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John Cleese

John Cleese

Acting1939Weston-Super-Mare, Somerset, England, UK

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.

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Acting History

2023
The Palace
as Arthur William Dallas III
2019
Arctic Dogs
as Otto von Walrus (voice)
The Naked Wanderer
as Brian King
2018
Charming
as Fairy Godmother / Executioner (voice)
Speechless
TVas Martin2 eps
2016
British Sitcom: 60 Years of Laughing at Ourselves
as Basil Fawlty (archive footage) (uncredited)
Trolls
as Roi Gristle (voice)
2015
A.C.O.R.N.S.: Operation Crackdown
as Mr. Bellwood (voice)
Absolutely Anything
as Chief Alien (voice)
The Last Leg
TVas Self2 eps
2014
Spud 3: Learning to Fly
as Mr. 'The Guv' Edly
Over the Garden Wall
TVas Adelaide (voice) / Quincy Endicott (voice)1 eps
Real Time with Bill Maher
TVas Self2 eps
2013
Spud 2: The Madness Continues
as Mr. 'The Guv' Edly
Planes
as Bulldog (voice)
2011
The Big Year
as Historical Montage Narrator (voice)
Winnie the Pooh
as Narrator (voice)
Whitney
TVas Dr. Grant
2010
Shrek Forever After
as King Harold (voice)
Spud
as Mr. 'The Guv' Edly
The One Show
TVas Self - Guest1 eps
The Graham Norton Show
TVas Self - Guest / Self1 eps
Entourage
TVas John Cleese1 eps
Skavlan
TVas Self - Guest1 eps
2009
Planet 51
as Professor Kipple (voice)
Talkin' 'Bout Your Generation
TVas Self - Contestant
2008
The Day the Earth Stood Still
as Professor Barnhardt
Life Of Brian Screenplay
as Wise Man #1, Reg, Jewish Official, First Centurion
Igor
as Dr. Glickenstein (voice)
We Are Most Amused
as Self - Presenter
Richard & Judy
TVas Self1 eps
Legends
TVas Self1 eps
Markus Lanz
TVas Self
2007
Hitler: The Comedy Years
as Adolf Hitler / Basil Fawlty (archive footage) (uncredited)
Shrek the Third
as King Harold (voice)
2006
Aud go'hjerta
as Self (archive footage)
L'Entente cordiale
as Lord Conrad
Charlotte's Web
as Samuel the Sheep (voice)
Man About Town
as Dr. Primkin
Robins
TVas Self - Guest
2005
Valiant
as Mercury (voice)
2004
Shrek 2
as King Harold (voice)
Around the World in 80 Days
as Grizzled Sergeant
Wetten, dass..?
TVas Self1 eps
Will & Grace
TVas Lyle Finster (uncredited)4 eps
2003
George of the Jungle 2
as An Ape Named 'Ape' (voice)
Scorched
as Charles Merchant
2002
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
as Nearly Headless Nick (Sir Nicholas)
Mickey's House of Villains
as Narrator (“Mickey's Mechanical House") (uncredited)
Disney's House of Mouse
TVas Narrator (voice)2 eps
2001
Rat Race
as Donald P. Sinclair
Mickey's Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of Mouse
as Narrator (segment 'The Nutcracker') (voice)
The Human Face
TVas Presenter4 eps
Parkinson
TVas Self1 eps
The Human Face
TVWriter4 eps
2000
Edwurd Fudwupper Fibbed Big
as The Giant Alien (voice)
The Magic Pudding
as Albert the Magic Pudding (voice)
Isn't She Great
as Henry Marcus
1999
The Out-of-Towners
as Mr. Mersault
The Nutcracker
as Narrator
Parting Shots
as Maurice Walpole
Mickey Mouse Works
TVas Narrator (voice)
Casper & Mandrilaftalen
TVas Fake Bosse Bo Johansson
1997
George of the Jungle
as An Ape Named 'Ape' (voice)
Fierce Creatures
as Rollo Lee
1996
The Wind in the Willows
as Mr. Toad's Lawyer
1995
MADtv
TVas Self
1994
The Jungle Book
as Dr. Julius Plumford
The Swan Princess
as Jean-Bob (voice)
1993
Splitting Heirs
as Raoul P. Shadgrind
1991
1990
Bullseye!
as Man on the Beach in Barbados Who Looks Like John Cleese
1989
1986
Clockwise
as Brian Stimpson
1985
Silverado
as Sheriff John T. Langston
1981
Time Bandits
as Robin Hood
1980
Peter Cook & Co.
as Himself / Various Characters
Les Rendez-vous du dimanche
TVas Self1 eps
1979
Life of Brian
as Wise Man #1 / Reg / Jewish Official / First Centurion / Deadly Dirk / Arthur
Life of Brian
Screenplay
1978
Snavely
Creator
1975
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
as Second Swallow-Savvy Guard / The Black Knight / Peasant 3 / Sir Launcelot the Brave / Taunting French Guard / Tim the Enchanter
Fawlty Towers
TVas Basil Fawlty12 eps
Saturday Night Live
TVas Self - Cameo (uncredited)
Fawlty Towers
TVWriter12 eps
Fawlty Towers
TVCreator
1972
Rentadick
Writer
1971
And Now for Something Completely Different
as 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
The Statue
as Harry
Euroshow '71: May Day Special
as Self - Various (as Montypython Flyingcircus)
1969
The Magic Christian
as Director in Sotheby's
Monty Python's Flying Circus
TVas Various / Announcer39 eps
The Magic Christian
Additional Writing
1968
Interlude
as Television public relations man
The Avengers
TVas Marcus Rugman1 eps
1966
ABC Stage 67
TVWriter
1963
Doctor Who
TVas Art Gallery Visitor

Social Media

Personal Info

Known For
Acting
Gender
Male
Birthday
10/27/1939(86 years old)
Place of Birth
Weston-Super-Mare, Somerset, England, UK