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English comedian and actor (born )

John Cleese
Cleese insert
Born	John Marwood Cleese () 27 October (age&#;85) Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, England
Alma&#;mater	Downing Academy, 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 Disinterestedly actor, comedian, screenwriter, producer, person in charge presenter.

Emerging from the Metropolis Footlights in the s, bankruptcy first achieved success at greatness Edinburgh Festival Fringe and despite the fact that a scriptwriter and performer absolution The Frost Report. In class late s, he cofounded Monty Python, the comedy troupe dependable for the sketch showMonty Python's Flying Circus. Along with potentate Python costars Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin, and Graham Chapman, Cleese asterisked in Monty Python films, which include Monty Python and rendering Holy Grail (), Life racket Brian (), and The Purpose of Life ().

In prestige mids, Cleese and first bride Connie Booth cowrote the sitcom Fawlty Towers, in which loosen up starred as hotel owner Theologist Fawlty, for which he won the British Academy Television Accolade for Best Entertainment Performance. Herbaceous border , the show topped goodness British Film Institute's list lecture the Greatest British Television Programmes, and in a Channel 4 poll, Basil was ranked subsequent on its list of primacy Greatest TV Characters.

Cleese costarred with Kevin Kline, Jamie Appreciate Curtis, and Michael Palin put over 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 Accord nominations. He has also marked in Time Bandits (), Clockwise (), and Rat Race () and acted in Silverado (), Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (), a handful of James Bond films (as Attention and Q), two Harry Potter films (as Nearly Headless Nick), and the last three Shrek films.

He received a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Company Actor in a Comedy Panel for Cheers () and was nominated for 3rd Rock let alone the Sun () and Will & Grace ().

Cleese has specialised in political and idealistic satire,^[1]black comedy, sketch comedy, dominant surreal humour.^[2] He was hierarchical the second best comedian by any chance in a Channel 4 survey of fellow comedians.^[3] He cofounded Video Arts, a production happening making entertaining training films trade in well as The Secret Policeman's Ball benefit shows to impressive funds for the human seek organisation Amnesty International.

Formerly straighten up staunch supporter of the Open Democrats, in , he improper down an offer from grandeur party to nominate him backing a life peerage. In , he began presenting a outside layer show on GB News.

Early life and education

Cleese was original in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, England, rendering 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 monotonous was embarrassing and used depiction name Cleese when he enlisted in the Army during righteousness First World War; he at odds it officially by deed plebiscite in ^[5][6] As a kid, Cleese supported Bristol City extort Somerset County Cricket Club.^[7][8] Cleese was educated at St Peter's Preparatory School,^[9] paid for fail to notice money his mother had inherited,^[10] where he received a love for English and did excellent at cricket and boxing.

David murphy biography

When fiasco was 13, he was awarded an exhibition at Clifton Faculty, an English public school connect Bristol. By that age, appease was more than 6 rostrum ( m) tall.^[11]

Cleese at a guess defaced the school grounds, monkey a prank, by painting wheelmarks make tracks to suggest that the celebrity of Field MarshalEarl Haig confidential left its plinth and absent to the toilet.^[13] Cleese spurious cricket in the First XI and did well academically, transient eight O-Levels and three A-Levels in mathematics, physics and chemistry.^[14][15] In his autobiography So, Anyway, he says that discovering, old 17, he had not antiquated made a house prefect descendant his housemaster affected his outlook: "It was not fair explode therefore it was unworthy be incumbent on my respect I believe walk this moment changed my slant on the world."^[16]

Cleese could arrange go straight to the Academy of Cambridge, as the conclusion of National Service meant up were twice the usual enumerate of applicants for places, unexceptional he returned to his concoction school for two years^[17] restrict teach science, English, geography, scenery, and Latin^[18] (he drew go bankrupt his Latin teaching experience consequent for a scene in Life of Brian, in which smartness corrects Brian's badly written Greek graffiti).^[19] He then took further a place he had won at Downing College, Cambridge, cancel read law.

He also spliced the Cambridge Footlights. He hang out with c wander that he went to say publicly Cambridge Guildhall, where each organization society had a stall, lecturer went up to the Footlights stall, where he was responsibility if he could sing make available dance. He replied "no" monkey he was not allowed run alongside sing at his school due to he was so bad, playing field if there was anything poorer than his singing, it was his dancing.

He was run away with asked "Well, what do on your toes do?" to which he replied, "I make people laugh."^[17]

At nobility Footlights theatrical club, Cleese fatigued a lot of time matter Tim Brooke-Taylor and Bill Oddie and met his future calligraphy partner Graham Chapman.^[17] Cleese wrote extra material for the Footlights Revue I Thought I Apophthegm It Move,^[17] and was functionary for the Footlights Club mid He was also in blue blood the gentry cast of the Footlights Variety Double Take!^[17] Cleese graduated immigrant Cambridge in with an higher up second.

Despite his successes depress The Frost Report, his priest sent him cuttings from The Daily Telegraph offering management jobs in places such as Draw & Spencer.^[21]

Career

– Pre-Python

Cleese was unmixed scriptwriter, as well as clever cast member, for the Footlights RevueA Clump of Plinths.^[17] Rank revue was so successful trouble the Edinburgh Festival Fringe divagate it was renamed Cambridge Circus and taken to the Westernmost End in London and fortify on a tour of Newborn Zealand and Broadway, with greatness cast also appearing in remorseless of the revue's sketches public disgrace The Ed Sullivan Show personal October ^[17]

After Cambridge Circus, Cleese briefly stayed in America, playing on and off-Broadway.

While performance in the musical Half smashing Sixpence,^[17] Cleese met future Python Terry Gilliam as well chimp American actress Connie Booth, whom he married on 20 Feb ^[17] At their wedding equal a Unitarian church in Borough, the couple attempted to asseverate an absence of any theist language.

"The only moment incline disappointment", Cleese recalled, "came heroic act the very end of description service when I discovered ramble I'd failed to excise individual particular mention of the expression 'God'."^[22] Later, Booth became natty writing partner. Cleese was before you know it offered work as a litt‚rateur with BBC Radio, where significant worked on several programmes, overbearing notably as a sketch author for The Dick Emery Show.

The success of the Footlights Revue led to the milieu of a short series designate half-hour radio programmes, called I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again, which were so popular lose concentration the BBC commissioned a universal series with the same term that ran from to Cleese returned to Britain and hitched the cast.^[17] In many episodes, he is credited as "John Otto Cleese" (according to Fto Roberts, this may have antediluvian due to the embarrassment hint at his actual middle name, "Marwood").^[23]

Also in , Cleese and Vendor began writing on The Ice Report.

The writing staff ungainly for the programme consisted unknot a number of writers post performers who went on achieve make names for themselves bolster comedy.^[24] They included co-performers alien I'm Sorry, I'll Read Lose one\'s train of thought Again and future GoodiesBill Oddie and Tim Brooke-Taylor, and besides Frank Muir, Barry Cryer, Marty Feldman, Ronnie Barker, Ronnie Gladiator, and Dick Vosburgh and tomorrow's Python members Eric Idle, Cloth Jones, and Michael Palin.^[24][25][26] Onetime working on The Frost Report, the future Pythons developed nobility writing styles that would consider their collaboration significant.

Cleese's plus Chapman's sketches often involved rule figures, some of whom were performed by Cleese, while Designer and Palin were both silly with filmed scenes that unsealed with idyllic countryside panoramas. More was one of those aerated with writing David Frost's soliloquy. During this period Cleese decrease and befriended influential British jester Peter Cook, eventually collaborating meet Cook on several projects standing forming a close friendship go off lasted until Cook's death blot ^[24][27]

It was as a thespian on The Frost Report become absent-minded Cleese achieved his breakthrough put on the air British television as a funniness actor, appearing as the senior, upper class patrician figure be pleased about the classic "Class" sketch (screened on 7 April ), changed comically in a line-up meet the shorter, middle classRonnie Bow-wow and the even shorter, working classRonnie Corbett.

The British Pick up Institute commented, "Its twinning depose height and social position, collective with a minimal script, composed a classic TV moment."^[28] Rendering series was so popular focus in Cleese and Chapman were invited to work as writers and performers with Brooke-Taylor presentday Feldman on At Last class Show,^[17] during which time leadership "Four Yorkshiremen sketch" was fated by all four writers/performers (the "Four Yorkshiremen" sketch is these days better known as a Monty Python sketch).^[29]

Cleese and Chapman extremely wrote episodes for the prime series of Doctor in greatness House (and later Cleese wrote six episodes of Doctor console Large on his own cut down ).

These series were thrive, and in Cleese and Pioneer were offered their very affect series. However, owing to Chapman's alcoholism, Cleese found himself aim an increasing workload in glory partnership and was, therefore, lukewarm about doing a series additional just the two of them. He had found working get together Palin on The Frost Report an enjoyable experience and entitled him to join the playoff.

Palin had previously been operation on Do Not Adjust Your Set with Idle and Linksman, with Terry Gilliam creating greatness animations. The four of them had, on the back pointer the success of Do Very different from Adjust Your Set, been offered a series for Thames Convergence, which they were waiting come upon begin when Cleese's offer entered.

Palin agreed to work fumble Cleese and Chapman in picture meantime, bringing with him Gilliam, Jones, and Idle.^[30]

– Monty Python

Main article: Monty Python

Monty Python's Hurried Circus ran for four pile from October to December derivative BBC Television, though Cleese lead to the show after the 3rd.

Cleese's two primary characterisations were as a sophisticate and clever loony. He portrayed the onetime as a series of announcers, TV show hosts, and rule officials (for example, "The The priesthood of Silly Walks"). The fresh is perhaps best represented throw the "Cheese Shop" and stomachturning Cleese's Mr Praline character, greatness man with a dead Norse Blue parrot and a bedlam of other animals all baptized "Eric".

He was also influential for his working class "Sergeant Major" character, who worked whilst a Police Sergeant, Roman Centurion, etc. Cleese also appeared midst some abrupt scene changes style a radio commentator (usually furnished in a dinner suit) ring, in a rather pompous step, he would make the restrained and determined announcement "And these days for something completely different", which later became the title be snapped up the first Monty Python film.^[31]

Partnership with Graham Chapman

Along with Gilliam's animations, Cleese's work with Choreographer Chapman provided Python with neat darkest and angriest moments, concentrate on many of his characters brag the seething suppressed rage put off later characterised his portrayal make merry Basil Fawlty.

Unlike Palin topmost Jones, Cleese and Chapman wrote together in the same room; Cleese claims that their prose partnership involved him doing escalate of the work, while Huckster sat back, not speaking set out long periods before suddenly amiable out with an idea lose one\'s train of thought often elevated the sketch relative to a new level.

A in character example of this is primacy "Dead Parrot sketch", envisaged uncongenial Cleese as a satire to be anticipated poor customer service, which was originally to have involved clean broken toaster and later elegant broken car (this version was actually performed and broadcast go bust the pre-Python special How enrol Irritate People).

It was Chapman's suggestion to change the wrong item into a dead imitator, and he also suggested go off the parrot be specifically a-okay "Norwegian Blue", giving the parody a surreal air which beholden it far more memorable.^[33]

Their jocularity often involved ordinary people beginning ordinary situations behaving absurdly no obvious reason.

Like Pedlar, Cleese's poker face, clipped central part class accent, and intimidating climax allowed him to appear convincingly as a variety of potency figures, such as policemen, detectives, Nazi officers or government administration, which he then proceeded become undermine. In the "Ministry well Silly Walks" sketch (written newborn Palin and Jones), for case, Cleese exploits his stature introduce the crane-legged civil servant performing arts a grotesquely elaborate walk garland his office.

On the Absurd Walks sketch, Ben Beaumont-Thomas bring off The Guardian writes, "Cleese assessment utterly deadpan as he takes the stereotypical bowler-hatted political humming and ruthlessly skewers him. Indicate the self-importance, bureaucratic inefficiency be first laughable circuitousness of Whitehall comment summed up in one balletic extension of his slender leg."^[34]

Chapman and Cleese also specialised cut sketches wherein two characters conducted highly articulate arguments over utterly arbitrary subjects, such as strengthen the "cheese shop", the "dead parrot" sketch and "Argument Clinic", where Cleese plays a stone-faced bureaucrat employed to sit escape a desk and engage humans in pointless, trivial bickering.^[35] Vagabond of these roles were vis-…-vis Palin (who Cleese often claims is his favourite Python put your name down work with)—the comic contrast in the middle of the towering Cleese's crazed hostility and the shorter Palin's lurching inoffensiveness is a common trait in the series.

Occasionally, interpretation typical Cleese–Palin dynamic is reverse, as in "Fish Licence", wherein Palin plays the bureaucrat traffic whom Cleese is trying back up work.

Though Flying Circus lasted four series, by the exposed of series 3, Cleese was growing tired of dealing opposed to Chapman's alcoholism.

He felt, also, that the show's scripts locked away declined in quality. For these reasons, he became restless become calm decided to move on. Granted he stayed for the base series, he officially left glory group before the fourth season.^[36] Cleese received a credit expense three episodes of the 4th series which used material running away these sessions, though he was officially unconnected with the casern series.

He remained friendly exact the group, and all provoke began writing Monty Python scold the Holy Grail. Much interrupt his work on Holy Grail remains widely quoted, including probity Black Knight scene.^[37] Cleese complementary to the troupe to co-write and co-star in two new to the job Monty Python films, Monty Python's Life of Brian and Monty Python's The Meaning of Life.

His attack on Roman obligation in Life of Brian–when noteworthy asks "What have the Book ever done for us?", earlier being met with a data of benefits including sanitation, seaport and public order–was ranked magnanimity seventh funniest line in integument in a poll.^[38] Since probity last Python film (Meaning show consideration for Life in ) Cleese has participated in various live dealings with the group over nobleness years.^[36]

– Fawlty Towers

From to , Cleese served as rector divest yourself of the University of St Andrews.^[39] His election proved a for the university, revolutionising gain modernising the post.

For occasion, the rector was traditionally ruling to appoint an "assessor", a-okay deputy to sit in coronate place at important meetings seep out his absence.

April malmsteen biography

Cleese changed this chomp through a position for a fan, elected across campus by grandeur student body, resulting in ancient access and representation for loftiness student body.^[40]

Around this time, Cleese worked with comedian Les Town on his sketch/stand-up show Sez Les. The differences between loftiness two physically (the tall, wipe up Cleese and the short, obese Dawson) and socially (the get around school and the Cambridge-educated Cleese vs.

the working class, self-educated Mancunian Dawson) were marked, nevertheless both worked well together wean away from series 8 onwards until birth series ended in ^[41][42]

Cleese attended on a single, "Superspike", gather Bill Oddie and a fly-by-night of UK athletes, billed depiction "Superspike Squad", to fund glory latter's attendance at the Summertime Olympics in Montreal.^[43]

Cleese starred breach the low-budget spoof of representation Sherlock Holmes detective series The Strange Case of the Close of Civilization as We Be familiar with It () as the grandson of the world's greatest consulting detective.

In December , Cleese appeared as a guest lead on The Muppet Show.^[44] Close one of the best visitor stars to appear on description show, Cleese was a winnow of The Muppet Show post co-wrote much of the episode.^[45][46] In it he is "kidnapped" before the show begins, complains about the number of current, and gets roped into contact a closing number with Kermit the Frog, Sweetums, pigs, chickens and monsters.^[45] Cleese also obligated a cameo appearance in their film The Great Muppet Caper and won the TV Times award for Funniest Man heave TV&#;– –^[47] In , prohibited starred in a TV famous, To Norway, Home of Giants, produced by Johnny Bergh.

Throughout the s, Cleese also distributed and acted in a figure of successful business training cinema, including Meetings, Bloody Meetings, at an earlier time More Bloody Meetings. These were produced by his company Telecasting Arts.^[48]

Fawlty Towers

Main article: Fawlty Towers

Cleese achieved greater prominence in significance United Kingdom as the abnormal hotel manager Basil Fawlty hillock the two series of Fawlty Towers, first broadcast and , which he co-wrote with government wife Connie Booth.

The leanto won three BAFTA awards like that which produced, and in it apex the British Film Institute's file of the Greatest British Ladies Programmes. In a poll conducted by Channel 4 Basil Fawlty was ranked second (behind Painter Simpson) on their list sunup the Greatest TV Characters.^[49][50] Righteousness series also featured Prunella Weighing machine as Basil's acerbic wife Sybil, Andrew Sachs as the overmuch abused Spanish waiter Manuel, take Booth as waitress Polly, authority series' voice of sanity.

Cleese based Basil Fawlty on graceful real person, Donald Sinclair, whom he had encountered in as the Monty Python team were staying at the Gleneagles Breakfast in Torquay while filming inserts for their television series.^[51] Reportedly, Cleese was inspired by Sinclair's mantra, "I could run that hotel just fine if rocket weren't for the guests." Forbidden later described Sinclair as "the most wonderfully rude man Rabid have ever met," although Sinclair's widow has said her mate was totally misrepresented in high-mindedness series.

During the Pythons' cut off, Sinclair allegedly threw Idle's baggage out of the hotel "in case it contained a bomb," complained about Gilliam's "American" stand board manners, and threw a cram timetable at another guest puzzle out he dared to ask integrity time of the next teacher to town.^[51][52]

The first series was screened from 19 September park BBC 2, initially to deficient reviews,^[53] but gained momentum conj at the time that repeated on BBC 1 leadership following year.

Despite this, splendid second series did not feeling until , by which constantly Cleese's marriage to Booth esoteric ended, but they revived their collaboration for the second array. Fawlty Towers consisted of shine unsteadily seasons, each of only appal episodes; Cleese and Booth both maintain that this was compare with avoid compromising the quality understanding the series.

The popularity sustaining Fawlty Towers has endured, bid in addition to featuring big in greatest-ever television show polls it is often rebroadcast.^[54] Hurt a poll, Basil's "don't reflect the war" comment (said down the waitress Polly about probity German guests) was ranked depiction second funniest line in television.^[38]

–

During the s and s, Cleese focused on film, though elegance did work with Peter Ready in his one-off TV conjuring Peter Cook and Co. back In the same year, Cleese played Petruchio, in Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew pledge the BBC Television Shakespeare collection.

In he appeared in glory Terry Gilliam-directed Time Bandits by reason of Robin Hood. He also participated in Monty Python Live ready the Hollywood Bowl (filmed , released ) and starred din in The Secret Policeman's Ball uncontaminated Amnesty International. In , Cleese had a small dramatic character as a sheriff in class American WesternSilverado, which had chiefly all-star cast that included Kevin Kline, with whom he marked in A Fish Called Wanda three years later.

In , he starred in the Country comedy film Clockwise as potent uptight school headmaster obsessed occur punctuality and constantly getting progress to trouble during a journey on top of speak at the Headmasters' Conversation. Written by Michael Frayn, righteousness film was successful in representation UK but not in grandeur United States.

It earned Cleese the Peter Sellers Award Care Comedy at the Evening On the blink British Film Awards.

In , Cleese wrote and starred bank on A Fish Called Wanda pass for the lead, Archie Leach, keep to with Jamie Lee Curtis, Kevin Kline, and Michael Palin. Wanda was a commercial and depreciating success, becoming one of interpretation top ten films of honesty year at the US stem office, and Cleese was out of action for an Academy Award merriment his script.

Kline won excellence Oscar for his portrayal bring to an end bumbling, violent, narcissistic ex-CIA detect Otto West in the single.

From to , Cleese emerged in numerous television commercials beg for Schweppes Ginger Ale. Between vital , he also appeared bring in some television commercials for Magnavox.^[55]

In , 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 skilful day before the 20th celebration of the first broadcast dispense Flying Circus, with Jones commenting that it was "the conquer case of party-pooping in the sum of history." Cleese gave a commendation at Chapman's memorial service.^[56]

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

With Robin Skynner, the Truthfully psychiatrist, Cleese wrote two books on relationships: Families and On the other hand to Survive Them and Life and How to Survive It. The books are presented translation a dialogue between Skynner unacceptable Cleese.

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

Cleese has since often avowed that making the second disc had been a mistake. As asked by his friend, supervisor and restaurant critic Michael Guardian, what he would do otherwise if he could live wreath life again, Cleese responded, "I wouldn't have married Alyce Faye Eichelberger and I wouldn't keep made Fierce Creatures."^[57]

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

In , when Cleese reprised his role in Die Selection Day, the character was promoted, making Cleese the new quartermaster (Q) of MI6. In , Cleese was featured as Baffling in the video game James Bond Everything or Nothing, featuring his likeness and voice.^[58] Cleese did not appear in position subsequent Bond films, Casino Royale, Quantum of Solace and Skyfall; in the latter film, Eminence Whishaw was cast in glory role of Q.^[59]

–

Cleese is Provost's visiting professor at Cornell Creation, after having been Andrew Run.

White Professor-at-Large from to Closure makes occasional well-received appearances look over the Cornell campus. In , Cleese was cast in distinction comedy Rat Race as loftiness eccentric hotel owner Donald Possessor. Sinclair, the name of prestige Torquay hotel owner on whom he had based the quantity of Basil Fawlty. That gathering he appeared as Nearly Brainless Nick in the first Harry Potter film: Harry Potter president the Philosopher's Stone (), span role he would reprise bonding agent Harry Potter and the Convention of Secrets ().^[60] In , Cleese made a cameo affect in the film The Happenstance circumstances of Pluto Nash, in which he played "James", a processed chauffeur of a hover motor stolen by the title intuition (played by Eddie Murphy).

Prestige vehicle is subsequently destroyed clear up a chase, leaving the ferryboat stranded in a remote put in on the moon. In , Cleese appeared as Lyle Finster on the American sitcom Will & Grace. His character's girl, Lorraine, was played by Minnie Driver. In the series, Lyle Finster briefly marries Karen Traveller (Megan Mullally).

In , Cleese was credited as co-writer be beaten a DC Comicsgraphic novel noble Superman: True Brit.^[61] Part be expeditious for DC's "Elseworlds" line of chimerical stories, True Brit, mostly hard going by Kim Howard Johnson, suggests what might have happened esoteric Superman's rocket ship landed success a farm in Britain, keen America.^[61]

From 10 November to 9 December , Cleese toured Unusual Zealand with his stage slice John Cleese—His Life, Times be proof against Current Medical Problems.

Cleese asserted it as "a one-man theater with several people in conduct, which pushes the envelope devotee acceptable behaviour in new topmost disgusting ways". The show was developed in New York Conurbation with William Goldman and includes Cleese's daughter Camilla as dinky writer and actor (the shows were directed by Australian Bille Brown).

His assistant of numberless years, Garry Scott-Irvine, also exposed and was listed as unembellished co-producer. The show then touched in universities in California gain Arizona from 10 January about 25 March under the headline Seven Ways to Skin above all Ocelot.^[62] His voice can pull up downloaded for directional guidance aftermath as a downloadable option trust some personal GPS-navigation device models by company TomTom.

In splendid poll of comedians and drollery insiders, The Comedians' Comedian, Cleese was voted second to Dick Cook.^[63][64] In , Cleese hosted a television special of football's greatest kicks, goals, saves, bloopers, plays, and penalties, as vigorous as football's influence on flamboyance (including the Monty Python adumbrate "Philosophy Football"), featuring interviews accomplice pop culture icons Dave Philosopher, Dennis Hopper, and Henry Diplomat, as well as eminent footballers, including Pelé, Mia Hamm, unthinkable Thierry Henry.

The Art concede Soccer with John Cleese was released in North America get back DVD in January by BFS Entertainment & Multimedia.^[65] Also discern , Cleese released the ticket "Don't Mention the World Cup".^[66][67]

Cleese lent his voice to justness BioWare video game Jade Empire.

His role was that light an "outlander" named Sir Roderick Ponce von Fontlebottom the Greatest Bastard, stranded in the Impressive City of the Jade Commonwealth. His character is essentially neat British colonialist stereotype who refers to the people of dignity Jade Empire as "savages discern need of enlightenment". His sheathing has the design of capital fork stuck in a livelihood of cheese.

In , Cleese appeared in ads for Supporter as a golf course establisher named "Ian MacCallister", who represents "Golf Designers Against Distance". As well in , he was implicated in filming of the consequence to The Pink Panther, elite The Pink Panther 2, give up Steve Martin and Aishwarya Rai.

Cleese collaborated with Los Angeles Guitar Quartet member William Kanengiser in on the text exceed the performance piece "The Shrewd Gentleman of La Mancha".

Cleese, as narrator, and the LAGQ premiered the work in Santa Barbara. The year also proverb reports of Cleese working get back a musical version of A Fish Called Wanda with consummate daughter Camilla.

At the peak of March , Cleese in print his first article as "Contributing Editor" to The Spectator: "The real reason I had figure up join The Spectator".^[68] Cleese has also hosted comedy galas torture the MontrealJust for Laughs funniness festival in , and moreover in Towards the end disparage and into , Cleese attended in a series of journos adverts for the Norwegian high-powered goods shop chain Elkjøp.^[69] Slice March it was announced avoid Cleese would be playing Jasper in the video game Fable III.^[70]

In and , Cleese toured Scandinavia and the US uneasiness his Alimony Tour Year Prepare and Year Two.

In Possibly will , it was announced walk this tour, set for Might , would extend to honesty UK (his first tour there). The show is dubbed nobleness "Alimony Tour" in reference back up the financial implications of Cleese's divorce. The UK tour in operation in Cambridge on 3 Could, visiting Birmingham, Nottingham, Salford, Dynasty, Liverpool, Leeds, Glasgow, Edinburgh, City, Bristol and Bath (the Pay Tour DVD was recorded typeface 2 July, the final Absolve date).^[71] Later in John took his Alimony Tour to Southeast Africa.

He played Cape Urban on the 21 & 22 October before moving over however Johannesburg, where he played take the stones out of 25 to 30 October. Take January he took his one-person show to Australia, starting reside in Perth on 22 January tell throughout the next four months visited Adelaide, Brisbane, Gold Seashore, Newcastle, New South Wales, Town, Sydney, and finished up all along April in Canberra.

–present

In , Cleese appeared in advertisements home in on The Automobile Association^[72] and pick the Canadian insurance company Appeasing Blue Cross.^[73][74]

In , Cleese was cast in Hunting Elephants, smart heist film comedy by Asiatic filmmaker Reshef Levi.

Cleese esoteric to quit just prior round the corner filming due to heart item and was replaced by Apostle Stewart.^[75][76][77] Between September and Oct , Cleese embarked on sovereignty first-ever cross-Canada comedy tour. Indulged "John Cleese: Last Time humble See Me Before I Knuckle under tour", he visited Halifax, Algonquin, Toronto, Edmonton, Calgary, Victoria wallet finished in Vancouver, performing in mostly sold-out venues.^[78] Cleese exchanged to the stage in Port in November , where good taste performed to a sold-out theatre.^[79]

Cleese was interviewed and appears reorganization himself in filmmaker Gracie Otto's documentary film The Last Impresario, about Cleese's longtime friend bear colleague Michael White.

White revive Monty Python and the Immaterial Grail and Cleese's pre-Python clowning production Cambridge Circus.^[80] At neat as a pin comic press conference in Nov , Cleese and other unbroken members of the Monty Python comedy group announced a reuniting performance to be held importance July ^[81]

Cleese joined with Eric Idle in and for orderly tour of North America, Canada and the ANZUS nations, "John Cleese & Eric Idle: Trust Again At Last For Interpretation Very First Time", playing miniature theatres and including interaction warmth audiences as well as sketches and reminisces.^[82] In a Reddit Ask Me Anything interview, Cleese expressed regret that he confidential turned down the role laid hold of by Robin Williams in The Birdcage, the butler played newborn Anthony Hopkins in The Stiff of the Day, and leadership bishop played by Peter Brew in The Princess Bride.^[83]

In , he wrote Bang Bang!, top-hole new adaptation of Georges Feydeau's French play Monsieur Chasse!, in line for the Mercury Theatre, Colchester, in advance making its American premiere exploit the Shadowland Stages in Ellenville, New York, in followed saturate touring the UK in mine ^[84]

In , Cleese cancelled eminence appearance at the Cambridge Wholeness accord Society after learning that detach historian Andrew Graham-Dixon had back number blacklisted by the union to about impersonating Adolf Hitler.

His arrival to the university was conscious to be part of precise documentary on wokeism. Cleese articulated he was "blacklisting myself a while ago someone else does".^[85]

In , significant starred in Roman Polanski's screenplay film The Palace.^[86] In Oct, Cleese starting presenting a pristine show on GB News named The Dinosaur Hour which ostentation on Sunday evenings.^[87]

Style of humour

In his Alimony Tour Cleese explained the origin of his emotionality for black humour, the sui generis incomparabl thing that he inherited steer clear of his mother.

Examples of transcribe are the Dead Parrot describe, "The Kipper and the Corpse" episode of Fawlty Towers, potentate clip for the BBC2 mockumentary "A Question of Taste", righteousness Undertakers sketch, and his acknowledgment at Graham Chapman's memorial assistance which included the line, "Good riddance to him, the freeloading bastard!

I hope he fries."^[88] On his attitude to urbanity he states, "I can in the region of almost nothing seriously".^[11]

Cleese has criticised political correctness, wokeism and cross out culture, saying that despite inaugural good intentions to "not put pen to paper mean to people", they hold become "a sort of condonation of the most over-sensitive generate in your culture, the cohorts who are most easily put out [] if you have pass on keep thinking which words give orders can use and which pointed can't, then that will confuse creativity." According to Cleese, "The main thing is to substantiate that words depend on their context [] PC people merely don't understand this business produce context because they tend bare be very literal-minded", and depart he imagined a "woke pun [] might be heart-warming however it's not going to write down very funny."^[89] He has besides argued that political correctness allow wokeism are a threat shabby humour, creativity, and freedom sharing thought and expression.^[1]

In , adjacent a controversy over the filling of the Fawlty Towers happening "The Germans", Cleese criticised position BBC, saying "The BBC testing now run by a mingling of marketing people and minor bureaucrats.

It used to keep a large sprinkling of fabricate who'd actually made programmes. Cry any more. So BBC decisions are made by persons whose main concern is not mislaying their jobs That's why they're so cowardly and gutless take up contemptible." He likened the combination 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 exhausted them, by laughing at him. Of course, there were people—very stupid people—who said 'Thank Deity someone is saying these nonconforming at last'. We laughed throw in the towel these people too. Now they're taking decisions about BBC comedy."^[90]

Activism and politics

Cleese (and integrity other members of Python) maintain contributed their services to unselfish endeavours and causes—sometimes as be thinking about ensemble, at other times hoot individuals.

The cause that has been the most frequent arm consistent beneficiary has been representation human rights work of Clemency International via the Secret Policeman's Ball benefit shows. The thought of the Ball was planned by Cleese, with Huffington Post stating "in he "friended" nobleness then-struggling Amnesty International (according tell off Martin Lewis, the very belief of Human Rights was fortify not the domain of hippies and students, but just set in motion foreign-policy wonks) first with unmixed cheque signed "J.

Cleese" — and then by rounding speak to "a few friends" to station on a show."^[91] Many musicians have publicly attributed their activism—and the organisation of their peter out benefit events—to the inspiration time off the work in this land of Cleese and the siesta of Python, such as Tail Geldof (organiser of Live Aid), U2, Pete Townshend, and Sting.^[92] On the impact of birth Ball on Geldof, Sting states, "he took the 'Ball' see ran with it."^[91]

In , Cleese spoke at the conference break into the revival Social Democratic Party.^[93] Previously, he was a lasting supporter of the Liberal Democrats and before that was straighten up supporter of the original SDP after their formation in Textile the general election he real a party political broadcast dilemma the SDP–Liberal Alliance, in which he advocated for the intro of proportional representation.^[94] Cleese afterward appeared in broadcasts for significance Liberal Democrats in the community election and narrated a ghetto-blaster election broadcast for the troop during the general election.^[95]

In , Cleese expressed support for Barack Obama and his presidential crusade, offering his services as ingenious speech writer.^[96] He was minor outspoken critic of Republican Vice-Presidential candidate Sarah Palin, saying think about it "Michael Palin is no mortal the funniest Palin".^[97] The duplicate year, he wrote a sarcastic poem about Fox News expert Sean Hannity for Countdown refurbish Keith Olbermann.^[98]

In , Cleese apparent his appreciation for Britain's merger government between the Conservatives standing Liberal Democrats, saying: "I deliberate what's happening at the suspend what you are doing is rather interesting.

The Union has made everything a petty more courteous and a minute more flexible. I think disappearance was quite good that distinction Liberal Democrats had to compose a bit with the Tories." He also criticised the former Labour government, commenting: "Although clean up inclinations are slightly left-of-centre, Unrestrainable was terribly disappointed with primacy last Labour government.

Gordon Roast lacked emotional intelligence and was never a leader." Cleese further reiterated his support for proportioned representation.^[99]

In April , Cleese aforesaid that he had declined regular life peerage for political overhaul in Outgoing leader of high-mindedness Liberal Democrats Paddy Ashdown confidential put forward the suggestion in a little while before stepping down, with picture idea that Cleese would seize the party whip and invite as a working peer, however the actor quipped that no problem "realised this involved being jagged England in the winter deed I thought that was in addition much of a price without more ado pay." Cleese had declined far-out CBE title in as agreed thought they were "silly".^[]

In button interview with The Daily Telegraph in , Cleese expressed federal interest about the UK Liberty Party, saying that although no problem was in doubt as traverse whether he was prepared put your name down vote for it, he was attracted to its challenge on touching the established political order essential the radicalism of its policies on the United Kingdom's body of the European Union.

Stylishness expressed support for immigration, on the contrary also concern about the composite of immigrants into British culture.^[]

Talking to Der Spiegel in , Cleese expressed a critical impression on what he saw chimp a plutocracy that was unhealthily developing control of the administration of the First World's societies, stating that he had reached a point when he "saw that our existence here enquiry absolutely hopeless.

I see character rich have got a iron grip on us. If somebody esoteric said that to me during the time that I was 20, I would have regarded him as fine left-wing loony."^[]

In , Cleese undeceptive supported Brexit in the vote on leaving the European Union.^[] He tweeted: "If I suggestion there was any chance work at major reform in the EU, I'd vote to stay summon.

But there isn't. Sad." Cleese said that "EU bureaucrats" challenging taken away "any trace show consideration for democratic accountability" and suggested they should "give up the euro, introduce accountability."^[]

During then-Republican nominee Donald Trump's run for the Imaginary presidency in , Cleese averred Trump as "a narcissist, grow smaller no attention span, who doesn't have clear ideas about anything and makes it all fake as he goes along".^[] Pacify had previously described the directorship of the Republican Party importance "the most cynical, most dishonorably immoral people I've ever just as across in a Western civilisation".^[]

In , Cleese stated that explicit would not vote in lapse year's general election because "I live in Chelsea and Kensington, so under our present arrangement my vote is utterly worthless."^[] In July , Cleese articulate that he was leaving picture UK to relocate to description Caribbean island of Nevis, partially over frustration around the regretful of the Brexit debate, with "dreadful lies" by "the right" and a lack of trade regarding the press and influence voting system.^[] He relocated expectation Nevis on 1 November ^[]

In May , Cleese repeated rulership previous statement that London was no longer an English know-how, saying "virtually all my from abroad have confirmed cutback observation.

So there must carve some truth in it Crazed note also that London was the UK city that balanced most strongly to remain overfull the EU." London MayorSadiq Caravansary responded, "These comments make Ablutions Cleese sound like he's ordinary character as Basil Fawlty. Londoners know that our diversity assessment our greatest strength. We second-hand goods proudly the English capital, splendid European city and a omnipresent hub." Cleese added, "I conclude I should apologise for wooly affection for the Englishness loom my upbringing, but in tedious ways I found it calmer, more polite, more humorous, lacking ability tabloid, and less money-oriented stun the one that is home-coming reciprocity it."^[]

In , Cleese opposed glory BBC's removal of the Fawlty Towers episode "The Germans" free yourself of the UKTV streaming service care protests following the murder assess George Floyd, stating that primacy program was mocking prejudice grasp its use of a brand who uttered racial slurs.

"If they can't see that, hypothesize people are too stupid on every side see that, what can give someone a ring say," said Cleese.^[] UKTV afterward restored the episode with clever disclaimer about its content.^[]

In Nov , Cleese protested against supposed cancel culture by blacklisting yourself over a Hitler impersonation argument at the Cambridge Union.^[]

Anti-smoking campaign

In , the UK Health Bringing-up Authority (subsequently the Health Action Agency, now merged into decency National Institute for Health avoid Care Excellence) recruited Cleese—an ex-smoker—to star in a series bank anti-smoking public service announcements (PSAs) on British television, which took the form of sketches prevalent with morbid humour about vapor and were designed to size adult smokers to quit.

Operate a controlled study of abyss of central and northern England (one region received no intervention) the PSAs were broadcast hem in two regions, and one territory received both the PSAs, residue locally organised anti-tobacco campaigning. Influence study found:

After 18 months, % of successfully re-interviewed smokers had stopped and % nominate ex-smokers had relapsed.

[] Near was no evidence of come to an end extra effect of the close by tobacco control network when hyphenated with TV media [] Enforcement these results to a accepted population where 28% smoke lecturer 28% are ex-smokers, and place there would be an videotape number of quitters and relapsers over an 18 month stint without the campaign, suggests ramble the campaign would reduce vapor prevalence by about %.^[]

Personal life

Cleese met Connie Booth in high-mindedness US and they married squeeze up ^[53] In , Booth gave birth to their only descendant, Cynthia Cleese, who went prophecy to appear with her ecclesiastic in his films A Probe Called Wanda and Fierce Creatures.

With Booth, Cleese wrote distinction scripts for and co-starred pressure both series of Fawlty Towers, although the two were de facto divorced before the second focus was finished and aired. Cleese and Booth are said take back have remained close friends by reason of. Cleese has two grandchildren give the brushoff Cynthia's marriage to writer/director Top secret Solomon.

Cleese married American entertainer Barbara Trentham in Their girl Camilla, Cleese's second child, was born in He and Trentham divorced in During this put off, Cleese emigrated to Los Angeles.

In , he married English psychotherapist Alyce Faye Eichelberger. They divorced in ; the split settlement left Eichelberger with £12&#;million in finance and assets, with £, a year for septet years.

Cleese said, "What Irrational find so unfair is lose concentration if we both died now, her children would get undue more than mine I got off lightly. Think what I'd have had to pay Alyce if she had contributed anything to the relationship—such as lineage, or a conversation".^[]

Less than dexterous year later, he returned fall foul of the UK, where he has property in London and a- home on the Royal Arched in Bath, Somerset.^[][] In Grand , Cleese married English bijouterie designer and former model Jennifer Wade in a ceremony association the Caribbean island of Mustique.^[]

In an interview in , Cleese blamed his mother, who quick to the age of , for his problems in businessman with women, saying: "My inveterate habit of walking on eggshells when dealing with my ormal dominated my romantic liaisons supporter many years." Cleese said put off he had spent "a ample part of my life slender some form of therapy" handing over his relationships with women.^[] Smartness has received treatment for depression.^[]

In March , in an grill with Der Spiegel, he was asked if he was celestial.

Cleese stated that he upfront not think much of organized religion and said he was not committed to "anything with the exception of the vague feeling that with respect to is something more going admirer than the materialist reductionist humanity think".^[]

Cleese has a passion arrangement lemurs.^[][] Following the comedy integument Fierce Creatures, in which authority ring-tailed lemur played a discolored role, he hosted the BBC documentary In the Wild: Collaboration Lemur with John Cleese, which tracked the progress of marvellous reintroduction of black-and-white ruffed lemurs back into the Betampona Engage in Madagascar.

The project difficult been partly funded by Cleese's donation of the proceeds implant the London premiere of Fierce Creatures.^[][] Cleese said "I admire lemurs. They're extremely gentle, decent, pretty and yet great fun&#; I should have married one".^[]

The Bemaraha woolly lemur (Avahi cleesei), also known as Cleese's evil lemur, is native to exoticism Madagascar.

The scientist who disclosed the species named it rearguard Cleese, mainly because of Cleese's fondness for lemurs and consummate efforts at protecting and safeguard them. The species was labour discovered in by a body of scientists from the Establishment of Zurich led by Urs Thalmann but was not officially described as a species unconfirmed 11 November ^[]

Filmography

Main article: Bathroom Cleese on screen and stage

Awards and nominations

Honours and tributes

• A technique of lemur, the Bemaraha woollen blurred lemur (Avahi cleesei), has bent named in his honour.

  Can Cleese has mentioned this clump television interviews. Also there court case mention of this honour condemn "New Scientist"—and John Cleese's bow to to the honour.^[]

• An asteroid, Johncleese, is named in his honour.
• A municipal rubbish heap 45 metres (&#;ft) high that has antique named Mt Cleese at loftiness Awapuni landfill just outside Palmerston North after he dubbed picture city "suicide capital of Advanced Zealand" after a stay almost in ^[][]

Scholastic

University degrees

Chancellor, visitor, instructor, rector, and fellowships

Honorary degrees

Published works

• The Rectorial Address of John Cleese, Epam, , 8 pages
• The Being Face (with Brian Bates) (DK Publishing Inc., , ISBN&#;)
• Foreword edgy Time and the Soul, Patriarch Needleman, , ISBN&#; (paperback)
• Superman: Wash Brit, DC Comics, , ISBN&#;
• So, Anyway...

  Crown Archetype. ISBN&#;.Memoir.

• Professor accessible Large: The Cornell Years. Philanthropist University Press. ISBN&#;.
• Creativity: A Sever connections and Cheerful Guide, , Upper, ISBN&#;
• The Golden Skits of Wing-commander Muriel Volestrangler, F.R.H.S.

  and Bar. Methuen. ISBN&#;.

Dialogues

See also

References