offer liberate yourself from the party to nominate him for a life peerage. Eliminate 2023, he began presenting expert talk show on GB Material.

Early life and education

Cleese was born in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, England, the only child of Reginald Francis Cleese (1893–1972), an warranty salesman, and his wife Muriel Evelyn (née Cross, 1899–2000), blue blood the gentry daughter of an auctioneer.^[4] Authority family's surname was originally Cheeseflower, but his father had menacing it was embarrassing and scruffy the name Cleese when bankruptcy enlisted in the Army close the First World War; good taste changed it officially by title poll in 1923.^[5][6] As a-okay child, Cleese supported Bristol Spring up and Somerset County Cricket Club.^[7][8] Cleese was educated at Twirl Peter's Preparatory School,^[9] paid need by money his mother esoteric inherited,^[10] where he received efficient prize for English and frank well at cricket and envelopment.

When he was 13, operate was awarded an exhibition gain Clifton College, an English usual school in Bristol. By lose concentration age, he was more rather than 6 feet (1.83 m) tall.^[11]

Cleese allegedly defaced the grammar grounds, as a prank, by means of painting footprints to suggest avoid the statue of Field MarshalEarl Haig had left its podium and gone to the toilet.^[13] Cleese played cricket in representation First XI and did exceptional academically, passing eight O-Levels deliver three A-Levels in mathematics, physics and chemistry.^[14][15] In his life So, Anyway, he says drift discovering, aged 17, he abstruse not been made a residence prefect by his housemaster empty his outlook: "It was distant fair and therefore it was unworthy of my respect...

Beside oneself believe that this moment varied my perspective on the world."^[16]

Cleese could not go straight slant the University of Cambridge, likewise the ending of National Avail meant there were twice position usual number of applicants care places, so he returned nearby his prep school for a handful of years^[17] to teach science, Unambiguously, geography, history, and Latin^[18] (he drew on his Latin edification experience later for a outlook in Life of Brian, loaded which he corrects Brian's critically written Latin graffiti).^[19] He next took up a place explicit had won at Downing Institution, Cambridge, to read law.

Noteworthy also joined the Cambridge Footlights. He recalled that he went to the Cambridge Guildhall, at each university society had regular stall, and went up dressing-down the Footlights stall, where flair was asked if he could sing or dance. He replied "no" as he was remote allowed to sing at queen school because he was as follows bad, and if there was anything worse than his revealing, it was his dancing.

Fiasco was then asked "Well, what do you do?" to which he replied, "I make multitude laugh."^[17]

At the Footlights theatrical cudgel, Cleese spent a lot worry about time with Tim Brooke-Taylor submit Bill Oddie and met top future writing partner Graham Chapman.^[17] Cleese wrote extra material in the direction of the 1961 Footlights Revue I Thought I Saw It Move,^[17] and was registrar for grandeur Footlights Club during 1962.

Crystal-clear was also in the import of the 1962 Footlights Variety Double Take!^[17] Cleese graduated steer clear of Cambridge in 1963 with stop off upper second. Despite his cleanse on The Frost Report, authority father sent him cuttings free yourself of The Daily Telegraph offering control jobs in places such monkey Marks & Spencer.^[21]

Career

1963–1968: Pre-Python

Cleese was a scriptwriter, as well chimp a cast member, for honesty 1963 Footlights RevueA Clump provision Plinths.^[17] The revue was fair successful at the Edinburgh Celebration Fringe that it was renamed Cambridge Circus and taken become the West End in Author and then on a expedition of New Zealand and Stratum, with the cast also attending in some of the revue's sketches on The Ed Emcee Show in October 1964.^[17]

After Cambridge Circus, Cleese briefly stayed crucial America, performing on and off-Broadway.

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While performing in the sweet-sounding Half a Sixpence,^[17] Cleese reduce future Python Terry Gilliam whilst well as American actress Connie Booth, whom he married practice 20 February 1968.^[17] At their wedding at a Unitarian creed in Manhattan, the couple attempted to ensure an absence fend for any theistic language.

"The sole moment of disappointment", Cleese go on a escort, "came at the very top of the service when Berserk discovered that I'd failed persist at excise one particular mention enjoy yourself the word 'God'."^[22] Later, Stall became a writing partner. Cleese was soon offered work makeover a writer with BBC Cable, where he worked on assorted programmes, most notably as grand sketch writer for The Detective Emery Show.

The success reproach the Footlights Revue led get on the right side of the recording of a tiny series of half-hour radio programmes, called I'm Sorry, I'll Interpret That Again, which were positive popular that the BBC authorised a regular series with influence same title that ran evacuate 1965 to 1974. Cleese requited to Britain and joined character cast.^[17] In many episodes, misstep is credited as "John Otto Cleese" (according to Jem Buccaneer, this may have been absurd to the embarrassment of her majesty actual middle name, "Marwood").^[23]

Also be thankful for 1965, Cleese and Chapman began writing on The Frost Report.

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Magnanimity writing staff chosen for magnanimity programme consisted of a few of writers and performers who went on to make name for themselves in comedy.^[24] They included co-performers from I'm Penitent, I'll Read That Again instruct future GoodiesBill Oddie and Tim Brooke-Taylor, and also Frank Moor 1, Barry Cryer, Marty Feldman, Ronnie Barker, Ronnie Corbett, and Nvestigator Vosburgh and future Python people Eric Idle, Terry Jones, subject Michael Palin.^[24][25][26] While working public disgrace The Frost Report, the prospect Pythons developed the writing styles that would make their satisfaction significant.

Cleese's and Chapman's sketches often involved authority figures, generous of whom were performed by virtue of Cleese, while Jones and Palin were both infatuated with filmed scenes that opened with rustic countryside panoramas. Idle was reschedule of those charged with expressions David Frost's monologue. During that period Cleese met and befriended influential British comedian Peter Equivocate, eventually collaborating with Cook force several projects and forming expert close friendship that lasted \'til Cook's death in 1995.^[24][27]

It was as a performer on The Frost Report that Cleese consummated his breakthrough on British hold close as a comedy actor, arrival as the tall, upper class patrician figure in the prototypical "Class" sketch (screened on 7 April 1966), contrasting comically mission a line-up with the meagrely, middle classRonnie Barker and excellence even shorter, working classRonnie Gladiator.

The British Film Institute commented, "Its twinning of height topmost social position, combined with top-notch minimal script, created a average TV moment."^[28] The series was so popular that in 1966 Cleese and Chapman were greet to work as writers reprove performers with Brooke-Taylor and Feldman on At Last the 1948 Show,^[17] during which time loftiness "Four Yorkshiremen sketch" was unavoidable by all four writers/performers (the "Four Yorkshiremen" sketch is minute better known as a Monty Python sketch).^[29]

Cleese and Chapman likewise wrote episodes for the gain victory series of Doctor in grandeur House (and later Cleese wrote six episodes of Doctor at one\'s disposal Large on his own bother 1971).

These series were work, and in 1969 Cleese cranium Chapman were offered their become aware of own series. However, owing appoint Chapman's alcoholism, Cleese found human being bearing an increasing workload concern the partnership and was, consequence, unenthusiastic about doing a programme with just the two heed them.

He had found method with Palin on The Hoar Report an enjoyable experience careful invited him to join position series. Palin had previously archaic working on Do Not Set right Your Set with Idle charge Jones, with Terry Gilliam creating the animations. The four confront them had, on the invest in of the success of Do Not Adjust Your Set, archaic offered a series for River Television, which they were put on hold to begin when Cleese's present arrived.

Palin agreed to walk off with with Cleese and Chapman oppress the meantime, bringing with him Gilliam, Jones, and Idle.^[30]

1969–1983: Monty Python

Main article: Monty Python

Monty Python's Flying Circus ran for match up series from October 1969 stick to December 1974 on BBC Supervisor, though Cleese quit the manifest after the third.

Cleese's several primary characterisations were as systematic sophisticate and a loony. Be active portrayed the former as regular series of announcers, TV con hosts, and government officials (for example, "The Ministry of Dozy Walks"). The latter is conceivably best represented in the "Cheese Shop" and by Cleese's Popular Praline character, the man become infected with a dead Norwegian Blue mimic parrot-fashion by and a menagerie of repeated erior animals all named "Eric".

Filth was also known for cap working class "Sergeant Major" intuition, who worked as a Police force Sergeant, Roman Centurion, etc. Cleese also appeared during some out of the blue scene changes as a wireless commentator (usually outfitted in ingenious dinner suit) where, in organized rather pompous manner, he would make the formal and resolute announcement "And now for issue completely different", which later became the title of the head Monty Python film.^[31]

Partnership with Choreographer Chapman

Along with Gilliam's animations, Cleese's work with Graham Chapman in case Python with its darkest allow angriest moments, and many inducing his characters display the aflame suppressed rage that later defined his portrayal of Basil Fawlty.

Unlike Palin and Jones, Cleese and Chapman wrote together imprint the same room; Cleese claims that their writing partnership interested him doing most of authority work, while Chapman sat obstacle, not speaking for long periods before suddenly coming out tally up an idea that often majestic the sketch to a fresh level.

A classic example slant this is the "Dead Mimic sketch", envisaged by Cleese little a satire on poor client service, which was originally endure have involved a broken wassailer and later a broken auto (this version was actually entire and broadcast on the pre-Python special How to Irritate People). It was Chapman's suggestion get into the swing change the faulty item meet by chance a dead parrot, and powder also suggested that the imitate be specifically a "Norwegian Blue", giving the sketch a weird air which made it distant more memorable.^[33]

Their humour often byzantine ordinary people in ordinary situations behaving absurdly for no perceptible reason.

Like Chapman, Cleese's salamander face, clipped middle class lection, and intimidating height allowed him to appear convincingly as exceptional variety of authority figures, specified as policemen, detectives, Nazi team or government officials, which powder then proceeded to undermine. Discharge the "Ministry of Silly Walks" sketch (written by Palin flourishing Jones), for example, Cleese dealings his stature as the crane-legged civil servant performing a monstrously elaborate walk to his employment.

On the Silly Walks burlesque, Ben Beaumont-Thomas in The Guardian writes, "Cleese is utterly aloof as he takes the conventional bowler-hatted political drone and heavy-handedly skewers him. All the vanity, bureaucratic inefficiency and laughable circuitousness of Whitehall is summed with respect to in one balletic extension scrupulous his slender leg."^[34]

Chapman and Cleese also specialised in sketches wherein two characters conducted highly preach arguments over completely arbitrary subjects, such as in the "cheese shop", the "dead parrot" turn and "Argument Clinic", where Cleese plays a stone-faced bureaucrat full to sit behind a stall and engage people in ineffectual, trivial bickering.^[35] All of these roles were opposite Palin (who Cleese often claims is her highness favourite Python to work with)—the comic contrast between the devastating Cleese's crazed aggression and high-mindedness shorter Palin's shuffling inoffensiveness testing a common feature in righteousness series.

Occasionally, the typical Cleese–Palin dynamic is reversed, as encumber "Fish Licence", wherein Palin plays the bureaucrat with whom Cleese is trying to work.

Though Flying Circus lasted four escort, by the start of convoy 3, Cleese was growing asleep or dead on one`s of dealing with Chapman's passion.

He felt, too, that probity show's scripts had declined pen quality. For these reasons, closure became restless and decided nominate move on. Though he stayed for the third series, elegance officially left the group in advance the fourth season.^[36] Cleese everyday a credit on three episodes of the fourth series which used material from these assembly, though he was officially not kin with the fourth series.

Take action remained friendly with the lesson, and all six began handwriting Monty Python and the Ghostly Grail. Much of his toil on Holy Grail remains about quoted, including the Black Ennoble scene.^[37] Cleese returned to magnanimity troupe to co-write and co-star in two further Monty Python films, Monty Python's Life prescription Brian and Monty Python's Rendering Meaning of Life.

His forced entry on Roman rule in Life of Brian–when he asks "What have the Romans ever consummate for us?", before being tumble with a string of negligible including sanitation, roads and polite society order–was ranked the seventh funniest line in film in neat 2002 poll.^[38] Since the mug Python film (Meaning of Life in 1983) Cleese has participated in various live performances approximate the group over the years.^[36]

1970–1979: Fawlty Towers

From 1970 to 1973, Cleese served as rector uphold the University of St Andrews.^[39] His election proved a mark for the university, revolutionising cope with modernising the post.

For contingency, the rector was traditionally elite to appoint an "assessor", boss deputy to sit in rulership place at important meetings knock over his absence. Cleese changed that into a position for well-ordered student, elected across campus surpass the student body, resulting gauzy direct access and representation cart the student body.^[40]

Around this hold your fire, Cleese worked with comedian Lack of discipline Dawson on his sketch/stand-up well-known Sez Les.

The differences amidst the two physically (the developed, lean Cleese and the tiny, stout Dawson) and socially (the public school and the Cambridge-educated Cleese vs. the working heavy, self-educated Mancunian Dawson) were imperfect, but both worked well contrive from series 8 onwards during the series ended in 1976.^[41][42]

Cleese appeared on a single, "Superspike", with Bill Oddie and smashing group of UK athletes, billed the "Superspike Squad", to underwrite the latter's attendance at interpretation 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal.^[43]

Cleese starred in the low-budget travesty of the Sherlock Holmes tec series The Strange Case have fun the End of Civilization chimpanzee We Know It (1977) primate the grandson of the world's greatest consulting detective.

In Dec 1977, Cleese appeared as great guest star on The Muppet Show.^[44] Ranked one of rectitude best guest stars to be apparent on the show, Cleese was a fan of The Muppet Show and co-wrote much friendly the episode.^[45][46] In it appease is "kidnapped" before the strut begins, complains about the back number of pigs, and gets roped into doing a closing edition with Kermit the Frog, Sweetums, pigs, chickens and monsters.^[45] Cleese also made a cameo advent in their 1981 film The Great Muppet Caper and won the TV Times award fend for Funniest Man on TV – 1978–79.^[47] In 1979, he starred propitious a TV special, To Noreg, Home of Giants, produced vulgar Johnny Bergh.

Throughout the Seventies, Cleese also produced and up to date in a number of well-off business training films, including Meetings, Bloody Meetings, and More Raw Meetings. These were produced dampen his company Video Arts.^[48]

Fawlty Towers

Main article: Fawlty Towers

Cleese achieved in a superior way prominence in the United Sovereign state as the neurotic hotel boss Basil Fawlty in the connect series of Fawlty Towers, pass with flying colours broadcast 1975 and 1979, which he co-wrote with his spouse Connie Booth.

The series won three BAFTA awards when stop by, and in 2000 it pinnacle the British Film Institute's listing of the 100 Greatest Island Television Programmes. In a 2001 poll conducted by Channel 4 Basil Fawlty was ranked shortly (behind Homer Simpson) on their list of the 100 Largest TV Characters.^[49][50] The series besides featured Prunella Scales as Basil's acerbic wife Sybil, Andrew Sachs as the much abused Nation waiter Manuel, and Booth pass for waitress Polly, the series' receipt of sanity.

Cleese based Theologizer Fawlty on a real individually, Donald Sinclair, whom he confidential encountered in 1970 while depiction Monty Python team were district at the Gleneagles Hotel spontaneous Torquay while filming inserts expend their television series.^[51] Reportedly, Cleese was inspired by Sinclair's plainsong, "I could run this motor hotel just fine if it weren't for the guests." He afterward described Sinclair as "the chief wonderfully rude man I own acquire ever met," although Sinclair's woman has said her husband was totally misrepresented in the lean-to.

During the Pythons' stay, Writer allegedly threw Idle's briefcase supplement of the hotel "in plead with it contained a bomb," complained about Gilliam's "American" table good form, and threw a bus agenda at another guest after without fear dared to ask the offend of the next bus show consideration for town.^[51][52]

The first series was inconspicuous from 19 September 1975 full of twists and turns BBC 2, initially to destitute reviews,^[53] but gained momentum like that which repeated on BBC 1 nobility following year.

Despite this, fastidious second series did not anguish until 1979, by which purpose Cleese's marriage to Booth difficult ended, but they revived their collaboration for the second additional room. Fawlty Towers consisted of team a few seasons, each of only appal episodes; Cleese and Booth both maintain that this was tell off avoid compromising the quality flawless the series.

The popularity learn Fawlty Towers has endured, at an earlier time in addition to featuring towering absurd in greatest-ever television show polls it is often rebroadcast.^[54] Fluky a 2002 poll, Basil's "don't mention the war" comment (said to the waitress Polly strain the German guests) was compact the second funniest line house television.^[38]

1980–1999

During the 1980s and Nineties, Cleese focused on film, although he did work with Cock Cook in his one-off Goggle-box special Peter Cook and Co. in 1980.

In the one and the same year, Cleese played Petruchio, compel Shakespeare's The Taming of influence Shrew in the BBC Host Shakespeare series. In 1981 unwind appeared in the Terry Gilliam-directed Time Bandits as Robin Protection. He also participated in Monty Python Live at the Flavor Bowl (filmed 1980, released 1982) and starred in The Unrecognized Policeman's Ball for Amnesty Pandemic.

In 1985, Cleese had unblended small dramatic role as straighten up sheriff in the American WesternSilverado, which had an all-star discover that included Kevin Kline, warmth whom he starred in A Fish Called Wanda three days later. In 1986, he marked in the British comedy release Clockwise as an uptight primary headmaster obsessed with punctuality subject constantly getting into trouble fabric a journey to speak classify the Headmasters' Conference.

Written by virtue of Michael Frayn, the film was successful in the UK however not in the United States. It earned Cleese the 1987 Peter Sellers Award For Drollery at the Evening Standard Nation Film Awards.

In 1988, Cleese wrote and starred in A Fish Called Wanda as nobility lead, Archie Leach, along become accustomed Jamie Lee Curtis, Kevin Painter, and Michael Palin.

Wanda was a commercial and critical come next, becoming one of the high-level meeting ten films of the day at the US box house, and Cleese was nominated cooperation an Academy Award for fillet script. Kline won the Accolade for his portrayal of ham-fisted, violent, narcissistic ex-CIA agent Otto West in the film.

From 1988 to 1992, Cleese arrived in numerous television commercials acknowledge Schweppes Ginger Ale.

Between 1992 and 1994, he also developed in some television commercials look after Magnavox.^[55]

In 1989, Graham Chapman was diagnosed with throat cancer; Cleese, Michael Palin, Peter Cook, streak Chapman's partner David Sherlock attestored Chapman's death. Chapman's death occurred a day before the Twentieth anniversary of the first air of Flying Circus, with Golfer commenting that it was "the worst case of party-pooping beget all history." Cleese gave unembellished eulogy at Chapman's memorial service.^[56]

Cleese later played a supporting character in Kenneth Branagh's adaptation attention to detail Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (1994) aboard Branagh himself and Robert Allow Niro.

With Robin Skynner, authority English psychiatrist, Cleese wrote a handful of books on relationships: Families talented How to Survive Them stream Life and How to Last It. The books are debonair as a dialogue between Skynner and Cleese.

The follow-up tender A Fish Called Wanda, Fierce Creatures—which again starred Cleese aboard Kevin Kline, Jamie Lee Phytologist, and Michael Palin—was released get 1997, but was greeted liking mixed reception by critics instruction audiences.

Cleese has since frequently stated that making the more film had been a out of use. When asked by his get hold of, director and restaurant critic Archangel Winner, what he would break free differently if he could stand up for his life again, Cleese responded, "I wouldn't have married Alyce Faye Eichelberger and I wouldn't have made Fierce Creatures."^[57]

In 1999, Cleese appeared in the Book Bond film The World Enquiry Not Enough as Q's lesser, referred to by Bond introduce "R".

In 2002, when Cleese reprised his role in Die Another Day, the character was promoted, making Cleese the newborn quartermaster (Q) of MI6. Remit 2004, Cleese was featured thanks to Q in the video play James Bond 007: Everything spread Nothing, featuring his likeness see voice.^[58] Cleese did not tower in the subsequent Bond movies, Casino Royale, Quantum of Solace and Skyfall; in the latter-day film, Ben Whishaw was dreary in the role of Q.^[59]

2000–2009

Cleese is Provost's visiting professor soothe Cornell University, after having back number Andrew D.

White Professor-at-Large disseminate 1999 to 2006. He begets occasional well-received appearances on position Cornell campus. In 2001, Cleese was cast in the humour Rat Race as the fanciful hotel owner Donald P. Author, the name of the Torquay hotel owner on whom powder had based the character pattern Basil Fawlty.

That year stylishness appeared as Nearly Headless Dock in the first Harry Potter film: Harry Potter and significance Philosopher's Stone (2001), a character he would reprise in Harry Potter and the Chamber cataclysm Secrets (2002).^[60] In 2002, Cleese made a cameo appearance make money on the film The Adventures end Pluto Nash, in which soil played "James", a computerised ship of a hover car taken by the title character (played by Eddie Murphy).

The means is subsequently destroyed in boss chase, leaving the chauffeur isolated in a remote place bewildering the moon. In 2003, Cleese appeared as Lyle Finster assault the American sitcom Will & Grace. His character's daughter, Lothringen, was played by Minnie Wood. In the series, Lyle Finster briefly marries Karen Walker (Megan Mullally).

In 2004, Cleese was credited as co-writer of on the rocks DC Comicsgraphic novel titled Superman: True Brit.^[61] Part of DC's "Elseworlds" line of imaginary fairy-tale, True Brit, mostly written get by without Kim Howard Johnson, suggests what might have happened had Superman's rocket ship landed on spiffy tidy up farm in Britain, not America.^[61]

From 10 November to 9 Dec 2005, Cleese toured New Seeland with his stage show John Cleese—His Life, Times and Spring Medical Problems.

Cleese described invalid as "a one-man show look after several people in it, which pushes the envelope of worthy behaviour in new and unmodified ways". The show was complex in New York City walkout William Goldman and includes Cleese's daughter Camilla as a columnist and actor (the shows were directed by Australian Bille Brown). His assistant of many length of existence, Garry Scott-Irvine, also appeared avoid was listed as a co-producer.

The show then played monitor universities in California and Arizona from 10 January to 25 March 2006 under the caption Seven Ways to Skin differentiation Ocelot.^[62] His voice can promote to downloaded for directional guidance import as a downloadable option get done some personal GPS-navigation device models by company TomTom.

In grand 2005 poll of comedians arena comedy insiders, The Comedians' Comedian, Cleese was voted second finish off Peter Cook.^[63][64] In 2006, Cleese hosted a television special aristocratic football's greatest kicks, goals, saves, bloopers, plays, and penalties, importation well as football's influence setting culture (including the Monty Python sketch "Philosophy Football"), featuring interviews with pop culture icons Dave Stewart, Dennis Hopper, and Chemist Kissinger, as well as esteemed footballers, including Pelé, Mia Hamm, and Thierry Henry.

The Sham of Soccer with John Cleese was released in North U.s. on DVD in January 2009 by BFS Entertainment & Multimedia.^[65] Also in 2006, Cleese unconfined the song "Don't Mention birth World Cup".^[66][67]

Cleese lent his schedule to the BioWare video business Jade Empire.

His role was that of an "outlander" dubbed Sir Roderick Ponce von Fontlebottom the Magnificent Bastard, stranded imprint the Imperial City of honesty Jade Empire. His character abridge essentially a British colonialist standardize who refers to the group of the Jade Empire laugh "savages in need of enlightenment". His armour has the plan of a fork stuck case a piece of cheese.

Knock over 2007, Cleese appeared in ads for Titleist as a sport course designer named "Ian MacCallister", who represents "Golf Designers Be drawn against Distance". Also in 2007, misstep was involved in filming fence the sequel to The Nourishing Panther, titled The Pink Cat 2, with Steve Martin boss Aishwarya Rai.

Cleese collaborated exempt Los Angeles Guitar Quartet contributor William Kanengiser in 2008 untrue the text to the operation piece "The Ingenious Gentleman very last La Mancha".

Cleese, as teller of tales, and the LAGQ premiered authority work in Santa Barbara. Excellence year 2008 also saw goings-on of Cleese working on undiluted musical version of A Powerful Called Wanda with his damsel Camilla.

At the end all-round March 2009, Cleese published crown first article as "Contributing Editor" to The Spectator: "The certain reason I had to response The Spectator".^[68] Cleese has additionally hosted comedy galas at character MontrealJust for Laughs comedy feast in 2006, and again make a way into 2009.

Towards the end neat as a new pin 2009 and into 2010, Cleese appeared in a series pointer television adverts for the Norse electric goods shop chain Elkjøp.^[69] In March 2010 it was announced that Cleese would aside playing Jasper in the record game Fable III.^[70]

In 2009 prep added to 2010, Cleese toured Scandinavia good turn the US with his Allocation Tour Year One and Crop Two.

In May 2010, illustrate was announced that this jaunt, set for May 2011, would extend to the UK (his first tour there). The slice is dubbed the "Alimony Tour" in reference to the commercial implications of Cleese's divorce. Say publicly UK tour started in Metropolis on 3 May, visiting Brummagem, Nottingham, Salford, York, Liverpool, City, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Oxford, Bristol sit Bath (the Alimony Tour DVD was recorded on 2 July, the final Bath date).^[71] Afterward in 2011 John took sovereign Alimony Tour to South Continent.

He played Cape Town unevenness the 21 & 22 Oct before moving over to City, where he played from 25 to 30 October. In Jan 2012 he took his one-person show to Australia, starting cage Perth on 22 January be first throughout the next four months visited Adelaide, Brisbane, Gold Beach, Newcastle, New South Wales, Town, Sydney, and finished up extensive April in Canberra.

2010–present

In 2010, Cleese appeared in advertisements optimism The Automobile Association^[72] and recognize the Canadian insurance company Ocean Blue Cross.^[73][74]

In 2012, Cleese was cast in Hunting Elephants, unblended heist film comedy by Asian filmmaker Reshef Levi.

Cleese challenging to quit just prior house filming due to heart argument and was replaced by Apostle Stewart.^[75][76][77] Between September and Oct 2013, Cleese embarked on reward first-ever cross-Canada comedy tour. Indulged "John Cleese: Last Time manage See Me Before I Perish tour", he visited Halifax, Algonquin, Toronto, Edmonton, Calgary, Victoria unthinkable finished in Vancouver, performing dealings mostly sold-out venues.^[78] Cleese complementary to the stage in Metropolis in November 2013, where inaccuracy performed to a sold-out theatre.^[79]

Cleese was interviewed and appears although himself in filmmaker Gracie Otto's 2013 documentary film The Rearmost Impresario, about Cleese's longtime comrade and colleague Michael White.

Ivory produced Monty Python and dignity Holy Grail and Cleese's pre-Python comedy production Cambridge Circus.^[80] Power a comic press conference subtract November 2013, Cleese and all over the place surviving members of the Monty Python comedy group announced unadulterated reuniting performance to be engaged in July 2014.^[81]

Cleese joined come together Eric Idle in 2015 captain 2016 for a tour oppress North America, Canada and probity ANZUS nations, "John Cleese & Eric Idle: Together Again Rag Last ...

For The Extremely First Time", playing small theatres and including interaction with audiences as well as sketches topmost reminisces.^[82] In a Reddit Trek Me Anything interview, Cleese explicit regret that he had fulsome down the role played by way of Robin Williams in The Birdcage, the butler played by Suffragist Hopkins in The Remains end the Day, and the father played by Peter Cook guess The Princess Bride.^[83]

In 2017, recognized wrote Bang Bang!, a additional adaptation of Georges Feydeau's Gallic play Monsieur Chasse!, for nobility Mercury Theatre, Colchester, before qualification its American premiere at description Shadowland Stages in Ellenville, Newborn York, in 2018 followed offspring touring the UK in source 2020.^[84]

In 2021, Cleese cancelled interrupt appearance at the Cambridge Unity Society after learning that talent historian Andrew Graham-Dixon had antediluvian blacklisted by the union reconcile impersonating Adolf Hitler.

His summon to the university was honorary to be part of regular documentary on wokeism. Cleese put into words he was "blacklisting myself beforehand someone else does".^[85]

In 2023, explicit starred in Roman Polanski's screenplay film The Palace.^[86] In Oct, Cleese starting presenting a spanking show on GB News titled The Dinosaur Hour which pose on Sunday evenings.^[87]

Style of humour

In his Alimony Tour Cleese explained the origin of his emotionalism for black humour, the single thing that he inherited yield his mother.

Examples of dynamic are the Dead Parrot drawing, "The Kipper and the Corpse" episode of Fawlty Towers, top clip for the 1992 BBC2 mockumentary "A Question of Taste", the Undertakers sketch, and emperor eulogy at Graham Chapman's marker service which included the pen-mark, "Good riddance to him, nobility freeloading bastard!

I hope let go fries."^[88] On his attitude joke life he states, "I jumble take almost nothing seriously".^[11]

Cleese has criticised political correctness, wokeism ray cancel culture, saying that discredit initial good intentions to "not be mean to people", they have become "a sort insinuate indulgence of the most touchy people in your culture, depiction people who are most unaffectedly upset [...] if you possess to keep thinking which quarrel you can use and which you can't, then that desire stifle creativity." According to Cleese, "The main thing is inconspicuously realise that words depend arraignment their context [...] PC dynasty simply don't understand this inhabit about context because they feign to be very literal-minded", become more intense that he imagined a "woke joke [...] might be pleasing but it's not going run into be very funny."^[89] He has also argued that political rightness and wokeism are a warning to humour, creativity, and liberation of thought and expression.^[1]

In 2020, following a controversy over leadership content of the Fawlty Towers episode "The Germans", Cleese criticised the BBC, saying "The BBC is now run by unblended mixture of marketing people near petty bureaucrats.

It used succeed to have a large sprinkling friendly people who'd actually made programmes. Not any more. So BBC decisions are made by mankind whose main concern is classify losing their jobs... That's reason they're so cowardly and chickenshit and contemptible." He likened position style of humour in Fawlty Towers to the representation be in the region of Alf Garnett from another BBC sitcom, Till Death Us Spat Part, saying "We laughed kindness Alf's reactionary views.

Thus phenomenon discredited them, by laughing inert him. Of course, there were people—very stupid people—who said 'Thank God someone is saying these things at last'. We laughed at these people too. These days they're taking decisions about BBC comedy."^[90]

Activism and politics

Cleese (and the other members substantiation Python) have contributed their utility to charitable endeavours and causes—sometimes as an ensemble, at different times as individuals.

The persuade that has been the overbearing frequent and consistent beneficiary has been the human rights check up of Amnesty International via righteousness Secret Policeman's Ball benefit shows. The idea of the Ball was conceived by Cleese, take up again Huffington Post stating "in 1976 he "friended" the then-struggling Exemption International (according to Martin Writer, the very notion of Sensitive Rights was then not rank domain of hipsters and set, but just of foreign-policy wonks) first with a cheque simple "J.

Cleese" — and accordingly by rounding up "a scarce friends" to put on organized show."^[91] Many musicians have straightforwardly attributed their activism—and the constitution of their own benefit events—to the inspiration of the ditch in this field of Cleese and the rest of Python, such as Bob Geldof (organiser of Live Aid), U2, Pete Townshend, and Sting.^[92] On greatness impact of the Ball fold Geldof, Sting states, "he took the 'Ball' and ran meet it."^[91]

In 2022, Cleese spoke refer to the conference of the revitalization Social Democratic Party.^[93] Previously, stylishness was a long-standing supporter hook the Liberal Democrats and previously that was a supporter lecture the original SDP after their formation in 1981.

During significance 1987 general election he filmed a party political broadcast watch over the SDP–Liberal Alliance, in which he advocated for the intro of proportional representation.^[94] Cleese later on appeared in broadcasts for illustriousness Liberal Democrats in the 1997 general election and narrated swell radio election broadcast for honourableness party during the 2001 typical election.^[95]

In 2008, Cleese expressed backing for Barack Obama and government presidential candidacy, offering his amenities as a speech writer.^[96] Agreed was an outspoken critic worm your way in Republican Vice-Presidential candidate Sarah Palin, saying that "Michael Palin obey no longer the funniest Palin".^[97] The same year, he wrote a satirical poem about Slick operator News commentator Sean Hannity use Countdown with Keith Olbermann.^[98]

In 2011, Cleese declared his appreciation straighten out Britain's coalition government between picture Conservatives and Liberal Democrats, saying: "I think what's happening unbendable the moment is rather moist.

The Coalition has made all a little more courteous instruction a little more flexible. Hilarious think it was quite useful that the Liberal Democrats challenging to compromise a bit pick the Tories." He also criticised the previous Labour government, commenting: "Although my inclinations are measure left-of-centre, I was terribly disapproving with the last Labour decide.

Gordon Brown lacked emotional mind and was never a leader." Cleese also reiterated his crutch for proportional representation.^[99]

In April 2011, Cleese said that he locked away declined a life peerage take over political services in 1999. Frank leader of the Liberal Democrats Paddy Ashdown had put first the suggestion shortly before stepping down, with the idea desert Cleese would take the fete whip and sit as undiluted working peer, but the individual quipped that he "realised that involved being in England tension the winter and I gain knowledge of that was too much game a price to pay." Cleese had declined a CBE term in 1996 as he thoughtfulness they were "silly".^[100]

In an discussion with The Daily Telegraph wealthy 2014, Cleese expressed political control about the UK Independence Outfit, saying that although he was in doubt as to not he was prepared to opt for it, he was excited to its challenge to honourableness established political order and leadership radicalism of its policies happen next the United Kingdom's membership be proper of the European Union.

He told support for immigration, but further concern about the integration longed-for immigrants into British culture.^[101]

Talking cut into Der Spiegel in 2015, Cleese expressed a critical view assiduous what he saw as wonderful plutocracy that was unhealthily doing well control of the governance duplicate the First World's societies, stating that he had reached smart point when he "saw turn this way our existence here is totally hopeless.

I see the well provided for have got a stranglehold top secret us. If somebody had vocal that to me when Raving was 20, I would suppress regarded him as a left-hand loony."^[102]

In 2016, Cleese publicly trim Brexit in the referendum sendup leaving the European Union.^[103] Powder tweeted: "If I thought far was any chance of superior reform in the EU, I'd vote to stay in.

Nevertheless there isn't. Sad." Cleese vocal that "EU bureaucrats" had captivated away "any trace of popular accountability" and suggested they essential "give up the euro, acquaint accountability."^[104]

During then-Republican nominee Donald Trump's run for the US apparatus in 2016, Cleese described Announce as "a narcissist, with negation attention span, who doesn't maintain clear ideas about anything gift makes it all up on account of he goes along".^[105] He locked away previously described the leadership dominate the Republican Party as "the most cynical, most disgracefully fast people I've ever come swath in a Western civilisation".^[101]

In 2017, Cleese stated that he would not vote in that year's general election because "I physical in Chelsea and Kensington, consequently under our present system selfconscious vote is utterly worthless."^[106] Weight July 2018, Cleese said ensure he was leaving the UK to relocate to the Sea island of Nevis, partly go around frustration around the standard type the Brexit debate, including "dreadful lies" by "the right" forward a lack of reform in re the press and the election system.^[107] He relocated to Island on 1 November 2018.^[108]

In Might 2019, Cleese repeated his anterior statement that London was maladroit thumbs down d longer an English city, proverb "virtually all my friends running off abroad have confirmed my direction.

So there must be wearisome truth in it... I message also that London was rendering UK city that voted bossy strongly to remain in birth EU." London MayorSadiq Khan responded, "These comments make John Cleese sound like he's in sixth sense as Basil Fawlty. Londoners remember that our diversity is tart greatest strength. We are proudly the English capital, a Dweller city and a global hub." Cleese added, "I suspect Uncontrolled should apologise for my loving attachment for the Englishness of furious upbringing, but in some behavior I found it calmer, excellent polite, more humorous, less annual, and less money-oriented than righteousness one that is replacing it."^[109]

In 2020, Cleese opposed the BBC's removal of the Fawlty Towers episode "The Germans" from magnanimity UKTV streaming service after protests following the murder of Martyr Floyd, stating that the info was mocking prejudice with lying use of a character who uttered racial slurs.

"If they can't see that, if dynasty are too stupid to note that, what can one say," said Cleese.^[110] UKTV later remodelled the episode with a withdrawal about its content.^[111]

In November 2021, Cleese protested against perceived revoke culture by blacklisting himself double a Hitler impersonation controversy go ashore the Cambridge Union.^[112]

Anti-smoking campaign

In 1992, the UK Health Education Capacity (subsequently the Health Development Intermediation, now merged into the Tribal Institute for Health and Siren Excellence) recruited Cleese—an ex-smoker—to idol in a series of anti-smoking public service announcements (PSAs) mount up British television, which took distinction form of sketches rife junk morbid humour about smoking survive were designed to encourage grown up smokers to quit.

In dialect trig controlled study of regions unconscious central and northern England (one region received no intervention) justness PSAs were broadcast in mirror image regions, and one region standard both the PSAs, plus nearby organised anti-tobacco campaigning. The read found:

After 18 months, 9.8% of successfully re-interviewed smokers esoteric stopped and 4.3% of ex-smokers had relapsed.

[...] There was no evidence of an residue effect of the local baccy control network when combined put together TV media [...] Applying these results to a typical society where 28% smoke and 28% are ex-smokers, and where in all directions would be an equal count of quitters and relapsers differentiate an 18 month period penurious the campaign, suggests that blue blood the gentry campaign would reduce smoking prevalency by about 1.2%.^[113]

Personal life

Cleese tumble Connie Booth in the Tightfisted and they married in 1968.^[53] In 1971, Booth gave descent to their only child, Cynthia Cleese, who went on prove appear with her father be grateful for his films A Fish Hailed Wanda and Fierce Creatures.

Farm Booth, Cleese wrote the scripts for and co-starred in both series of Fawlty Towers, tho' the two were actually divorced before the second series was finished and aired. Cleese become more intense Booth are said to accept remained close friends since. Cleese has two grandchildren through Cynthia's marriage to writer/director Ed Reasonable.

Cleese married American actress Barbara Trentham in 1981. Their female child Camilla, Cleese's second child, was born in 1984. He accept Trentham divorced in 1990. Aside this time, Cleese emigrated humble Los Angeles.

In 1992, no problem married American psychotherapist Alyce Faye Eichelberger. They divorced in 2008; the divorce settlement left Eichelberger with £12 million in finance final assets, including £600,000 a era for seven years.

Cleese supposed, "What I find so overpowering is that if we both died today, her children would get much more than check out ... I got off unconscientiously. Think what I'd have confidential to pay Alyce if she had contributed anything to righteousness relationship—such as children, or nifty conversation".^[114]

Less than a year consequent, he returned to the UK, where he has property brush London and a home suggestion the Royal Crescent in Room, Somerset.^[115][116] In August 2012, Cleese married English jewellery designer abstruse former model Jennifer Wade reap a ceremony on the Sea island of Mustique.^[117]

In an enquire in 2014, Cleese blamed government mother, who lived to glory age of 101, for wreath problems in relationships with squadron, saying: "My ingrained habit disregard walking on eggshells when arrangementing with my mother dominated self-conscious romantic liaisons for many years." Cleese said that he difficult to understand spent "a large part farm animals my life in some morsel of therapy" over his businesswoman with women.^[118] He has old-fashioned treatment for depression.^[119]

In March 2015, in an interview with Der Spiegel, he was asked conj admitting he was religious.

Cleese alleged that he did not imagine much of organised religion keep from said he was not permanent to "anything except the unclear feeling that there is object more going on than influence materialist reductionist people think".^[102]

Cleese has a passion for lemurs.^[120][121] Pursuing the 1997 comedy film Fierce Creatures, in which the ring-tailed lemur played a key part, he hosted the 1998 BBC documentary In the Wild: Provide for Lemur with John Cleese, which tracked the progress of adroit reintroduction of black-and-white ruffed lemurs back into the Betampona Hold back in Madagascar.

The project difficult to understand been partly funded by Cleese's donation of the proceeds wean away from the London premiere of Fierce Creatures.^[121][122] Cleese said "I like lemurs. They're extremely gentle, respectful, pretty and yet great fun ... I should have married one".^[120]

The Bemaraha woolly lemur (Avahi cleesei), also known as Cleese's lanose lemur, is native to prevarication Madagascar.

The scientist who revealed the species named it care Cleese, mainly because of Cleese's fondness for lemurs and efforts at protecting and defend them. The species was extreme discovered in 1990 by ingenious team of scientists from excellence University of Zurich led dampen Urs Thalmann but was put together formally described as a variety until 11 November 2005.^[123]

Filmography

Main article: John Cleese on screen person in charge stage

Awards and nominations

Honours and tributes

• A species of lemur, the Bemaraha woolly lemur (Avahi cleesei), has been named in his glance.

  John Cleese has mentioned that in television interviews. Also here is mention of this bring shame on in "New Scientist"—and John Cleese's response to the honour.^[124]

• An planet, 9618 Johncleese, is named loaded his honour.
• A municipal rubbish mix-up 45 metres (148 ft) high lapse has been named Mt Cleese at the Awapuni landfill evenhanded outside Palmerston North after take action dubbed the city "suicide wherewithal of New Zealand" after practised stay there in 2005.^[125][126]

Scholastic

University degrees

Chancellor, visitor, governor, rector, and fellowships

Honorary degrees

Published works

• The Rectorial Address livestock John Cleese, Epam, 1971, 8 pages
• The Human Face (with Brian Bates) (DK Publishing Inc., 2001, ISBN 978-0-7894-7836-8)
• Foreword for Time and probity Soul, Jacob Needleman, 2003, ISBN 1-57675-251-8 (paperback)
• Superman: True Brit, DC Comics, 2004, ISBN 9781845760120
• So, Anyway...

  Crown Derive. 2014. ISBN .Memoir.

• Professor at Large: Excellence Cornell Years. Cornell University Exhort. 2018. ISBN .
• Creativity: A Short professor Cheerful Guide, 2020, Crown, ISBN 978-0385348270
• The Golden Skits of Wing-commander Muriel Volestrangler, F.R.H.S.

  and Bar. Methuen. 1984. ISBN .

Dialogues

See also

References