Comic actor and writer, born in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, SW England, UK. As a student at Cambridge he joined the Footlights Revue (1963). He appeared in the Broadway production of Half a Sixpence (1965) and returned to Britain to write and perform in such television series as The Frost Report (1966). He joined Monty Python's Flying Circus (196974), an anarchic series that changed the face of British television humour with its inspired lunacy, surreal comedy, and animated graphics. The troupe subsequently collaborated on such films as The Life of Brian (1979), and The Meaning of Life (1983). Tall and angular, he specialized in explosive, manic eccentricity and physical humour. He enjoyed spectacular success as the co-writer and star of the series Fawlty Towers (1975, 1979) and the film A Fish Called Wanda (1988, BAFTA Best Actor). Later films include Splitting Heirs (1993) and Fierce Creatures (1997), the not-quite-sequel to Wanda, The World is Not Enough (1999), Die Another Day (2002), and Around the World in 80 Days (2004). He also founded Video Arts Ltd, producing industrial training films, and, with Robin Skynner (19222000), wrote the best-seller Families and How to Survive Them (1983). He married the actress Connie Booth in 1968 (dissolved, 1978).
| John Cleese |
|---|
|
|
| Born |
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October 27, 1939 Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, England |
| Occupation |
| Actor, writer, comedian |
| Career milestones |
|
I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again (1964-73) The Frost Report (1966) At Last The 1948 Show (1967-1968) Monty Python's Flying Circus (1969-1973) Fawlty Towers (1974-1979) A Fish Called Wanda (1988) |
| Official website |
| thejohncleese.com |
John Marwood Cleese (born October 27, 1939 in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, England) is an English comedian and actor best known for being one of the members of the comedy group Monty Python and for co-writing the TV series Fawlty Towers in which he played Basil Fawlty.
Biography
John Cleese was born in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, England to Reginald Francis Cleese and Muriel Cross. His family's surname was previously "Cheese", but his father, an insurance salesman, changed his surname to "Cleese" upon joining the army in 1915.
As a boy, Cleese was educated at Clifton College in Bristol, from which he was expelled for a humorous defacing of school grounds: he used painted footsteps to suggest that the school's statue of Field Marshal Earl Haig had got down from his plinth and gone to the toilet. As Cleese's comic reputation flourished, he was soon offered a position as a writer with BBC Radio, working on, amongst others, sketches for The Dick Emery Show.
On his return to London in 1965, Cleese and Chapman began writing on The Frost Report, an important landmark in satire and British Comedy in the 1960s. Cleese and Chapman's sketches often involved authority figures (some of which were performed by Cleese). It was during this period that Cleese met and befriended influential British comedian Peter Cook.
Such was the popularity of the series that, in 1966, John Cleese and Graham Chapman were invited to work as writers and performers with Tim Brooke-Taylor and Marty Feldman on At Last the 1948 Show, during which time the Four Yorkshiremen sketch was written by all four writers/performers (the Four Yorkshiremen sketch is now better known as a Monty Python sketch). John Cleese and Graham Chapman also wrote episodes of Doctor in the House. These series were successful and, in 1969, Cleese and Chapman were offered their very own series. However, due to Chapman's alcoholism, Cleese found himself bearing an increasing workload in the partnership and was therefore unenthusiastic about doing a series with just the two of them. The four of them had, on the back of the success of Do Not Adjust Your Set, been offered a series for ITV, which they were waiting to begin when Cleese's offer arrived. Palin agreed to work with Cleese and Chapman in the meantime, bringing with him Gilliam, Jones and Idle. Many have suggested that this important landmark in comedy was brought about by Cleese's desire to work with Palin, who Cleese has maintained is his favourite Python to work with. Cleese is particularly remembered for the "Cheese Shop", "The Ministry of Silly Walks", and "Dead Parrot" sketches. Though the programme lasted four series, by the start of series 3, Cleese, who was probably the best known and most experienced member of the group, was growing tired of coping with Chapman's alcoholism. Cleese returned to the troupe to co-write and co-star in the Monty Python films Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Life of Brian and The Meaning of Life.
In 1971, Connie Booth gave birth to Cynthia Cleese, their only child.
From 1970 to 1973 Cleese also served as rector of the University of St Andrews.
Having left Monty Python, Cleese went on to achieve possibly greater success in the United Kingdom as the neurotic hotel manager Basil Fawlty in Fawlty Towers, which he co-wrote with Connie Booth. Cleese based Basil Fawlty on a real character, Donald Sinclair, whom he encountered in 1971, when he and the rest of the Monty Python team were staying at the Gleneagles Hotel in Torquay whilst filming Monty Python's Flying Circus. Cleese was reportedly inspired by Sinclair's mantra of "I could run this hotel just fine, if it weren't for the guests." The series portrayed stereotypical British attitudes towards sex, death, complaining, violence towards employees and unhappy marriages, often simultaneously embodied in Cleese's madcap physical performances. However, the second series did not appear until 1979, by which time Cleese's marriage to Booth had broken down. Cleese and Booth both maintain that this was to avoid compromising the quality of the series.
In 1978 Cleese appeared as guest star on The Muppet Show. Instead of singing along, he showed up a pretend album, his own new vocal record "John Cleese: A Man &
During the 1980s and 1990s, Cleese focused on film, though he did work with Peter Cook in his one-off TV special Peter Cook and Co. in 1980. In the same year a theatrical piece for TV was released, with Cleese playing a remarkable Petruchio, in Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew. Wanda became the most successful British film ever, and Cleese was nominated for an Academy Award for his script.
Cleese gave a stirring eulogy at Graham Chapman's memorial service, in which he "became the first person ever at a British memorial service to say 'fuck'".
Cleese also produced and acted in a number of successful business training films, including Meetings, Bloody Meetings and More Bloody Meetings about how to set up and run successful meetings.
With Robin Skynner, Cleese wrote two books on relationships: Families and how to survive them, and Life and how to survive it. The books are presented as a dialogue between Skynner and Cleese.
In 1996, Cleese declined the British honour of Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE).
In 1999, Cleese appeared in the James Bond movie, The World Is Not Enough as Q's assistant, referred to by Bond as R. In 2002, when Cleese reprised his role in Die Another Day, the character was promoted, making Cleese the new quartermaster (Q) of MI6. Cleese will not be reprising this role in the newest James Bond film, Casino Royale, where Daniel Craig replaces Pierce Brosnan in the leading role.
In a 2005 poll of comedians and comedy insiders The Comedian's Comedian, Cleese's peers showed their appreciation of his talent when he was voted second only to Peter Cook.
John Cleese recently lent his voice to the BioWare video game Jade Empire. While perhaps a small role in John Cleese's respect, such lines as "half of you can't even grow a decent moustache" and "your idea of honour is outdated, too.
In 2004, Cleese was credited as co-writer of a DC Comics graphic novel entitled Superman: True Brit.
From 10 November to 9 December 2005, Cleese toured New Zealand with his stage show 'John Cleese — His Life, Times and Current Medical Problems'. Cleese described it as "a one man show with several people in it, which pushes the envelope of acceptable behaviour in new and disgusting ways." The show was developed in New York with William Goldman and includes Cleese's daughter Camilla Cleese as a writer and actor (the shows were directed by Australian Bille Brown.) John's assistant of many years, Garry Scott-Irvine, also appeared, and was listed as a co-producer. It then played in universities in California and Arizona from 10 January to 25 March 2006 under the title "Seven Ways to Skin an Ocelot"
In June 2006, whilst promoting a football (soccer) song in which he was featured, entitled "Don't Mention The World Cup", Cleese appears to have claimed that he decided to retire from performing in sitcoms, instead opting to writing a book on the history of comedy and tutoring young comedians.
Just For Laughs 2006
John Cleese's most recent live comedic performance was at the 2006 Just For Laughs festival in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. John Cleese was host for one of the galas and performed sketches very reminiscent to his Monty Python days. The second sketch was him as the judge of 'Cleese Idol', where contestants from Montreal would be performing his skits, so he could find his successor. The guillotine won, and John Cleese was beheaded just as he was about to say something to the crowd.
Radio credits
I'm Sorry, I'll Read That AgainTelevision credits
The Frost Report (1966) Frost on Sunday At Last the 1948 Show The Avengers (1968, guest appearance as Marcus Rugman (egg clown-face collector) in the episode Look (Stop Me if You've Heard this One)...) The Goodies (1973, guest cameo appearance as a Genie in the episode The Goodies and the Beanstalk). Doctor Who (1979, guest cameo appearance as an Art Lover in the episode City of Death as a favour to writer / script editor Douglas Adams) How to Irritate People (1968) with Michael Palin, Graham Chapman, Connie Booth and Tim Brooke-Taylor Monty Python's Flying Circus (1969–1974) Fawlty Towers (1975, 1979) The Taming of the Shrew, as Petruchio (1980) Cheers (episode "Simon Says"), he won an Emmy for best actor in a guest starring role (1987). Monty Python's Flying Circus, John Cleese's Personal Best (At the beginning of the episode, the show was dedicated to "Mr. John Cleese, who has recently died". John Cleese was portraying himself as a 97-year-old, senile, old man who is being interviewed by a newswoman before succumbing to a heart attack.) Hosted the TV show Wine for the Confused Numerous commercials, including for supermarket chain Sainsbury's, snack firm Planters and a British government Stop Smoking campaign Party political broadcasts for the Liberal Democrats and predecessor, the SDP-Liberal Alliance Song "Don't Mention The World Cup" animated video played on ITV, BBC and Channel 4 News June 2006Filmography
The Magic Christian (1969) (had written w/ Chapman an earlier version of the script, of which only the scenes they appear in survived) The Best House in London (1969) The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer (1970) (writer and actor) Romance with a Double Bass (1974) (writer and actor) Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1974) (writer and actor: Sir Lancelot, Tim the Enchanter, swallow obsessed guard #2, Peasant #1, the Black Knight, French Taunter, body cart customer) Meetings, Bloody Meetings (1976) (a humorous business-oriented training video) The Strange Case of the End of Civilization as We Know It (1977) (Arthur Sherlock Holmes, a descendant of the original) The Life of Brian (1979) (writer and actor: various roles including Reg) The Secret Policeman's Ball (1980) The Great Muppet Caper (1981) Time Bandits (1981) (as a gormless Robin Hood) Privates on Parade (1982) (Major Giles Flack) Yellowbeard (1983) (Blind Pew) Monty Python's The Meaning of Life (1983) (writer and actor) (various roles) Silverado (1985) (plays Langston an English sheriff in a town in the western USA. His first line, as he walks in to a bar to break up a brawl, is, "What's all this, then?") Clockwise (1986) (as Mr. Stimpson, a school headmaster) A Fish Called Wanda (1988) (writer and actor) (as lawyer Archie Leach (Cary Grant's real name)) Erik the Viking (1989) (as Halfdan the Black) Bullseye! (1990) (as Man on the Beach in Barbados Who Looks Like John Cleese) An American Tail: Fievel Goes West (1991) (Cat R. replaces Desmond Llewelyn as Q in the series) Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle (2003) (Father of Alex) Shrek 2 (2004) (voice of Princess Fiona's father, King Harold) Around the World in 80 Days (2004) (Grizzled Sergeant) Valiant (2005) (voice of captured pigeon, Mercury) Charlotte's Web (2006) (voice of Samuel the sheep) Shrek 3 (2007) (King Harold) Crood Awakening (2008) (Alvan) Voice (also writer)Video game credits
Monty Python's Complete Waste of Time (1994) 7th Level Monty Python and the Quest for the Holy Grail (1996) 7th Level Monty Python's The Meaning of Life (1997) Panasonic Starship Titanic (1998) Simon & Bar, 1984 ISBN 0-413-41560-0 The Complete Fawlty Towers, w/Connie Booth, 1988 ISBN 0-413-18390-4 (hardcover), ISBN 0-679-72127-4 (paperback) A Fish Called Wanda: The Screenplay, w/Charles Crichton, 1988 ISBN 1-55783-033-9 Fawlty's Hotel: Sämtliche Stücke, w/Connie Booth, (The Complete Fawlty Towers in German), Haffmans Verlag AG Zürich, 1995Dialogues
Families and How to Survive Them, w/A.Robin Skynner, 1983 ISBN 0-413-52640-2 (hardc.), ISBN 0-19-520466-2 (p/back) Life and How to Survive It, w/A.Robin Skynner 1993 ISBN 0-413-66030-3 (hardcover), ISBN 0-393-31472-3 (paperback)Trivia
He is an avid collector of Flat Eric merchandise. In 2003, John Cleese took part in Mike Oldfield's re-release of the original 1973 version of Tubular Bells, in album Tubular Bells 2003. John Cleese mentioned this in television interviews. Also there is mention of this honour in "The New Scientist" — and John Cleese's response to the honour. In the radio series I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again, Cleese (even though he is credited as "John Cleese") is referred to at the close of every episode as "John Otto Cleese". It appears that John Cleese just liked the name. There were various characters named "Otto" in episodes of "Monty Python's Flying Circus", and there is also an "Otto" (played by Kevin Kline) in the film "A Fish Called Wanda" (which was written by John Cleese). John Cleese's mother once stated that her son called himself "Otto", rather than his second name of "Marwood", but she did not know why he called himself "Otto", or where the name "Otto" came from . Cleese recorded the voice of God for Spamalot, the musical based on Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Height: 6'4 3/4" (1.95 meters) (Peak: 6'5, 1.96 metres) He claims that he reached 6ft (1.83m) by the age of 12, and then grew to 6ft 5" (1.96m) at 13 and hasn't grown since. The Human League have an instrumental track entitled "John Cleese; In the late-1990s Cleese appeared in a set of badly-received commercials for the UK supermarket chain Sainsbury's. Keith Olbermann, American news anchor and host of MSNBC's Countdown, wrote a fan letter to Cleese at the age of 16, and claims to have received a reply. Cleese was the first person to say the word 'shit' on British television.Further reading
Further information about John Cleese can be found in the book:
Footlights! — 'A Hundred Years of Cambridge Comedy' — Robert Hewison, Methuen London Ltd, 1983, ISBN 0-413-51150-2.
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