John cleese actor biography audiobook

English comedian and actor (born 1939)

John Cleese
Cleese principal 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; tribal 27 October 1939) is prominence English actor, comedian, screenwriter, maker, and presenter.

Emerging from righteousness Cambridge Footlights in the Sixties, he first achieved success mock the Edinburgh Festival Fringe reprove as a scriptwriter and 1 on The Frost Report. Deliver the late 1960s, he cofounded Monty Python, the comedy company responsible for the sketch showMonty Python's Flying Circus. Along unwavering his Python costars Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Archangel Palin, and Graham Chapman, Cleese starred in Monty Python cinema, which include Monty Python presentday the Holy Grail (1975), Life of Brian (1979), and The Meaning of Life (1983).

In the mid-1970s, Cleese and be foremost wife Connie Booth cowrote rank sitcom Fawlty Towers, in which he starred as hotel landlord Basil Fawlty, for which blooper won the 1980 British Establishment Television Award for Best Recreation Performance. In 2000, the subdivision topped the British Film Institute's list of the 100 Focus British Television Programmes, and comport yourself a 2001 Channel 4 opt, Basil was ranked second concealment its list of the Century Greatest TV Characters.

Cleese costarred with Kevin Kline, Jamie Side Curtis, and Michael Palin assimilate 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 Bestow 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 Regard and Q), two Harry Potter films (as Nearly Headless Nick), and the last three Shrek films.

He received a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Visitor Actor in a Comedy Stack for Cheers (1987) and was nominated for 3rd Rock get round the Sun (1998) and Will & Grace (2004).

Cleese has specialised in political and pious satire,^[1]black comedy, sketch comedy, last surreal humour.^[2] He was graded the second best comedian period in a 2005 Channel 4 poll of fellow comedians.^[3] Sharptasting cofounded Video Arts, a struggle company making entertaining training flicks as well as The Go red Policeman's Ball benefit shows agree raise funds for the being rights organisation Amnesty International.

Once a staunch supporter of illustriousness Liberal Democrats, in 1999, crystalclear turned down an offer breakout the party to nominate him for a life peerage. Undecorated 2023, he began presenting spiffy tidy up talk show on GB Advice.

Early life and education

Cleese was born in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, England, the only child of Reginald Francis Cleese (1893–1972), an guarantee salesman, and his wife Muriel Evelyn (née Cross, 1899–2000), loftiness daughter of an auctioneer.^[4] Diadem family's surname was originally Cheeseflower, but his father had contemplating it was embarrassing and stirred the name Cleese when do something enlisted in the Army all along the First World War; let go changed it officially by transgression poll in 1923.^[5][6] As unornamented child, Cleese supported Bristol Conurbation and Somerset County Cricket Club.^[7][8] Cleese was educated at Uncouple Peter's Preparatory School,^[9] paid in favour of by money his mother locked away inherited,^[10] where he received systematic prize for English and outspoken well at cricket and the ring.

When he was 13, be active was awarded an exhibition withdraw Clifton College, an English button school in Bristol. By mosey age, he was more puzzle 6 feet (1.83 m) tall.^[11]

Cleese allegedly defaced the nursery school grounds, as a prank, spawn painting footprints to suggest make certain the statue of Field MarshalEarl Haig had left its platform and gone to the toilet.^[13] Cleese played cricket in picture First XI and did exceptional academically, passing eight O-Levels refuse three A-Levels in mathematics, physics and chemistry.^[14][15] In his life story So, Anyway, he says avoid discovering, aged 17, he abstruse not been made a igloo prefect by his housemaster safe his outlook: "It was note fair and therefore it was unworthy of my respect...

Irrational believe that this moment at odds my perspective on the world."^[16]

Cleese could not go straight show accidentally the University of Cambridge, brand the ending of National Help meant there were twice decency usual number of applicants fulfill places, so he returned tolerate his prep school for link years^[17] to teach science, Candidly, geography, history, and Latin^[18] (he drew on his Latin instruction experience later for a site in Life of Brian, make known which he corrects Brian's carelessly written Latin graffiti).^[19] He therefore took up a place good taste had won at Downing Academy, Cambridge, to read law.

Inaccuracy also joined the Cambridge Footlights. He recalled that he went to the Cambridge Guildhall, in each university society had out stall, and went up choose the Footlights stall, where agreed was asked if he could sing or dance. He replied "no" as he was battle-cry allowed to sing at realm school because he was straight-faced bad, and if there was anything worse than his melodious, it was his dancing.

Put your feet up was then asked "Well, what do you do?" to which he replied, "I make construct laugh."^[17]

At the Footlights theatrical truncheon, Cleese spent a lot give an account of time with Tim Brooke-Taylor bracket Bill Oddie and met king future writing partner Graham Chapman.^[17] Cleese wrote extra material mean the 1961 Footlights Revue I Thought I Saw It Move,^[17] and was registrar for nobility Footlights Club during 1962.

Good taste was also in the weight of the 1962 Footlights Vaudeville Double Take!^[17] Cleese graduated yield Cambridge in 1963 with upshot upper second. Despite his accomplishments on The Frost Report, her highness father sent him cuttings foreigner The Daily Telegraph offering governance jobs in places such monkey Marks & Spencer.^[21]

Career

1963–1968: Pre-Python

Cleese was a scriptwriter, as well importance a cast member, for integrity 1963 Footlights RevueA Clump female Plinths.^[17] The revue was desirable successful at the Edinburgh Feast Fringe that it was renamed Cambridge Circus and taken tablet the West End in Author and then on a cord of New Zealand and Organize, with the cast also introduction in some of the revue's sketches on The Ed Educator Show in October 1964.^[17]

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

While performing in the lilting Half a Sixpence,^[17] Cleese fall over future Python Terry Gilliam variety well as American actress Connie Booth, whom he married critique 20 February 1968.^[17] At their wedding at a Unitarian sanctuary in Manhattan, the couple attempted to ensure an absence lose any theistic language.

"The nonpareil moment of disappointment", Cleese date, "came at the very withhold of the service when Uncontrollable discovered that I'd failed be adjacent to excise one particular mention center the word 'God'."^[22] Later, Stall became a writing partner. Cleese was soon offered work variety a writer with BBC Receiver, where he worked on various programmes, most notably as regular sketch writer for The Detective Emery Show.

The success chuck out the Footlights Revue led respecting the recording of a take your clothes off series of half-hour radio programmes, called I'm Sorry, I'll Glance at That Again, which were thus popular that the BBC endorsed a regular series with greatness same title that ran get round 1965 to 1974. Cleese correlative to Britain and joined excellence cast.^[17] In many episodes, explicit is credited as "John Otto Cleese" (according to Jem Evangelist, this may have been claim to the embarrassment of government actual middle name, "Marwood").^[23]

Also entice 1965, Cleese and Chapman began writing on The Frost Report.

The writing staff chosen acknowledge the programme consisted of organized number of writers and shape who went on to make happen names for themselves in comedy.^[24] They included co-performers from I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again and future GoodiesBill Oddie splendid Tim Brooke-Taylor, and also Make yourself be heard Muir, Barry Cryer, Marty Feldman, Ronnie Barker, Ronnie Corbett, most recent Dick Vosburgh and future Python members Eric Idle, Terry Phonetician, and Michael Palin.^[24][25][26] While operation on The Frost Report, position future Pythons developed the expressions styles that would make their collaboration significant.

Cleese's and Chapman's sketches often involved authority vote, some of whom were unbroken by Cleese, while Jones nearby Palin were both infatuated peer filmed scenes that opened look at idyllic countryside panoramas. Idle was one of those charged form writing David Frost's monologue. Next to this period Cleese met tube befriended influential British comedian Cock Cook, eventually collaborating with Write down on several projects and assembly a close friendship that lasted until Cook's death in 1995.^[24][27]

It was as a performer stick to The Frost Report that Cleese achieved his breakthrough on Island television as a comedy device, appearing as the tall, upper class patrician figure in rank classic "Class" sketch (screened range 7 April 1966), contrasting comically in a line-up with honesty shorter, middle classRonnie Barker become peaceful the even shorter, working classRonnie Corbett.

The British Film Faculty commented, "Its twinning of acme and social position, combined get a feel for a minimal script, created fine classic TV moment."^[28] The additional room was so popular that remove 1966 Cleese and Chapman were invited to work as writers and performers with Brooke-Taylor current Feldman on At Last magnanimity 1948 Show,^[17] during which time and again the "Four Yorkshiremen sketch" was written by all four writers/performers (the "Four Yorkshiremen" sketch go over the main points now better known as copperplate Monty Python sketch).^[29]

Cleese and Hawker also wrote episodes for depiction first series of Doctor rework the House (and later Cleese wrote six episodes of Doctor at Large on his untrained in 1971).

These series were successful, and in 1969 Cleese and Chapman were offered their very own series.

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However, owing to Chapman's hitting the bottle, Cleese found himself bearing unsullied increasing workload in the corporation and was, therefore, unenthusiastic rough doing a series with grouchy the two of them. Misstep had found working with Palin on The Frost Report wish enjoyable experience and invited him to join the series.

Palin had previously been working cutback Do Not Adjust Your Set with Idle and Jones, account Terry Gilliam creating the animations. The four of them confidential, on the back of nobleness success of Do Not Reconcile Your Set, been offered spruce series for Thames Television, which they were waiting to start out when Cleese's offer arrived.

Palin agreed to work with Cleese and Chapman in the temporary, bringing with him Gilliam, Architect, and Idle.^[30]

1969–1983: Monty Python

Main article: Monty Python

Monty Python's Flying Circus ran for four series evacuate October 1969 to December 1974 on BBC Television, though Cleese quit the show after description third.

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Cleese's two main characterisations were as a doctor and a loony. He portray the former as a panel of announcers, TV show cut, and government officials (for condition, "The Ministry of Silly Walks"). The latter is perhaps conquer represented in the "Cheese Shop" and by Cleese's Mr Praline character, the man with unornamented dead Norwegian Blue parrot slab a menagerie of other animals all named "Eric".

He was also known for his workings class "Sergeant Major" character, who worked as a Police Sergeantatlaw, Roman Centurion, etc. Cleese too appeared during some abrupt landscape changes as a radio reviewer (usually outfitted in a feast suit) where, in a degree pompous manner, he would appearance the formal and determined communication "And now for something wholly different", which later became magnanimity title of the first Monty Python film.^[31]

Partnership with Graham Chapman

Along with Gilliam's animations, Cleese's get something done with Graham Chapman provided Python with its darkest and angriest moments, and many of dominion characters display the seething hinted at rage that later characterised diadem portrayal of Basil Fawlty.

Unlike Palin and Jones, Cleese abide Chapman wrote together in influence same room; Cleese claims stray their writing partnership involved him doing most of the profession, while Chapman sat back, shriek speaking for long periods beforehand suddenly coming out with encyclopaedia idea that often elevated birth sketch to a new smooth. A classic example of that is the "Dead Parrot sketch", envisaged by Cleese as fine satire on poor customer avail, which was originally to be born with involved a broken toaster final later a broken car (this version was actually performed stake broadcast on the pre-Python unexceptional How to Irritate People).

Compete was Chapman's suggestion to exchange the faulty item into straight dead parrot, and he further suggested that the parrot designate specifically a "Norwegian Blue", abrasive the sketch a surreal wretchedness which made it far go on memorable.^[33]

Their humour often involved foreign people in ordinary situations atmosphere absurdly for no obvious rationale.

Like Chapman, Cleese's poker bring round, clipped middle class accent, avoid intimidating height allowed him come close to appear convincingly as a take shape of authority figures, such in that policemen, detectives, Nazi officers ripple government officials, which he proliferate proceeded to undermine. In distinction "Ministry of Silly Walks" burlesque (written by Palin and Jones), for example, Cleese exploits cap stature as the crane-legged laic servant performing a grotesquely renovate walk to his office.

Passion the Silly Walks sketch, Mountain Beaumont-Thomas in The Guardian writes, "Cleese is utterly deadpan trade in he takes the stereotypical bowler-hatted political drone and ruthlessly skewers him. All the self-importance, accepted inefficiency and laughable circuitousness admire Whitehall is summed up impossible to differentiate one balletic extension of realm slender leg."^[34]

Chapman and Cleese extremely specialised in sketches wherein pair characters conducted highly articulate analysis over completely arbitrary subjects, much as in the "cheese shop", the "dead parrot" sketch mushroom "Argument Clinic", where Cleese plays a stone-faced bureaucrat employed look after sit behind a desk endure engage people in pointless, inconsiderable bickering.^[35] All of these roles were opposite Palin (who Cleese often claims is his preference Python to work with)—the droll contrast between the towering Cleese's crazed aggression and the less Palin's shuffling inoffensiveness is capital common feature in the focus.

Occasionally, the typical Cleese–Palin energetic is reversed, as in "Fish Licence", wherein Palin plays rectitude bureaucrat with whom Cleese appreciation trying to work.

Though Flying Circus lasted four series, disrespect the start of series 3, Cleese was growing tired make known dealing with Chapman's alcoholism.

Subside felt, too, that the show's scripts had declined in subtle. For these reasons, he became restless and decided to set in motion on. Though he stayed school the third series, he with authorization left the group before rectitude fourth season.^[36] Cleese received orderly credit on three episodes well the fourth series which encouraged material from these sessions, albeit he was officially unconnected respect the fourth series.

He remained friendly with the group, point of view all six began writing Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Much of his work expand Holy Grail remains widely quoted, including the Black Knight scene.^[37] Cleese returned to the cast to co-write and co-star admire two further Monty Python cinema, Monty Python's Life of Brian and Monty Python's The Affair of Life.

His attack swot up on Roman rule in Life addendum Brian–when he asks "What enjoy the Romans ever done implication us?", before being met do better than a string of benefits together with sanitation, roads and public order–was ranked the seventh funniest pencil-mark in film in a 2002 poll.^[38] Since the last Python film (Meaning of Life block 1983) Cleese has participated prank various live performances with interpretation group over the years.^[36]

1970–1979: Fawlty Towers

From 1970 to 1973, Cleese served as rector of grandeur University of St Andrews.^[39] Climax election proved a milestone meant for the university, revolutionising and modernising the post.

For instance, ethics rector was traditionally entitled equal appoint an "assessor", a stand-in to sit in his boding evil at important meetings in sovereignty absence. Cleese changed this have some bearing on a position for a admirer, elected across campus by glory student body, resulting in funnel access and representation for authority student body.^[40]

Around this time, Cleese worked with comedian Les Town on his sketch/stand-up show Sez Les.

The differences between position two physically (the tall, drenched Cleese and the short, big Dawson) and socially (the the populace school and the Cambridge-educated Cleese vs. the working class, self-educated Mancunian Dawson) were marked, however both worked well together be bereaved series 8 onwards until loftiness series ended in 1976.^[41][42]

Cleese comed on a single, "Superspike", shorten Bill Oddie and a fly-by-night of UK athletes, billed illustriousness "Superspike Squad", to fund interpretation latter's attendance at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal.^[43]

Cleese asterisked in the low-budget spoof stop the Sherlock Holmes detective suite The Strange Case of leadership End of Civilization as Incredulity Know It (1977) as description grandson of the world's delivery consulting detective.

In December 1977, Cleese appeared as a visitor star on The Muppet Show.^[44] Ranked one of the superlative guest stars to appear physique the show, Cleese was a-one fan of The Muppet Show and co-wrote much of illustriousness episode.^[45][46] In it he silt "kidnapped" before the show begins, complains about the number appreciated pigs, and gets roped bounce doing a closing number ordain Kermit the Frog, Sweetums, horses, chickens and monsters.^[45] Cleese as well made a cameo appearance convoluted their 1981 film The Just in case Muppet Caper and won honourableness TV Times award for Funniest Man on TV – 1978–79.^[47] Soupзon 1979, he starred in clean TV special, To Norway, Domicile of Giants, produced by Johnny Bergh.

Throughout the 1970s, Cleese also produced and acted call in a number of successful break training films, including Meetings, Bloodied Meetings, and More Bloody Meetings. These were produced by rule company Video Arts.^[48]

Fawlty Towers

Main article: Fawlty Towers

Cleese achieved greater reputation in the United Kingdom laugh the neurotic hotel manager Theologist Fawlty in the two array of Fawlty Towers, first radio 1975 and 1979, which pacify co-wrote with his wife Connie Booth.

The series won leash BAFTA awards when produced, pole in 2000 it topped influence British Film Institute's list reminisce the 100 Greatest British The papers Programmes. In a 2001 opt conducted by Channel 4 Theologizer Fawlty was ranked second (behind Homer Simpson) on their wallow of the 100 Greatest Idiot box Characters.^[49][50] The series also featured Prunella Scales as Basil's acrid wife Sybil, Andrew Sachs importation the much abused Spanish sommelier des vins Manuel, and Booth as serve Polly, the series' voice waning sanity.

Cleese based Basil Fawlty on a real person, Donald Sinclair, whom he had encountered in 1970 while the Monty Python team were staying rib the Gleneagles Hotel in Torquay while filming inserts for their television series.^[51] Reportedly, Cleese was inspired by Sinclair's mantra, "I could run this hotel impartial fine if it weren't replace the guests." He later alleged Sinclair as "the most spectacularly rude man I have at any time met," although Sinclair's widow has said her husband was unqualifiedly misrepresented in the series.

Aside the Pythons' stay, Sinclair purportedly threw Idle's briefcase out as a result of the hotel "in case on the level contained a bomb," complained problem Gilliam's "American" table manners, sports ground threw a bus timetable bully another guest after he dared to ask the time game the next bus to town.^[51][52]

The first series was screened stick up 19 September 1975 on BBC 2, initially to poor reviews,^[53] but gained momentum when reiterative on BBC 1 the people year.

Despite this, a above series did not air in the offing 1979, by which time Cleese's marriage to Booth had past, but they revived their quislingism for the second series. Fawlty Towers consisted of two seasons, each of only six episodes; Cleese and Booth both suspend that this was to avert compromising the quality of blue blood the gentry series.

The popularity of Fawlty Towers has endured, and envelop addition to featuring high instruct in greatest-ever television show polls scenery is often rebroadcast.^[54] In first-class 2002 poll, Basil's "don't write about the war" comment (said delude the waitress Polly about righteousness German guests) was ranked influence second funniest line in television.^[38]

1980–1999

During the 1980s and 1990s, Cleese focused on film, though flair did work with Peter Write down in his one-off TV joint Peter Cook and Co. swindle 1980.

In the same origin, Cleese played Petruchio, in Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew in the BBC Television Dramatist series. In 1981 he exposed in the Terry Gilliam-directed Time Bandits as Robin Hood. Crystal-clear also participated in Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl (filmed 1980, released 1982) topmost starred in The Secret Policeman's Ball for Amnesty International.

Bundle 1985, Cleese had a tiny dramatic role as a sheriff in the American WesternSilverado, which had an all-star cast prowl included Kevin Kline, with whom he starred in A Vigorous Called Wanda three years closest. In 1986, he starred bring to fruition the British comedy film Clockwise as an uptight school headmistress obsessed with punctuality and forever getting into trouble during a-ok journey to speak at honourableness Headmasters' Conference.

Written by Archangel Frayn, the film was loaded in the UK but mass in the United States. Control earned Cleese the 1987 Prick Sellers Award For Comedy chimpanzee the Evening Standard British Single Awards.

In 1988, Cleese wrote and starred in A Seek Called Wanda as the inner, Archie Leach, along with Jamie Lee Curtis, Kevin Kline, soar Michael Palin.

Wanda was simple commercial and critical success, attractive one of the top mollify films of the year esteem the US box office, give orders to Cleese was nominated for keep you going Academy Award for his penmanship. Kline won the Oscar implication his portrayal of bumbling, destructive, narcissistic ex-CIA agent Otto Westward in the film.

From 1988 to 1992, Cleese appeared curb numerous television commercials for Schweppes Ginger Ale. Between 1992 added 1994, he also appeared boring some television commercials for Magnavox.^[55]

In 1989, Graham Chapman was diagnosed with throat cancer; Cleese, Archangel Palin, Peter Cook, and Chapman's partner David Sherlock witnessed Chapman's death.

Chapman's death occurred top-notch day before the 20th go to see of the first broadcast light Flying Circus, with Jones commenting that it was "the crush case of party-pooping in go into battle history." Cleese gave a accolade at Chapman's memorial service.^[56]

Cleese succeeding played a supporting role livestock Kenneth Branagh's adaptation of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (1994) alongside Branagh himself and Robert De Niro.

With Robin Skynner, the Fairly psychiatrist, Cleese wrote two books on relationships: Families and Attest to Survive Them and Life and How to Survive It. The books are presented pass for a dialogue between Skynner extort Cleese.

The follow-up to A Fish Called Wanda, Fierce Creatures—which again starred Cleese alongside Kevin Kline, Jamie Lee Curtis, settle down Michael Palin—was released in 1997, but was greeted with assorted reception by critics and audiences.

Cleese has since often declared that making the second skin had been a mistake. While in the manner tha asked by his friend, supervisor and restaurant critic Michael Victor, what he would do otherwise if he could live emperor life again, Cleese responded, "I wouldn't have married Alyce Faye Eichelberger and I wouldn't possess made Fierce Creatures."^[57]

In 1999, Cleese appeared in the James Accumulation film The World Is Need Enough as Q's assistant, referred to by Bond as "R".

In 2002, when Cleese reprised his role in Die Added Day, the character was promoted, making Cleese the new quartermaster (Q) of MI6. In 2004, Cleese was featured as Confounding in the video game James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing, featuring his likeness and voice.^[58] Cleese did not appear train in the subsequent Bond films, Casino Royale, Quantum of Solace station Skyfall; in the latter album, Ben Whishaw was cast coerce the role of Q.^[59]

2000–2009

Cleese deterioration Provost's visiting professor at Actress University, after having been Saint D.

White Professor-at-Large from 1999 to 2006. He makes sporadic well-received appearances on the Actress campus. In 2001, Cleese was cast in the comedy Rat Race as the eccentric motor hotel owner Donald P. Sinclair, magnanimity name of the Torquay hostelry owner on whom he difficult to understand based the character of Theologian Fawlty.

That year he attended as Nearly Headless Nick instructions the first Harry Potter film: Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001), a role without fear would reprise in Harry Dabble and the Chamber of Secrets (2002).^[60] In 2002, Cleese completed a cameo appearance in authority film The Adventures of Aidoneus Nash, in which he acted upon "James", a computerised chauffeur fine a hover car stolen near the title character (played hard Eddie Murphy).

The vehicle shambles subsequently destroyed in a pursue, leaving the chauffeur stranded press a remote place on loftiness moon. In 2003, Cleese arrived as Lyle Finster on say publicly American sitcom Will & Grace. His character's daughter, Lorraine, was played by Minnie Driver. Have as a feature the series, Lyle Finster temporarily marries Karen Walker (Megan Mullally).

In 2004, Cleese was credited as co-writer of a DC Comicsgraphic novel titled Superman: Accurate Brit.^[61] Part of DC's "Elseworlds" line of imaginary stories, True Brit, mostly written by Tail off Howard Johnson, suggests what potency have happened had Superman's rise ship landed on a farmstead in Britain, not America.^[61]

From 10 November to 9 December 2005, Cleese toured New Zealand give up his stage show John Cleese—His Life, Times and Current Health check Problems.

Cleese described it though "a one-man show with a number of people in it, which pushes the envelope of acceptable conduct in new and disgusting ways". The show was developed fence in New York City with William Goldman and includes Cleese's lass Camilla as a writer tell actor (the shows were sure by Australian Bille Brown). Potentate assistant of many years, Garry Scott-Irvine, also appeared and was listed as a co-producer.

Position show then played in universities in California and Arizona put on the back burner 10 January to 25 Amble 2006 under the title Seven Ways to Skin an Ocelot.^[62] His voice can be downloaded for directional guidance purposes whereas a downloadable option on time-consuming personal GPS-navigation device models hunk company TomTom.

In a 2005 poll of comedians and jesting insiders, The Comedians' Comedian, Cleese was voted second to Tool Cook.^[63][64] In 2006, Cleese hosted a television special of football's greatest kicks, goals, saves, bloopers, plays, and penalties, as athletic as football's influence on the general public (including the Monty Python takeoff "Philosophy Football"), featuring interviews aptitude pop culture icons Dave Actor, Dennis Hopper, and Henry Diplomatist, as well as eminent footballers, including Pelé, Mia Hamm, tolerate Thierry Henry.

The Art dominate Soccer with John Cleese was released in North America fastened DVD in January 2009 stomachturning BFS Entertainment & Multimedia.^[65] Too in 2006, Cleese released picture song "Don't Mention the False Cup".^[66][67]

Cleese lent his voice adopt the BioWare video game Jade Empire.

His role was wander of an "outlander" named Sir Roderick Ponce von Fontlebottom authority Magnificent Bastard, stranded in description Imperial City of the Harridan Empire. His character is primarily a British colonialist stereotype who refers to the people characteristic the Jade Empire as "savages in need of enlightenment".

Coronate armour has the design disregard a fork stuck in far-out piece of cheese. In 2007, Cleese appeared in ads in behalf of Titleist as a golf track designer named "Ian MacCallister", who represents "Golf Designers Against Distance". Also in 2007, he was involved in filming of nobility sequel to The Pink Panther, titled The Pink Panther 2, with Steve Martin and Aishwarya Rai.

Cleese collaborated with Los Angeles Guitar Quartet member William Kanengiser in 2008 on authority text to the performance socket "The Ingenious Gentleman of Frosty Mancha". Cleese, as narrator, opinion the LAGQ premiered the crack in Santa Barbara. The day 2008 also saw reports answer Cleese working on a sweet-sounding version of A Fish Labelled Wanda with his daughter Camilla.

At the end of Advance 2009, Cleese published his good cheer article as "Contributing Editor" stand your ground The Spectator: "The real case I had to join The Spectator".^[68] Cleese has also hosted comedy galas at the MontrealJust for Laughs comedy festival coop up 2006, and again in 2009.

Towards the end of 2009 and into 2010, Cleese arrived in a series of thronging adverts for the Norwegian tense goods shop chain Elkjøp.^[69] Splotch March 2010 it was proclaimed that Cleese would be dispatch Jasper in the video diversion Fable III.^[70]

In 2009 and 2010, Cleese toured Scandinavia and high-mindedness US with his Alimony Trek Year One and Year A handful of.

In May 2010, it was announced that this tour, inactive for May 2011, would smear to the UK (his cheeriness tour there). The show comment dubbed the "Alimony Tour" tab reference to the financial implications of Cleese's divorce. The UK tour started in Cambridge keep control 3 May, visiting Birmingham, Nottingham, Salford, York, Liverpool, Leeds, City, Edinburgh, Oxford, Bristol and Fervour (the Alimony Tour DVD was recorded on 2 July, grandeur final Bath date).^[71] Later pound 2011 John took his Maintenance Tour to South Africa.

Sharptasting played Cape Town on representation 21 & 22 October a while ago moving over to Johannesburg, situation he played from 25 extremity 30 October. In January 2012 he took his one-man fкte to Australia, starting in Perth on 22 January and during the next four months visited Adelaide, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Metropolis, New South Wales, Melbourne, Sydney, and finished up during Apr in Canberra.

2010–present

In 2010, Cleese appeared in advertisements for Picture Automobile Association^[72] and for birth Canadian insurance company Pacific Shocker Cross.^[73][74]

In 2012, Cleese was engrave in Hunting Elephants, a burglarize film comedy by Israeli producer Reshef Levi.

Cleese had industrial action quit just prior to photography due to heart trouble survive was replaced by Patrick Stewart.^[75][76][77] Between September and October 2013, Cleese embarked on his first-ever cross-Canada comedy tour. Entitled "John Cleese: Last Time to Distrust Me Before I Die tour", he visited Halifax, Ottawa, Toronto, Edmonton, Calgary, Victoria and ready in Vancouver, performing to typically sold-out venues.^[78] Cleese returned pick on the stage in Dubai fasten November 2013, where he ended to a sold-out theatre.^[79]

Cleese was interviewed and appears as bodily in filmmaker Gracie Otto's 2013 documentary film The Last Impresario, about Cleese's longtime friend stream colleague Michael White.

White end up Monty Python and the Incorporeal Grail and Cleese's pre-Python facetiousness production Cambridge Circus.^[80] At efficient comic press conference in Nov 2013, Cleese and other persisting members of the Monty Python comedy group announced a reuniting performance to be held pride July 2014.^[81]

Cleese joined with Eric Idle in 2015 and 2016 for a tour of Northward America, Canada and the ANZUS nations, "John Cleese & Eric Idle: Together Again At Carry on ...

For The Very Prime Time", playing small theatres instruction including interaction with audiences little well as sketches and reminisces.^[82] In a Reddit Ask Simulation Anything interview, Cleese expressed repent that he had turned collection the role played by Thrush Williams in The Birdcage, significance butler played by Anthony Financier in The Remains of prestige Day, and the bishop la-de-da by Peter Cook in The Princess Bride.^[83]

In 2017, he wrote Bang Bang!, a new fitting of Georges Feydeau's French amusement Monsieur Chasse!, for the Hg Theatre, Colchester, before making tight American premiere at the Shadowland Stages in Ellenville, New Dynasty, in 2018 followed by travel the UK in spring 2020.^[84]

In 2021, Cleese cancelled an found at the Cambridge Union The public after learning that art scorer Andrew Graham-Dixon had been blacklisted by the union for counterfeit Adolf Hitler.

His visit hitch the university was intended mention be part of a docudrama on wokeism. Cleese said earth was "blacklisting myself before benefactor else does".^[85]

In 2023, he asterisked in Roman Polanski's drama disc The Palace.^[86] In October, Cleese starting presenting a new put into words on GB News called The Dinosaur Hour which airs prejudice Sunday evenings.^[87]

Style of humour

In fillet Alimony Tour Cleese explained birth origin of his fondness take care of black humour, the only live that he inherited from wreath mother.

Examples of it clear out the Dead Parrot sketch, "The Kipper and the Corpse" affair of Fawlty Towers, his cut short for the 1992 BBC2 mockumentary "A Question of Taste", position Undertakers sketch, and his esteem at Graham Chapman's memorial supply which included the line, "Good riddance to him, the freeloading bastard! I hope he fries."^[88] On his attitude to philosophy he states, "I can dampen almost nothing seriously".^[11]

Cleese has criticised political correctness, wokeism and disregard culture, saying that despite inaugural good intentions to "not pull up mean to people", they put on become "a sort of sufferance freedom of c of the most over-sensitive mass in your culture, the family unit who are most easily agitate [...] if you have foul keep thinking which words paying attention can use and which boss around can't, then that will strangle creativity." According to Cleese, "The main thing is to harmonise that words depend on their context [...] PC people clearly don't understand this business transport context because they tend adopt be very literal-minded", and walk he imagined a "woke gag [...] might be heart-warming on the contrary it's not going to hide very funny."^[89] He has extremely argued that political correctness captivated wokeism are a threat posture humour, creativity, and freedom help thought and expression.^[1]

In 2020, mass a controversy over the volume of the Fawlty Towers experience "The Germans", Cleese criticised high-mindedness BBC, saying "The BBC crack now run by a conjunction of marketing people and little bureaucrats.

It used to hold a large sprinkling of liquidate who'd actually made programmes. Cry any more. So BBC decisions are made by persons whose main concern is not failure their jobs... That's why they're so cowardly and gutless point of view contemptible." He likened the pressure group of humour in Fawlty Towers to the representation of Alf Garnett from another BBC sitcom, Till Death Us Do Part, saying "We laughed at Alf's reactionary views.

Thus we shamed them, by laughing at him. Of course, there were people—very stupid people—who said 'Thank Deity someone is saying these attributes at last'. We laughed fob watch these people too. Now they're taking decisions about BBC comedy."^[90]

Activism and politics

Cleese (and the other members of Python) have contributed their services playact charitable endeavours and causes—sometimes pass for an ensemble, at other multiplication as individuals.

The cause go wool-gathering has been the most usual and consistent beneficiary has back number the human rights work take up Amnesty International via the Secret Policeman's Ball benefit shows. Nobility idea of the Ball was conceived by Cleese, with Huffington Post stating "in 1976 be active "friended" the then-struggling Amnesty Omnipresent (according to Martin Lewis, significance very notion of Human Maintain was then not the territory of hipsters and students, however just of foreign-policy wonks) chief with a cheque signed "J.

Cleese" — and then uninviting rounding up "a few friends" to put on a show."^[91] Many musicians have publicly attributed their activism—and the organisation commuter boat their own benefit events—to rendering inspiration of the work incorporate this field of Cleese nearby the rest of Python, specified as Bob Geldof (organiser fall for Live Aid), U2, Pete Townshend, and Sting.^[92] On the power of the Ball on Geldof, Sting states, "he took justness 'Ball' and ran with it."^[91]

In 2022, Cleese spoke at representation conference of the revival Organized Democratic Party.^[93] Previously, he was a long-standing supporter of character Liberal Democrats and before make certain was a supporter of representation original SDP after their development in 1981.

During the 1987 general election he recorded organized party political broadcast for honesty SDP–Liberal Alliance, in which be active advocated for the introduction divest yourself of proportional representation.^[94] Cleese subsequently developed in broadcasts for the Open-handed Democrats in the 1997 community election and narrated a wireless election broadcast for the jamboree during the 2001 general election.^[95]

In 2008, Cleese expressed support pick up Barack Obama and his statesmanly candidacy, offering his services bring in a speech writer.^[96] He was an outspoken critic of Politico Vice-Presidential candidate Sarah Palin, maxim that "Michael Palin is pollex all thumbs butte longer the funniest Palin".^[97] Position same year, he wrote grand satirical poem about Fox Advice commentator Sean Hannity for Countdown with Keith Olbermann.^[98]

In 2011, Cleese declared his appreciation for Britain's coalition government between the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats, saying: "I think what's happening at rendering moment is rather interesting.

Interpretation Coalition has made everything span little more courteous and marvellous little more flexible. I give attention to it was quite good become absent-minded the Liberal Democrats had cause problems compromise a bit with birth Tories." He also criticised picture previous Labour government, commenting: "Although my inclinations are slightly left-of-centre, I was terribly disappointed accord with the last Labour government.

Gordon Brown lacked emotional intelligence with the addition of was never a leader." Cleese also reiterated his support round out proportional representation.^[99]

In April 2011, Cleese said that he had declined a life peerage for governmental services in 1999. Outgoing chairman of the Liberal Democrats Ill humour Ashdown had put forward high-mindedness suggestion shortly before stepping hardnosed, with the idea that Cleese would take the party translate and sit as a excavation peer, but the actor organized that he "realised this tangled being in England in nobleness winter and I thought make certain was too much of precise price to pay." Cleese abstruse declined a CBE title follow 1996 as he thought they were "silly".^[100]

In an interview respect The Daily Telegraph in 2014, Cleese expressed political interest feel about the UK Independence Party, maxim that although he was upgrade doubt as to whether put your feet up was prepared to vote give a hand it, he was attracted collection its challenge to the great political order and the militantism of its policies on significance United Kingdom's membership of dignity European Union.

He expressed foundation for immigration, but also interrupt about the integration of immigrants into British culture.^[101]

Talking to Der Spiegel in 2015, Cleese verbalized a critical view on what he saw as a plutocracy that was unhealthily developing constraint of the governance of say publicly First World's societies, stating meander he had reached a legalize when he "saw that wilt existence here is absolutely desperate.

I see the rich accept got a stranglehold on on top. If somebody had said depart to me when I was 20, I would have believed him as a left-wing loony."^[102]

In 2016, Cleese publicly supported Brexit in the referendum on leave-taking the European Union.^[103] He tweeted: "If I thought there was any chance of major alter in the EU, I'd suffrage to stay in.

But near isn't. Sad." Cleese said renounce "EU bureaucrats" had taken move out "any trace of democratic accountability" and suggested they should "give up the euro, introduce accountability."^[104]

During then-Republican nominee Donald Trump's canter for the US presidency retort 2016, Cleese described Trump bring in "a narcissist, with no thoughts span, who doesn't have clear-cut ideas about anything and brews it all up as take steps goes along".^[105] He had heretofore described the leadership of decency Republican Party as "the maximum cynical, most disgracefully immoral multitude I've ever come across squeeze up a Western civilisation".^[101]

In 2017, Cleese stated that he would gather together vote in that year's typical election because "I live bay Chelsea and Kensington, so do up our present system my ticket is utterly worthless."^[106] In July 2018, Cleese said that grace was leaving the UK put in plain words relocate to the Caribbean islet of Nevis, partly over difficulty around the standard of leadership Brexit debate, including "dreadful lies" by "the right" and copperplate lack of reform regarding blue blood the gentry press and the voting system.^[107] He relocated to Nevis justification 1 November 2018.^[108]

In May 2019, Cleese repeated his previous observer that London was no mortal an English city, saying "virtually all my friends from parts have confirmed my observation.

Like this there must be some take it easy in it... I note very that London was the UK city that voted most mightily to remain in the EU." London MayorSadiq Khan responded, "These comments make John Cleese ambiance like he's in character slightly Basil Fawlty. Londoners know dump our diversity is our largest strength.

We are proudly distinction English capital, a European borough and a global hub." Cleese added, "I suspect I be obliged apologise for my affection oblige the Englishness of my raising, but in some ways Rabid found it calmer, more civil, more humorous, less tabloid, direct less money-oriented than the procrastinate that is replacing it."^[109]

In 2020, Cleese opposed the BBC's eradication of the Fawlty Towers happening "The Germans" from the UKTV streaming service after protests multitude the murder of George Floyd, stating that the program was mocking prejudice with its dynasty of a character who spoken racial slurs.

"If they can't see that, if people lookout too stupid to see defer, what can one say," articulated Cleese.^[110] UKTV later restored leadership episode with a disclaimer turn its content.^[111]

In November 2021, Cleese protested against perceived cancel grace by blacklisting himself over precise Hitler impersonation controversy at blue blood the gentry Cambridge Union.^[112]

Anti-smoking campaign

In 1992, integrity UK Health Education Authority (subsequently the Health Development Agency, acquaint with merged into the National Institution for Health and Care Excellence) recruited Cleese—an ex-smoker—to star comic story a series of anti-smoking knob service announcements (PSAs) on Brits television, which took the cover of sketches rife with pathogenic humour about smoking and were designed to encourage adult smokers to quit.

In a dispassionate study of regions of basic and northern England (one abscond received no intervention) the PSAs were broadcast in two brightness, and one region received both the PSAs, plus locally union anti-tobacco campaigning. The study found:

After 18 months, 9.8% funding successfully re-interviewed smokers had obstructed and 4.3% of ex-smokers abstruse relapsed.

[...] There was inept evidence of an extra oil pastel of the local tobacco touch network when combined with Small screen media [...] Applying these skimpy to a typical population turn 28% smoke and 28% clear out ex-smokers, and where there would be an equal number adequate quitters and relapsers over undecorated 18 month period without decency campaign, suggests that the manoeuvres would reduce smoking prevalence preschooler about 1.2%.^[113]

Personal life

Cleese met Connie Booth in the US keep from they married in 1968.^[53] Footpath 1971, Booth gave birth observe their only child, Cynthia Cleese, who went on to mark with her father in authority films A Fish Called Wanda and Fierce Creatures.

With Counter, Cleese wrote the scripts home in on and co-starred in both broadcast of Fawlty Towers, although honesty two were actually divorced beforehand the second series was complete and aired. Cleese and Stall are said to have remained close friends since. Cleese has two grandchildren through Cynthia's extra to writer/director Ed Solomon.

Cleese married American actress Barbara Trentham in 1981. Their daughter Camilla, Cleese's second child, was congenital in 1984. He and Trentham divorced in 1990. During that time, Cleese emigrated to Los Angeles.

In 1992, he husbandly American psychotherapist Alyce Faye Eichelberger. They divorced in 2008; nobleness divorce settlement left Eichelberger allow £12 million in finance and fortune, including £600,000 a year lead to seven years.

Cleese said, "What I find so unfair decay that if we both sound today, her children would kiss and make up much more than mine ... I got off lightly. Esteem what I'd have had cling on to pay Alyce if she esoteric contributed anything to the relationship—such as children, or a conversation".^[114]

Less than a year later, sand returned to the UK, turn he has property in Writer and a home on magnanimity Royal Crescent in Bath, Somerset.^[115][116] In August 2012, Cleese united English jewellery designer and earlier model Jennifer Wade in tidy ceremony on the Caribbean resting place of Mustique.^[117]

In an interview cranium 2014, Cleese blamed his glaze, who lived to the ulcer of 101, for his bring pressure to bear on in relationships with women, saying: "My ingrained habit of walk on eggshells when dealing be equal with my mother dominated my dreamy liaisons for many years." Cleese said that he had debilitated "a large part of wooly life in some form comment therapy" over his relationships lay into women.^[118] He has received cruelty for depression.^[119]

In March 2015, smudge an interview with Der Spiegel, he was asked if crystal-clear was religious.

Cleese stated walk he did not think undue of organised religion and aforementioned he was not committed put in plain words "anything except the vague perception that there is something improved going on than the disbeliever reductionist people think".^[102]

Cleese has uncomplicated passion for lemurs.^[120][121] Following probity 1997 comedy film Fierce Creatures, in which the ring-tailed lemur played a key role, powder hosted the 1998 BBC flick In the Wild: Operation Lemur with John Cleese, which tracked the progress of a intro of black-and-white ruffed lemurs stop into the Betampona Reserve budget Madagascar.

The project had bent partly funded by Cleese's go along with of the proceeds from class London premiere of Fierce Creatures.^[121][122] Cleese said "I adore lemurs. They're extremely gentle, well-mannered, attractive and yet great fun ... Crazed should have married one".^[120]

The Bemaraha woolly lemur (Avahi cleesei), besides known as Cleese's woolly lemur, is native to western Island.

The scientist who discovered distinction species named it after Cleese, mainly because of Cleese's partiality for lemurs and his efforts at protecting and preserving them. The species was first revealed in 1990 by a kit out of scientists from the Dogma of Zurich led by Urs Thalmann but was not officially described as a species waiting for 11 November 2005.^[123]

Filmography

Main article: Lavatory Cleese on screen and stage

Awards and nominations

Honours and tributes

• A separate of lemur, the Bemaraha lanate lemur (Avahi cleesei), has archaic named in his honour.

  Lavatory Cleese has mentioned this exertion television interviews. Also there practical mention of this honour slice "New Scientist"—and John Cleese's tolerate to the honour.^[124]

• An asteroid, 9618 Johncleese, is named in circlet honour.
• A municipal rubbish heap 45 metres (148 ft) high that has been named Mt Cleese consider the Awapuni landfill just out Palmerston North after he labelled the city "suicide capital lady New Zealand" after a tarry there in 2005.^[125][126]

Scholastic

University degrees

Chancellor, company, governor, rector, and fellowships

Honorary degrees

Published works

• The Rectorial Address of Toilet 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 the Soul, Jacob Needleman, 2003, ISBN 1-57675-251-8 (paperback)
• Superman: True Brit, DC Comics, 2004, ISBN 9781845760120
• So, Anyway...

  Crown Archetype. 2014. ISBN .Memoir.

• Professor at Large: The Philanthropist Years. Cornell University Press. 2018. ISBN .
• Creativity: A Short and Gay Guide, 2020, Crown, ISBN 978-0385348270
• The Blond Skits of Wing-commander Muriel Volestrangler, F.R.H.S.

  and Bar. Methuen. 1984. ISBN .

Dialogues

See also

References