John Cleese

John Cleese
Name	John Cleese
Caption	Cleese in 2011
Birth name	John Marwood Cleese
Birth date	27 October 1939
Birth place	Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, England
Occupation	Actor, comedian, screenwriter, producer
Years active	1961–present
Spouse	Connie Booth (1968–1978), Barbara Trentham (1981–1990), Alyce Faye Eichelberger (1992–2008), Jennifer Wade (2012–present)
Children	3, including Cynthia Cleese
Alma mater	Clifton College, Downing College, Cambridge

John Cleese is an English actor, comedian, screenwriter, and producer, renowned as a founding member of the surreal comedy group Monty Python. He achieved global fame through the television series Monty Python's Flying Circus and the films Monty Python and the Holy Grail and Monty Python's Life of Brian. His other iconic work includes creating and starring in the classic British sitcom Fawlty Towers and appearing in major films like A Fish Called Wanda and the James Bond and Harry Potter franchises. Cleese is celebrated for his mastery of physical comedy, articulate rage, and profound influence on modern comedy.

Early life and education

John Marwood Cleese was born in Weston-super-Mare and attended St. Peter's Preparatory School. He won a place at Clifton College in Bristol, where he demonstrated academic prowess and began performing in school revues. He later read Law at Downing College, Cambridge, where he joined the prestigious Footlights club, serving as its President and collaborating with future partners like Graham Chapman. His time at Cambridge University was pivotal, leading to his first professional writing work for the BBC on shows like The Frost Report alongside David Frost.

Career

Cleese's early career included writing and performing on David Frost's The Frost Report and At Last the 1948 Show with Graham Chapman. In 1969, he co-created Monty Python's Flying Circus with Chapman, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, and Michael Palin, revolutionizing television comedy with its absurdist sketches. He left the series in 1973 but continued with the Python films, including Monty Python and the Holy Grail and the controversial Monty Python's Life of Brian. Concurrently, he co-wrote and starred in the seminal sitcom Fawlty Towers with then-wife Connie Booth. His film career expanded with roles in Time Bandits, The Great Muppet Caper, and an Oscar-nominated performance in A Fish Called Wanda, which he also wrote. He later appeared in blockbusters like Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and provided voice work for animated features such as Shrek 2.

Personal life

Cleese has been married four times: to actress and writer Connie Booth, to Barbara Trentham, to Alyce Faye Eichelberger, and to Jennifer Wade. He has three children, including actress Cynthia Cleese from his marriage to Trentham. A long-time resident of London, he has also lived in Santa Monica and Bath. He has been politically outspoken, criticizing political correctness and supporting causes like reform of the House of Lords. In 2020, he announced he was relocating to Jersey for tax reasons. Cleese has also written several books on psychology and human behavior, reflecting a long-standing interest in the field.

Comedy style and influence

Cleese's comedy is characterized by a unique blend of articulate exasperation, precise physicality, and surreal logic. His performances often feature towering, manic characters, epitomized by Basil Fawlty and the Ministry of Silly Walks sketch. His writing, particularly with Graham Chapman, expertly juxtaposed absurd premises with deadpan, bureaucratic delivery. This style has influenced countless comedians and shows, from The Simpsons to modern British sitcoms. His work with Monty Python and on Fawlty Towers is studied in academic circles and has left an indelible mark on the genre of satire and sketch comedy.

Filmography and stage work

Cleese's extensive film work includes the Monty Python films, The Meaning of Life, and his own projects like A Fish Called Wanda and Fierce Creatures. He played Q in the James Bond films The World Is Not Enough and Die Another Day, and portrayed Nearly Headless Nick in the Harry Potter series. On stage, he has performed in productions like The Seagull in London's West End and the Broadway play Spamalot, for which he also contributed material. His voice roles span from Disney's The Great Muppet Caper to DreamWorks' Shrek series.

Awards and recognition

Cleese has received numerous accolades, including a BAFTA Fellowship and a British Comedy Award for Outstanding Contribution to Comedy. He earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay for A Fish Called Wanda. Fawlty Towers was voted the greatest British television sitcom by the British Film Institute. In 1996, he was honored with the Rose d'Or Lifetime Achievement Award. Cleese has been the subject of documentaries and tributes at festivals like the Just for Laughs festival in Montreal.

Category:English male comedians Category:English male screenwriters Category:Monty Python members Category:1939 births Category:Living people