Holds a law degree from Downing College, Cambridge University.
Co-wrote several episodes of "Doctor in the House" (1969) and its sequels with Graham Chapman, and also wrote some later episodes as sole author.
He was a cast member of the highly successful radio show "I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again". His fellow cast members were Tim Brooke-Taylor, Graeme Garden, Bill Oddie, David Hatch and Jo Kendall. It was in this radio show that Cleese's famous 'Ferret Song' (later sung on the television series, "At Last the 1948 Show" (1967)) was first heard.
Was a member of the prestigious Cambridge University Footlights Club.
Went to the United States with the Footlights stage show "Cambridge Circus" in 1964, and appeared on the "Ed Sullivan Show".
When he had to join the American Federation of Television and Radio Artistsin 1989, for his third appearance on American TV, none of the staff at the AFTRA office recognised him, or had any idea who he was.
Ever since one of his most famous Monty Python sketches, The Ministry of Silly Walks, he has found himself continually pestered by admirers to do silly walks for them.
Who's Who lists his recreations as "gluttony, sloth."
Rector of University of St Andrews from 1973-1976.
According to Brian Henson, when Cleese guest-starred on "The Muppet Show" (1976), he enjoyed the show very much and became very close with the writers because he wanted to get involved in the writing. When he did get involved with the writing, he and the other writers came up with a concept where Cleese was being held against his will on the show and would try to get off the show while the Muppets were trying to get him to do his scheduled bits. Of course, in this case, life did not imitate art, as a few years later, Cleese appeared again with the Muppets in the film The Great Muppet Caper (1981).
Is an Andrew D. White Professor-at-Large at Cornell University.
During a 20 Questions interview with Playboy magazine, Cleese spun a wild yarn about his ancestors being named "Cheese". Couple this with the fact that close friends call him Jack (a common alternative for John), Cleese joked that he might go back to his old "family" name and move to Monterey, California... thus becoming Monterey Jack Cheese. In fact, though, his grandfather's name *was* Cheese and he did change it to Cleese!
Co-owns the Christine Schell Fine Objects antique shop in Montecito, CA.
John's father's name was Reg Cleese but his grandfather was named John Edwin Cheese. He changed his name when he joined the British army in 1915.
Daughter, Camilla, born 1984 (with second wife Barbara Trentham)
Reached adult height of 6' 4 3/4" by the age of 13.
Said he was to be the first person to say the F-word at a memorial service when he spoke at Graham Chapman's funeral.
His mother, Muriel Cleese (b. Cross, 11 November 1899 - 11 November 2000) died on her 101th birthday.
The inspiration for Fawlty Towers (1975) came from a hotel stay he had with the other Pythons in the Gleneagles Hotel in Torquay, England. The hotel manager was called Donald Sinclair, someone Cleese considered to be the rudest man he had ever encountered. He later played a character by the name of Donald P. Sinclair in Rat Race (2001).
When he left the Monty Python team, he was approached by the BBC to do something else, and together with Booth, created "Fawlty Towers (1975)" based on their experiences in a Torquay hotel.
In the late nineties he appeared in German TV commercials for a lottery service. He actually spoke German in some of these spots (while some had no dialogue and others where dubbed later on).
When the Globe Theatre was rebuilt in London, a service was offered whereby you could have your name on a tile in the courtyard, for a donation to the project. Cleese and fellow python Michael Palin both signed up for tiles, but Palin's was spelled wrong. Cleese paid extra to ensure it would be spelled "Pallin."
Was the tallest member of Monty Python, having been about 2 inches taller than Graham Chapman.
Father-in-law of Ed Solomon.
He allegedly refused the British Honour of the C.B.E. (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in 1996.
Biography in: "Who's Who in Comedy" by Ronald L. Smith. Pg. 108-109. New York: Facts on File, 1992. ISBN 0816023387
He has played the character of the "Black Knight" on two occasions, Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975) and the episode "Mary Loves Scoochie" on the show "3rd Rock from The Sun (1996)" .
Appeared in a series of educational short subjects produced by Video Arts [gb] designed to teach management and trainees how to handle stress and unusual situations. Cleese took advantage of his comic talents and portrayed events as absurd situations so that audiences would better remember their training.
In 2002, he appeared in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002), with Maggie Smith, and in Die Another Day (2002), opposite her son, Toby Stephens.
Terry Gilliam noted among his Monty Python co-stars that there seemed to be a division between the taller, more "aggressive" Cambridge men (Cleese, Graham Chapman, & Eric Idle) and the shorter, lighter-humored Oxford men (Michael Palin & Terry Jones), the latter of which the American Gilliam found himself closer to. Gilliam considered Cleese the most "Cambridge" of the group, being the tallest and most "aggressive" member of Monty Python.
Voiced Jean-Bob, a frog who believes he's a prince, in The Swan Princess (1994), then went on to voice a king who used to be a frog in Shrek 2 (2004).
Has played the father of two of the Charlie's Angels. First he played Lucy Liu's father in Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle (2003). The next year he played Cameron Diaz's father in Shrek 2 (2004).
Has resided for many years in the prestigious Chicago North Shore suburb of Lake Forest, Illinois.
Former supporter of the Liberal Democrat political party.
Has said that Cornell University is set in one of the most beautiful locations on earth.
John Cleese has long been one of the industry's most innovative and influential comedic talents. Today's audiences have most recently seen him on the big screen as the new Q in the James Bond movie Die Another Day-having been promoted from R in The World is Not Enough-and as Nearly Headless Nick in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. He has also had a recurring role as Lyle Finster on the NBC television sitcom Will & Grace. On the big screen, he next stars in the remake of Around the World in 80 Days, and will be heard in the animated film Valiant.
Hailing from England, Cleese first gained international fame for his groundbreaking work as a creator, writer and member of the classic Monty Python's Flying Circus. First aired on the BBC in 1969, the series was an instant hit in Europe and gained an equally loyal following when it landed on American shores in 1972. The show also spawned the feature film comedies Monty Python and the Holy Grail, The Life of Brian and The Meaning of Life. There have also been subsequent Monty Python videos, CDs and specials.
In 1988, Cleese co-wrote, executive produced and starred in the comedy hit A Fish Called Wanda, for which he earned Oscar and BAFTA nominations for Best Original Screenplay, and won a BAFTA Award and received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor. He also co-wrote, produced and starred in the sequel Fierce Creatures. His additional film acting credits include Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle, The Out-of-Towners, Rat Race, The Jungle Book, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, Silverado, Time Bandits and The Great Muppet Caper.
For his work on television, Cleese won an Emmy Award for his guest role on the comedy series Cheers, and received another Emmy nomination for a guest stint on 3rd Rock From the Sun. He also garnered a BAFTA Award for the acclaimed BBC series Fawlty Towers, which he created and starred in.
