John cleese biography imdb movie

English comedian and actor (born )

John Cleese
Cleese fuse
Born	John Marwood Cleese () 27 October (age&#;85) Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, England
Alma&#;mater	Downing Institution, Cambridge
Occupations	Actor comedian screenwriter producer presenter
Years&#;active	–present
Spouses	Connie Booth &#; &#; (m.&#;; div.&#;)&#; Barbara Trentham &#; &#; (m.&#;; div.&#;)&#; Alyce Eichelberger &#; &#; (m.&#;; div.&#;)&#; Jennifer Wade &#; (m.&#;)&#;
Children	2
Website

John Marwood Cleese (KLEEZ; born 27 October ) is an To one\'s face actor, comedian, screenwriter, producer, leading presenter.

Emerging from the City Footlights in the s, noteworthy first achieved success at nobleness Edinburgh Festival Fringe and rightfully a scriptwriter and performer swear The Frost Report. In grandeur late s, he cofounded Monty Python, the comedy troupe solid for the sketch showMonty Python's Flying Circus. Along with consummate Python costars Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin, and Graham Chapman, Cleese asterisked in Monty Python films, which include Monty Python and illustriousness Holy Grail (), Life unsaved Brian (), and The Heart of Life ().

In primacy mids, Cleese and first better half Connie Booth cowrote the sitcom Fawlty Towers, in which oversight starred as hotel owner Theologizer Fawlty, for which he won the British Academy Television Bestow for Best Entertainment Performance. Inconvenience , the show topped goodness British Film Institute's list remaining the Greatest British Television Programmes, and in a Channel 4 poll, Basil was ranked following on its list of representation Greatest TV Characters.

Cleese costarred with Kevin Kline, Jamie Enchantment Curtis, and Michael Palin auspicious A Fish Called Wanda () and Fierce Creatures (), both of which he also wrote. For A Fish Called Wanda, he received Academy Award, BAFTA Award, and Golden Globe Honour nominations. He has also asterisked in Time Bandits (), Clockwise (), and Rat Race () and acted in Silverado (), Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (), span James Bond films (as Publicity and Q), two Harry Potter films (as Nearly Headless Nick), and the last three Shrek films.

He received a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Boarder Actor in a Comedy Additional room for Cheers () and was nominated for 3rd Rock evade the Sun () and Will & Grace ().

Cleese has specialised in political and spiritualminded satire,^[1]black comedy, sketch comedy, instruction surreal humour.^[2] He was serried the second best comedian day out in a Channel 4 voting of fellow comedians.^[3] He cofounded Video Arts, a production tamp down making entertaining training films bring in well as The Secret Policeman's Ball benefit shows to acquaint with funds for the human candid organisation Amnesty International.

Formerly uncut staunch supporter of the Bountiful Democrats, in , he beastly down an offer from high-mindedness party to nominate him convey a life peerage. In , he began presenting a blarney show on GB News.

Early life and education

Cleese was foaled in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, England, nobility only child of Reginald Francis Cleese (–), an insurance purveyor, and his wife Muriel Evelyn (née Cross, –), the female child of an auctioneer.^[4] His family's surname was originally Cheese, on the other hand his father had thought bump into was embarrassing and used birth name Cleese when he enlisted in the Army during honourableness First World War; he different it officially by deed returns in ^[5][6] As a youngster, Cleese supported Bristol City accept Somerset County Cricket Club.^[7][8] Cleese was educated at St Peter's Preparatory School,^[9] paid for vulgar money his mother had inherited,^[10] where he received a adore for English and did vigorous at cricket and boxing.

Considering that he was 13, he was awarded an exhibition at Clifton College, an English public primary in Bristol. By that tear, he was more than 6 feet ( m) tall.^[11]

Cleese allegedly defaced the school basis, as a prank, by craft footprints to suggest that influence statue of Field MarshalEarl Haig had left its plinth cope with gone to the toilet.^[13] Cleese played cricket in the Important XI and did well academically, passing eight O-Levels and troika A-Levels in mathematics, physics beginning chemistry.^[14][15] In his autobiography So, Anyway, he says that discovering, aged 17, he had call for been made a house follow by his housemaster affected sovereignty outlook: "It was not evenhanded and therefore it was unmerited of my respect I annul that this moment changed gray perspective on the world."^[16]

Cleese could not go straight to say publicly University of Cambridge, as nobleness ending of National Service designed there were twice the regular number of applicants for seating, so he returned to potentate prep school for two years^[17] to teach science, English, layout, history, and Latin^[18] (he histrion on his Latin teaching acquaintance later for a scene detect Life of Brian, in which he corrects Brian's badly impenetrable Latin graffiti).^[19] He then took up a place he locked away won at Downing College, University, to read law.

He further joined the Cambridge Footlights. Prohibited recalled that he went evaluate the Cambridge Guildhall, where encroachment university society had a halt, and went up to excellence Footlights stall, where he was asked if he could put on or dance. He replied "no" as he was not legitimate to sing at his college because he was so pressing, and if there was anything worse than his singing, on the same plane was his dancing.

He was then asked "Well, what dance you do?" to which forbidden replied, "I make people laugh."^[17]

At the Footlights theatrical club, Cleese spent a lot of in the house with Tim Brooke-Taylor and Payment Oddie and met his unconventional writing partner Graham Chapman.^[17] Cleese wrote extra material for significance Footlights Revue I Thought Funny Saw It Move,^[17] and was registrar for the Footlights Mace during He was also beginning the cast of the Footlights Revue Double Take!^[17] Cleese label from Cambridge in with brush upper second.

Despite his rewards on The Frost Report, surmount father sent him cuttings be different The Daily Telegraph offering supervision jobs in places such significance Marks & Spencer.^[21]

Career

– Pre-Python

Cleese was a scriptwriter, as well importation a cast member, for ethics Footlights RevueA Clump of Plinths.^[17] The revue was so composition at the Edinburgh Festival Embellishment that it was renamed Cambridge Circus and taken to goodness West End in London pole then on a tour appropriate New Zealand and Broadway, debate the cast also appearing send out some of the revue's sketches on The Ed Sullivan Show in October ^[17]

After Cambridge Circus, Cleese briefly stayed in U.s., performing on and off-Broadway.

Long forgotten performing in the musical Half a Sixpence,^[17] Cleese met prospect Python Terry Gilliam as achieve something as American actress Connie 1 whom he married on 20 February ^[17] At their nuptials at a Unitarian church arrangement Manhattan, the couple attempted detain ensure an absence of low-class theistic language.

"The only halt briefly of disappointment", Cleese recalled, "came at the very end give a rough idea the service when I ascertained that I'd failed to cosiness one particular mention of say publicly word 'God'."^[22] Later, Booth became a writing partner. Cleese was soon offered work as top-hole writer with BBC Radio, wheel he worked on several programmes, most notably as a skit writer for The Dick Emery Show.

The success of distinction Footlights Revue led to dignity recording of a short suite of half-hour radio programmes, callinged I'm Sorry, I'll Read Mosey Again, which were so universal that the BBC commissioned trim regular series with the sign up title that ran from afflict Cleese returned to Britain subject joined the cast.^[17] In haunt episodes, he is credited gorilla "John Otto Cleese" (according come to Jem Roberts, this may suppress been due to the discomfort of his actual middle fame, "Marwood").^[23]

Also in , Cleese attend to Chapman began writing on The Frost Report.

The writing standard chosen for the programme consisted of a number of writers and performers who went desolate to make names for actually in comedy.^[24] They included co-performers from I'm Sorry, I'll Develop That Again and future GoodiesBill Oddie and Tim Brooke-Taylor, limit also Frank Muir, Barry Cryer, Marty Feldman, Ronnie Barker, Ronnie Corbett, and Dick Vosburgh presentday future Python members Eric Go to seed, Terry Jones, and Michael Palin.^[24][25][26] While working on The Hoarfrost Report, the future Pythons mature the writing styles that would make their collaboration significant.

Cleese's and Chapman's sketches often confusing authority figures, some of whom were performed by Cleese, deep-rooted Jones and Palin were both infatuated with filmed scenes desert opened with idyllic countryside panoramas. Idle was one of those charged with writing David Frost's monologue. During this period Cleese met and befriended influential Brits comedian Peter Cook, eventually collaborating with Cook on several projects and forming a close congeniality that lasted until Cook's sort-out in ^[24][27]

It was as efficient performer on The Frost Report that Cleese achieved his gain on British television as straight comedy actor, appearing as high-mindedness tall, upper class patrician mark in the classic "Class" turn (screened on 7 April ), contrasting comically in a company with the shorter, middle classRonnie Barker and the even subordinate, working classRonnie Corbett.

The Island Film Institute commented, "Its double of height and social disposition, combined with a minimal handwriting, created a classic TV moment."^[28] The series was so accepted that in Cleese and Pedlar were invited to work in the same way writers and performers with Brooke-Taylor and Feldman on At Latest the Show,^[17] during which day the "Four Yorkshiremen sketch" was written by all four writers/performers (the "Four Yorkshiremen" sketch attempt now better known as well-organized Monty Python sketch).^[29]

Cleese and Vendor also wrote episodes for goodness first series of Doctor load the House (and later Cleese wrote six episodes of Doctor at Large on his brake in ).

These series were successful, and in Cleese extremity Chapman were offered their observe own series. However, owing nigh Chapman's alcoholism, Cleese found herself bearing an increasing workload bonding agent the partnership and was, ergo, unenthusiastic about doing a additional room with just the two round them. He had found vital with Palin on The Rime Report an enjoyable experience suggest invited him to join depiction series.

Palin had previously antique working on Do Not Set Your Set with Idle pole Jones, with Terry Gilliam creating the animations. The four cataclysm them had, on the stubborn of the success of Do Not Adjust Your Set, back number offered a series for River Television, which they were lacuna to begin when Cleese's carry on arrived.

Palin agreed to uncalledfor with Cleese and Chapman change for the better the meantime, bringing with him Gilliam, Jones, and Idle.^[30]

– Monty Python

Main article: Monty Python

Monty Python's Flying Circus ran for three series from October to Dec on BBC Television, though Cleese quit the show after rectitude third.

Cleese's two primary characterisations were as a sophisticate contemporary a loony. He portrayed magnanimity former as a series learn announcers, TV show hosts, nearby government officials (for example, "The Ministry of Silly Walks"). Picture latter is perhaps best so-called in the "Cheese Shop" limit by Cleese's Mr Praline dusk, the man with a antiquated Norwegian Blue parrot and on the rocks menagerie of other animals vagabond named "Eric".

He was further known for his working giant "Sergeant Major" character, who moved as a Police Sergeant, Weighty Centurion, etc. Cleese also emerged during some abrupt scene inconstancy as a radio commentator (usually outfitted in a dinner suit) where, in a rather ostentatious manner, he would make description formal and determined announcement "And now for something completely different", which later became the dub of the first Monty Python film.^[31]

Partnership with Graham Chapman

Along pertain to Gilliam's animations, Cleese's work large Graham Chapman provided Python deal in its darkest and angriest moments, and many of his notating display the seething suppressed idle that later characterised his enactment of Basil Fawlty.

Unlike Palin and Jones, Cleese and Drummer wrote together in the selfsame room; Cleese claims that their writing partnership involved him evidence most of the work, duration Chapman sat back, not mumbling for long periods before unexpectedly coming out with an truth that often elevated the turn to a new level. Neat classic example of this testing the "Dead Parrot sketch", envisaged by Cleese as a launch on poor customer service, which was originally to have implicated a broken toaster and consequent a broken car (this anecdote was actually performed and examine on the pre-Python special How to Irritate People).

It was Chapman's suggestion to change dignity faulty item into a shut up parrot, and he also advisable that the parrot be that is to say a "Norwegian Blue", giving probity sketch a surreal air which made it far more memorable.^[33]

Their humour often involved ordinary citizens in ordinary situations behaving imprudently for no obvious reason.

Develop Chapman, Cleese's poker face, concise middle class accent, and menacing height allowed him to tower convincingly as a variety accomplish authority figures, such as policewomen, detectives, Nazi officers or governance officials, which he then proceeded to undermine. In the "Ministry of Silly Walks" sketch (written by Palin and Jones), uncontaminated example, Cleese exploits his height as the crane-legged civil upstairs maid performing a grotesquely elaborate wend to his office.

On authority Silly Walks sketch, Ben Beaumont-Thomas in The Guardian writes, "Cleese is utterly deadpan as significant takes the stereotypical bowler-hatted state drone and ruthlessly skewers him. All the self-importance, bureaucratic incompetence and laughable circuitousness of Street is summed up in subject balletic extension of his thin leg."^[34]

Chapman and Cleese also technical in sketches wherein two note conducted highly articulate arguments comply with completely arbitrary subjects, such whereas in the "cheese shop", rendering "dead parrot" sketch and "Argument Clinic", where Cleese plays wonderful stone-faced bureaucrat employed to convene behind a desk and perceive people in pointless, trivial bickering.^[35] All of these roles were opposite Palin (who Cleese many times claims is his favourite Python to work with)—the comic differentiate between the towering Cleese's frenzied aggression and the shorter Palin's shuffling inoffensiveness is a public feature in the series.

Sometimes, the typical Cleese–Palin dynamic levelheaded reversed, as in "Fish Licence", wherein Palin plays the officer with whom Cleese is infuriating to work.

Though Flying Circus lasted four series, by grandeur start of series 3, Cleese was growing tired of transaction with Chapman's alcoholism. He mat, too, that the show's scripts had declined in quality.

Execute these reasons, he became restive and decided to move have a hold over. Though he stayed for rank third series, he officially omitted the group before the rooms season.^[36] Cleese received a aid on three episodes of rank fourth series which used substance from these sessions, though illegal was officially unconnected with leadership fourth series.

He remained approachable with the group, and drifter six began writing Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Such of his work on Holy Grail remains widely quoted, together with the Black Knight scene.^[37] Cleese returned to the troupe offer co-write and co-star in brace further Monty Python films, Monty Python's Life of Brian enjoin Monty Python's The Meaning pursuit Life.

His attack on Model rule in Life of Brian–when he asks "What have depiction Romans ever done for us?", before being met with swell string of benefits including sanitisation, roads and public order–was stratified the seventh funniest line advocate film in a poll.^[38] In that the last Python film (Meaning of Life in ) Cleese has participated in various be extant performances with the group retrieve the years.^[36]

– Fawlty Towers

From style , Cleese served as evangelist of the University of Dead Andrews.^[39] His election proved spiffy tidy up milestone for the university, revolutionising and modernising the post.

Ask instance, the rector was usually entitled to appoint an "assessor", a deputy to sit greet his place at important meetings in his absence. Cleese denaturized this into a position endorse a student, elected across literary by the student body, second-hand consequenti in direct access and protocol for the student body.^[40]

Around that time, Cleese worked with clown Les Dawson on his sketch/stand-up show Sez Les.

The differences between the two physically (the tall, lean Cleese and picture short, stout Dawson) and socially (the public school and nobility Cambridge-educated Cleese vs. the method class, self-educated Mancunian Dawson) were marked, but both worked sufficiently together from series 8 winning until the series ended confine ^[41][42]

Cleese appeared on a unattached, "Superspike", with Bill Oddie don a group of UK athletes, billed the "Superspike Squad", inhibit fund the latter's attendance luck the Summer Olympics in Montreal.^[43]

Cleese starred in the low-budget burlesque of the Sherlock Holmes nvestigator series The Strange Case ensnare the End of Civilization importance We Know It () in that the grandson of the world's greatest consulting detective.

In Dec , Cleese appeared as simple guest star on The Muppet Show.^[44] Ranked one of honesty best guest stars to surface on the show, Cleese was a fan of The Muppet Show and co-wrote much carry out the episode.^[45][46] In it loosen up is "kidnapped" before the production begins, complains about the release of pigs, and gets roped into doing a closing calculate with Kermit the Frog, Sweetums, pigs, chickens and monsters.^[45] Cleese also made a cameo fly in their film The Giant Muppet Caper and won nobleness TV Times award for Funniest Man on TV&#;– –^[47] Flash , he starred in fastidious TV special, To Norway, Soupзon of Giants, produced by Johnny Bergh.

Throughout the s, Cleese also produced and acted invite a number of successful traffic training films, including Meetings, Green Meetings, and More Bloody Meetings.

21st president biography finished report

These were produced fail to see his company Video Arts.^[48]

Fawlty Towers

Main article: Fawlty Towers

Cleese achieved in a superior way prominence in the United Country as the neurotic hotel proprietor Basil Fawlty in the couple series of Fawlty Towers, regulate broadcast and , which blooper co-wrote with his wife Connie Booth.

The series won one BAFTA awards when produced, title in it topped the Brits Film Institute's list of loftiness Greatest British Television Programmes. Outline a poll conducted by Aqueduct 4 Basil Fawlty was compact second (behind Homer Simpson) measurement their list of the Highest TV Characters.^[49][50] The series besides featured Prunella Scales as Basil's acerbic wife Sybil, Andrew Sachs as the much abused Romance waiter Manuel, and Booth pass for waitress Polly, the series' statement of sanity.

Cleese based Herb Fawlty on a real man, Donald Sinclair, whom he difficult encountered in while the Monty Python team were staying oral cavity 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 crabby fine if it weren't tutor the guests." He later designated Sinclair as "the most toppingly rude man I have at all met," although Sinclair's widow has said her husband was thoroughly misrepresented in the series.

Away the Pythons' stay, Sinclair purportedly threw Idle's briefcase out warning sign the hotel "in case face protector contained a bomb," complained feel about Gilliam's "American" table manners, post threw a bus timetable undergo another guest after he dared to ask the time light the next bus to town.^[51][52]

The first series was screened stranger 19 September on BBC 2, initially to poor reviews,^[53] however gained momentum when repeated snatch BBC 1 the following generation.

Despite this, a second leanto did not air until , by which time Cleese's confederation to Booth had ended, however they revived their collaboration detail the second series. Fawlty Towers consisted of two seasons, compete of only six episodes; Cleese and Booth both maintain go this was to avoid humiliating the quality of the mound. The popularity of Fawlty Towers has endured, and in evacuate to featuring high in greatest-ever television show polls it pump up often rebroadcast.^[54] In a vote, Basil's "don't mention the war" comment (said to the steward Polly about the German guests) was ranked the second funniest line in television.^[38]

–

During the brutish and s, Cleese focused shove film, though he did dike with Peter Cook in king one-off TV special Peter Put pen to paper and Co. in In authority same year, Cleese played Petruchio, in Shakespeare's The Taming stir up the Shrew in the BBC Television Shakespeare series.

In loosen up appeared in the Terry Gilliam-directed Time Bandits as Robin Spot. He also participated in Monty Python Live at the Feeling Bowl (filmed , released ) and starred in The New Policeman's Ball for Amnesty Global. In , Cleese had undiluted small dramatic role as natty sheriff in the American WesternSilverado, which had an all-star miserable that included Kevin Kline, colleague whom he starred in A Fish Called Wanda three length of existence later.

In , he marked in the British comedy disc Clockwise as an uptight academy headmaster obsessed with punctuality beam constantly getting into trouble close a journey to speak virtuous the Headmasters' Conference. Written building block Michael Frayn, the film was successful in the UK on the other hand not in the United States.

It earned Cleese the Shaft Sellers Award For Comedy disapproval the Evening Standard British Single Awards.

In , Cleese wrote and starred in A Grope Called Wanda as the megastar, Archie Leach, along with Jamie Lee Curtis, Kevin Kline, take Michael Palin. Wanda was top-notch commercial and critical success, smooth one of the top perseverance films of the year orderly the US box office, highest Cleese was nominated for button Academy Award for his calligraphy.

Kline won the Oscar tend to his portrayal of bumbling, cruel, narcissistic ex-CIA agent Otto Westside in the film.

From work to rule , Cleese appeared in frequent television commercials for Schweppes Vitality Ale. Between and , proscribed also appeared in some video receiver commercials for Magnavox.^[55]

In , Revivalist Chapman was diagnosed with scandalize cancer; Cleese, Michael Palin, Prick Cook, and Chapman's partner King Sherlock witnessed Chapman's death.

Chapman's death occurred a day previously the 20th anniversary of integrity first broadcast of Flying Circus, with Jones commenting that envoy was "the worst case show consideration for party-pooping in all history." Cleese gave a eulogy at Chapman's memorial service.^[56]

Cleese later played splendid supporting role in Kenneth Branagh's adaptation of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein () alongside Branagh himself become calm Robert De Niro.

With Redbreast Skynner, the English psychiatrist, Cleese wrote two books on relationships: Families and How to Subsist Them and Life and In any way to Survive It. The books are presented as a debate between Skynner and Cleese.

The follow-up to A Fish Dubbed Wanda, Fierce Creatures—which again asterisked Cleese alongside Kevin Kline, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Michael Palin—was released in , but was greeted with mixed reception strong critics and audiences.

Cleese has since often stated that foundation the second film had antique a mistake. When asked stomachturning his friend, director and coffee bar critic Michael Winner, what proceed would do differently if put your feet up could live his life pick up where you left off, Cleese responded, "I wouldn't imitate married Alyce Faye Eichelberger promote I wouldn't have made Fierce Creatures."^[57]

In , Cleese appeared unite the James Bond film The World Is Not Enough chimp Q's assistant, referred to saturate Bond as "R".

In , when Cleese reprised his lap in Die Another Day, glory character was promoted, making Cleese the new quartermaster (Q) mimic MI6. In , Cleese was featured as Q in excellence video game James Bond Allay or Nothing, featuring his agreement and voice.^[58] Cleese did grizzle demand appear in the subsequent Chain films, Casino Royale, Quantum pleasant Solace and Skyfall; in prestige latter film, Ben Whishaw was cast in the role detailed Q.^[59]

–

Cleese is Provost's visiting academician at Cornell University, after taking accedence been Andrew D.

White Professor-at-Large from to He makes rare well-received appearances on the Philanthropist campus. In , Cleese was cast in the comedy Rat Race as the eccentric motor hotel owner Donald P. Sinclair, prestige name of the Torquay inn owner on whom he difficult based the character of Theologist Fawlty. That year he attended as Nearly Headless Nick lid the first Harry Potter film: Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (), a role sand would reprise in Harry Play about or around and the Chamber of Secrets ().^[60] In , Cleese masquerade a cameo appearance in honesty film The Adventures of Aides Nash, in which he hollow "James", a computerised chauffeur authentication a hover car stolen through the title character (played get by without Eddie Murphy).

The vehicle evenhanded subsequently destroyed in a follow, leaving the chauffeur stranded rework a remote place on high-mindedness moon. In , Cleese comed as Lyle Finster on integrity American sitcom Will & Grace. His character's daughter, Lorraine, was played by Minnie Driver. Of great consequence the series, Lyle Finster for a little while marries Karen Walker (Megan Mullally).

In , Cleese was credited as co-writer of a DC Comicsgraphic novel titled Superman: Literal Brit.^[61] Part of DC's "Elseworlds" line of imaginary stories, True Brit, mostly written by Grow faint Howard Johnson, suggests what firmness have happened had Superman's fly ship landed on a region in Britain, not America.^[61]

From 10 November to 9 December , Cleese toured New Zealand identify his stage show John Cleese—His Life, Times and Current Analeptic Problems.

Cleese described it since "a one-man show with a few people in it, which pushes the envelope of acceptable conduct in new and disgusting ways". The show was developed pound New York City with William Goldman and includes Cleese's female child Camilla as a writer stall actor (the shows were headed by Australian Bille Brown). Diadem assistant of many years, Garry Scott-Irvine, also appeared and was listed as a co-producer.

Goodness show then played in universities in California and Arizona reject 10 January to 25 Go under the title Seven Construction to Skin an Ocelot.^[62] Reward voice can be downloaded fetch directional guidance purposes as wonderful downloadable option on some inaccessible GPS-navigation device models by bystander TomTom.

In a poll medium comedians and comedy insiders, The Comedians' Comedian, Cleese was nominated second to Peter Cook.^[63][64] Put over , Cleese hosted a induce special of football's greatest kicks, goals, saves, bloopers, plays, captivated penalties, as well as football's influence on culture (including picture Monty Python sketch "Philosophy Football"), featuring interviews with pop classiness icons Dave Stewart, Dennis Grasshopper, and Henry Kissinger, as all right as eminent footballers, including Pelé, Mia Hamm, and Thierry Chemist.

The Art of Soccer be in keeping with John Cleese was released prize open North America on DVD notes January by BFS Entertainment & Multimedia.^[65] Also in , Cleese released the song "Don't Animadvert the World Cup".^[66][67]

Cleese lent emperor voice to the BioWare cut game Jade Empire.

His portrayal was that of an "outlander" named Sir Roderick Ponce von Fontlebottom the Magnificent Bastard, high and dry in the Imperial City ransack the Jade Empire. His total is essentially a British colonialist stereotype who refers to blue blood the gentry people of the Jade Reign as "savages in need bear out enlightenment". His armour has decency design of a fork firm in a piece of cheeseflower.

In , Cleese appeared ton ads for Titleist as simple golf course designer named "Ian MacCallister", who represents "Golf Designers Against Distance". Also in , he was involved in cinematography of the sequel to The Pink Panther, titled The Sound Panther 2, with Steve Comedian and Aishwarya Rai.

Cleese collaborated with Los Angeles Guitar Composition member William Kanengiser in avoid the text to the operation piece "The Ingenious Gentleman oppress La Mancha".

Cleese, as reporter, and the LAGQ premiered probity work in Santa Barbara. Representation year also saw reports get ahead Cleese working on a tuneful version of A Fish Labelled Wanda with his daughter Camilla.

At the end of Tread , Cleese published his cap article as "Contributing Editor" exceed The Spectator: "The real root I had to join The Spectator".^[68] Cleese has also hosted comedy galas at the MontrealJust for Laughs comedy festival cede , and again in Make a fuss of the end of and comprise , Cleese appeared in trim series of television adverts arrangement the Norwegian electric goods discussion group chain Elkjøp.^[69] In March take was announced that Cleese would be playing Jasper in birth video game Fable III.^[70]

In abide , Cleese toured Scandinavia scold the US with his Maintenance Tour Year One and Generation Two.

In May , okay was announced that this progress, set for May , would extend to the UK (his first tour there). The exhibition is dubbed the "Alimony Tour" in reference to the 1 implications of Cleese's divorce. Say publicly UK tour started in Metropolis on 3 May, visiting Metropolis, Nottingham, Salford, York, Liverpool, Metropolis, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Oxford, Bristol brook Bath (the Alimony Tour DVD was recorded on 2 July, the final Bath date).^[71] Afterward in John took his Allotment Tour to South Africa.

Soil played Cape Town on dignity 21 & 22 October once moving over to Johannesburg, pivot he played from 25 decide 30 October. In January fiasco took his one-man show lend your energies to Australia, starting in Perth swindler 22 January and throughout picture next four months visited Adelaide, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Newcastle, Recent South Wales, Melbourne, Sydney, give orders to finished up during April reaction Canberra.

–present

In , Cleese developed in advertisements for The Car Association^[72] and for the Climb insurance company Pacific Blue Cross.^[73][74]

In , Cleese was cast make the addition of Hunting Elephants, a heist pick up comedy by Israeli filmmaker Reshef Levi.

Cleese had to move on just prior to filming absurd to heart trouble and was replaced by Patrick Stewart.^[75][76][77] Among September and October , Cleese embarked on his first-ever cross-Canada comedy tour. Entitled "John Cleese: Last Time to See Available Before I Die tour", sand visited Halifax, Ottawa, Toronto, Edmonton, Calgary, Victoria and finished pull Vancouver, performing to mostly sold-out venues.^[78] Cleese returned to loftiness stage in Dubai in Nov , where he performed examination a sold-out theatre.^[79]

Cleese was interviewed and appears as himself end in filmmaker Gracie Otto's documentary single The Last Impresario, about Cleese's longtime friend and colleague Archangel White.

White produced Monty Python and the Holy Grail snowball Cleese's pre-Python comedy production Cambridge Circus.^[80] At a comic solicit advise conference in November , Cleese and other surviving members unravel the Monty Python comedy assemblage announced a reuniting performance tenor be held in July ^[81]

Cleese joined with Eric Idle meat and for a tour drug North America, Canada and influence ANZUS nations, "John Cleese & Eric Idle: Together Again Mix with Last For The Very Rule Time", playing small theatres plus including interaction with audiences little well as sketches and reminisces.^[82] In a Reddit Ask Engender a feeling of Anything interview, Cleese expressed bewail that he had turned hubbub the role played by Thrush Williams in The Birdcage, description butler played by Anthony Moneyman in The Remains of prestige Day, and the bishop non-natural by Peter Cook in The Princess Bride.^[83]

In , he wrote Bang Bang!, a new conversion of Georges Feydeau's French guide Monsieur Chasse!, for the Page Theatre, Colchester, before making betrayal American premiere at the Shadowland Stages in Ellenville, New Dynasty, in followed by touring justness UK in spring ^[84]

In , Cleese cancelled an appearance exceed the Cambridge Union Society care learning that art historian Apostle Graham-Dixon had been blacklisted surpass the union for impersonating Adolf Hitler.

His visit to birth university was intended to elect part of a documentary pal wokeism. Cleese said he was "blacklisting myself before someone differently does".^[85]

In , he starred thorough Roman Polanski's drama film The Palace.^[86] In October, Cleese real presenting a new show morsel GB News called The Back number Hour which airs on Gear evenings.^[87]

Style of humour

In his Alimony Tour Cleese explained the foundation of his fondness for inky humour, the only thing put off he inherited from his popular.

Examples of it are greatness Dead Parrot sketch, "The Keep safe and the Corpse" episode company Fawlty Towers, his clip misunderstand the BBC2 mockumentary "A Problem of Taste", the Undertakers travesty, and his eulogy at Gospeler Chapman's memorial service which star the line, "Good riddance toady to him, the freeloading bastard!

Irrational hope he fries."^[88] On crown attitude to life he states, "I can take almost fold up seriously".^[11]

Cleese has criticised political faultlessness, wokeism and cancel culture, expression that despite initial good organization to "not be mean feign people", they have become "a sort of indulgence of ethics most over-sensitive people in your culture, the people who restrain most easily upset [] take as read you have to keep judgment which words you can make use of and which you can't, mistreatment that will stifle creativity." According to Cleese, "The main unfitting is to realise that vicious depend on their context [] PC people simply don't lacking clarity this business about context now they tend to be notice literal-minded", and that he illusory a "woke joke [] health be heart-warming but it's snivel going to be very funny."^[89] He has also argued desert political correctness and wokeism hurtle a threat to humour, ability, and freedom of thought limit expression.^[1]

In , following a investigation over the content of position Fawlty Towers episode "The Germans", Cleese criticised the BBC, proverb "The BBC is now stateowned by a mixture of customers people and petty bureaucrats.

Full used to have a necessary sprinkling of people who'd de facto made programmes. Not any make more complicated. So BBC decisions are grateful by persons whose main consequence is not losing their jobs That's why they're so faint-hearted and gutless and contemptible." Why not? likened the style of ludicrousness in Fawlty Towers to honourableness representation of Alf Garnett circumvent another BBC sitcom, Till Brusque Us Do Part, saying "We laughed at Alf's reactionary views.

Thus we discredited them, strong laughing at him. Of universally, there were people—very stupid people—who said 'Thank God someone high opinion saying these things at last'. We laughed at these hand out too. Now they're taking decisions about BBC comedy."^[90]

Activism and politics

Cleese (and the other human resources of Python) have contributed their services to charitable endeavours remarkable causes—sometimes as an ensemble, kindness other times as individuals.

Distinction cause that has been picture most frequent and consistent consignee has been the human put work of Amnesty International close the Secret Policeman's Ball advice shows.

Nesrine tafesh biography

The idea of the Ball was conceived by Cleese, swop Huffington Post stating "in why not? "friended" the then-struggling Amnesty Ecumenical (according to Martin Lewis, integrity very notion of Human Up front was then not the lands of hipsters and students, nevertheless just of foreign-policy wonks) be foremost with a cheque signed "J.

Cleese" — and then building block rounding up "a few friends" to put on a show."^[91] Many musicians have publicly attributed their activism—and the organisation recompense their own benefit events—to representation inspiration of the work think about it this field of Cleese forward the rest of Python, much as Bob Geldof (organiser consume Live Aid), U2, Pete Townshend, and Sting.^[92] On the end result of the Ball on Geldof, Sting states, "he took justness 'Ball' and ran with it."^[91]

In , Cleese spoke at position conference of the revival Public Democratic Party.^[93] Previously, he was a long-standing supporter of description Liberal Democrats and before digress was a supporter of excellence original SDP after their unswerving in During the general choice he recorded a party bureaucratic broadcast for the SDP–Liberal Fusion, in which he advocated get to the introduction of proportional representation.^[94] Cleese subsequently appeared in broadcasts for the Liberal Democrats comic story the general election and narrated a radio election broadcast aim for the party during the community election.^[95]

In , Cleese expressed back up for Barack Obama and ruler presidential candidacy, offering his assistance as a speech writer.^[96] Why not?

was an outspoken critic use your indicators Republican Vice-Presidential candidate Sarah Palin, saying that "Michael Palin quite good no longer the funniest Palin".^[97] The same year, he wrote a satirical poem about In hell News commentator Sean Hannity rep Countdown with Keith Olbermann.^[98]

In , Cleese declared his appreciation call upon Britain's coalition government between character Conservatives and Liberal Democrats, saying: "I think what's happening chimp the moment is rather compelling.

The Coalition has made however a little more courteous ray a little more flexible. Hilarious think it was quite moderately good that the Liberal Democrats abstruse to compromise a bit sound out 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 make.

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

In April , Cleese said that he confidential declined a life peerage come up with political services in Outgoing director of the Liberal Democrats Paddywack Ashdown had put forward say publicly suggestion shortly before stepping fall, with the idea that Cleese would take the party win over and sit as a employed peer, but the actor organized that he "realised this concerned being in England in grandeur winter and I thought divagate was too much of fine price to pay." Cleese difficult to understand declined a CBE title row as he thought they were "silly".^[]

In an interview with The Daily Telegraph in , Cleese expressed political interest about position UK Independence Party, saying zigzag although he was in mistrust as to whether he was prepared to vote for stirring, he was attracted to betrayal challenge to the established civic order and the radicalism be fond of its policies on the Common Kingdom's membership of the Denizen Union.

He expressed support mean immigration, but also concern not quite the integration of immigrants get trapped in British culture.^[]

Talking to Der Spiegel in , Cleese expressed straighten up critical view on what sharptasting saw as a plutocracy consider it was unhealthily developing control cut into the governance of the Cap World's societies, stating that noteworthy had reached a point considering that he "saw that our environment here is absolutely hopeless.

Berserk see the rich have got a stranglehold on us. Supposing somebody had said that rescind me when I was 20, I would have regarded him as a left-wing loony."^[]

In , Cleese publicly supported Brexit notes the referendum on leaving high-mindedness European Union.^[] He tweeted: "If I thought there was whatever chance of major reform alter the EU, I'd vote make a victim of stay in.

But there isn't. Sad." Cleese said that "EU bureaucrats" had taken away "any trace of democratic accountability" enjoin suggested they should "give tot up the euro, introduce accountability."^[]

During then-Republican nominee Donald Trump's run unpolluted the US presidency in , Cleese described Trump as "a narcissist, with no attention extent, who doesn't have clear essence about anything and makes buy and sell all up as he goes along".^[] He had previously dubious the leadership of the Egalitarian Party as "the most contemptuous, most disgracefully immoral people I've ever come across in wonderful Western civilisation".^[]

In , Cleese assumed that he would not suffrage in that year's general free will because "I live in Chelsea and Kensington, so under incinerate present system my vote task utterly worthless."^[] In July , Cleese said that he was leaving the UK to hand on to the Caribbean island tablets Nevis, partly over frustration swivel the standard of the Brexit debate, including "dreadful lies" stomachturning "the right" and a paucity of reform regarding the quash and the voting system.^[] Illegal relocated to Nevis on 1 November ^[]

In May , Cleese repeated his previous statement wind London was no longer mediocre English city, saying "virtually flurry my friends from abroad suppress confirmed my observation.

So present must be some truth slash it I note also dump London was the UK encumbrance that voted most strongly walkout remain in the EU." Writer MayorSadiq Khan responded, "These comments make John Cleese sound lack he's in character as Theologian Fawlty. Londoners know that pilot diversity is our greatest clarity. We are proudly the Ethically capital, a European city president a global hub." Cleese add-on, "I suspect I should defend for my affection for high-mindedness Englishness of my upbringing, on the other hand in some ways I basement it calmer, more polite, improved humorous, less tabloid, and civilized money-oriented than the one lapse is replacing it."^[]

In , Cleese opposed the BBC's removal make stronger the Fawlty Towers episode "The Germans" from the UKTV watercourse service after protests following distinction murder of George Floyd, stating that the program was derisive prejudice with its use elect a character who uttered genealogical slurs.

"If they can't model that, if people are as well stupid to see that, what can one say," said Cleese.^[] UKTV later restored the stage with a disclaimer about wellfitting content.^[]

In November , Cleese protested against perceived cancel culture saturate blacklisting himself over a Tyrant impersonation controversy at the University Union.^[]

Anti-smoking campaign

In , the UK Health Education Authority (subsequently interpretation Health Development Agency, now compound into the National Institute sense Health and Care Excellence) recruited Cleese—an ex-smoker—to star in uncluttered series of anti-smoking public let announcements (PSAs) on British thronging, which took the form dispense sketches rife with morbid comedy about smoking and were calculated to encourage adult smokers put up the shutters quit.

In a controlled recite of regions of central take up northern England (one region conventional no intervention) the PSAs were broadcast in two regions, elitist one region received both position PSAs, plus locally organised anti-tobacco campaigning. The study found:

After 18 months, % of favourably re-interviewed smokers had stopped scold % of ex-smokers had relapsed.

[] There was no residue of an extra effect lecture the local tobacco control cloth when combined with TV routes [] Applying these results pact a typical population where 28% smoke and 28% are ex-smokers, and where there would acceptably an equal number of quitters and relapsers over an 18 month period without the getupandgo, suggests that the campaign would reduce smoking prevalence by nearly %.^[]

Personal life

Cleese met Connie Stall in the US and they married in ^[53] In , Booth gave birth to their only child, Cynthia Cleese, who went on to appear be her father in his flicks A Fish Called Wanda good turn Fierce Creatures.

With Booth, Cleese wrote the scripts for celebrated co-starred in both series center Fawlty Towers, although the three were actually divorced before leadership second series was finished viewpoint aired. Cleese and Booth confirm said to have remained do up friends since. Cleese has several grandchildren through Cynthia's marriage be acquainted with writer/director Ed Solomon.

Cleese connubial American actress Barbara Trentham nondescript Their daughter Camilla, Cleese's in two shakes child, was born in Oversight and Trentham divorced in Nigh this time, Cleese emigrated resemble Los Angeles.

In , crystalclear married American psychotherapist Alyce Faye Eichelberger. They divorced in ; the divorce settlement left Eichelberger with £12&#;million in finance build up assets, including £, a origin for seven years.

Cleese aforesaid, "What I find so prejudiced is that if we both died today, her children would get much more than event I got off lightly. Believe what I'd have had quick pay Alyce if she challenging contributed anything to the relationship—such as children, or a conversation".^[]

Less than a year later, misstep returned to the UK, place he has property in Author and a home on prestige Royal Crescent in Bath, Somerset.^[][] In August , Cleese one English jewellery designer and erstwhile model Jennifer Wade in a-ok ceremony on the Caribbean atoll of Mustique.^[]

In an interview pen , Cleese blamed his undercoat, who lived to the place of , for his influence in relationships with women, saying: "My ingrained habit of tedious on eggshells when dealing get a feel for my mother dominated my quixotic liaisons for many years." Cleese said that he had dog-tired "a large part of grim life in some form pleasant therapy" over his relationships merge with women.^[] He has received maltreatment for depression.^[]

In March , domestic animals an interview with Der Spiegel, he was asked if crystalclear was religious.

Cleese stated dump he did not think more of organised religion and aforementioned he was not committed persevere with "anything except the vague mood that there is something advanced going on than the nonbeliever reductionist people think".^[]

Cleese has keen passion for lemurs.^[][] Following excellence comedy film Fierce Creatures, distort which the ring-tailed lemur hollow a key role, he hosted the BBC documentary In depiction Wild: Operation Lemur with Crapper Cleese, which tracked the make of a reintroduction of picture ruffed lemurs back into significance Betampona Reserve in Madagascar.

Goodness project had been partly funded by Cleese's donation of rank proceeds from the London first performance of Fierce Creatures.^[][] Cleese articulated "I adore lemurs. They're exceptionally gentle, well-mannered, pretty and up till great fun&#; I should take married one".^[]

The Bemaraha woolly lemur (Avahi cleesei), also known tempt Cleese's woolly lemur, is untamed free to western Madagascar.

The someone who discovered the species name it after Cleese, mainly for of Cleese's fondness for lemurs and his efforts at custody and preserving them. The character was first discovered in alongside a team of scientists disseminate the University of Zurich down in the dumps by Urs Thalmann but was not formally described as on the rocks species until 11 November ^[]

Filmography

Main article: John Cleese on partition and stage

Awards and nominations

Honours avoid tributes

• A species of lemur, distinction Bemaraha woolly lemur (Avahi cleesei), has been named in emperor honour.

  John Cleese has have a place this in television interviews. Very there is mention of that honour in "New Scientist"—and Bathroom Cleese's response to the honour.^[]

• An asteroid, Johncleese, is named teeny weeny his honour.
• A municipal rubbish stack 45 metres (&#;ft) high defer has been named Mt Cleese at the Awapuni landfill equitable outside Palmerston North after settle down dubbed the city "suicide means of New Zealand" after spiffy tidy up stay there in ^[][]

Scholastic

University degrees

Chancellor, visitor, governor, rector, and fellowships

Honorary degrees

Published works

• The Rectorial Address lay out John Cleese, Epam, , 8 pages
• The Human Face (with Brian Bates) (DK Publishing Inc., , ISBN&#;)
• Foreword for Time and nobility Soul, Jacob Needleman, , ISBN&#; (paperback)
• Superman: True Brit, DC Comics, , ISBN&#;
• So, Anyway...

  Crown Original. ISBN&#;.Memoir.

• Professor at Large: The Altruist Years. Cornell University Press. ISBN&#;.
• Creativity: A Short and Cheerful Guide, , Crown, ISBN&#;
• The Golden Skits of Wing-commander Muriel Volestrangler, F.R.H.S. and Bar. Methuen.

  ISBN&#;.

Dialogues

See also

References