John Cleese is a British comedian, actor, writer, and producer. He was born on October 27, 1939, in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, England.
Cleese is best known for his work as a member of the comedy group Monty Python. He co-created and starred in the television series Monty Python’s Flying Circus, which aired from 1969 to 1974, as well as in the films Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Life of Brian, and The Meaning of Life.
In addition to his work with Monty Python, Cleese has had a successful career in film and television. He co-wrote and starred in the British television sitcom Fawlty Towers, which aired from 1975 to 1979. He has also appeared in a number of films, including A Fish Called Wanda, for which he received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay.
His time at Monty Python:
John Cleese was one of the founding members of the comedy group Monty Python. He co-created and starred in the group’s television series, Monty Python’s Flying Circus, which aired from 1969 to 1974. The show was a groundbreaking sketch comedy program that featured a unique blend of satire, surrealism, and absurdity.
Cleese’s contributions to the show were many. He was known for his ability to play a wide range of characters, from the pompous and self-important to the bumbling and hapless. He was also known for his physical comedy, including his signature silly walk, which he first performed in the “Ministry of Silly Walks” sketch.
Cleese wrote and performed in many of the show’s most iconic sketches, including “The Dead Parrot,” “The Spanish Inquisition,” and “The Cheese Shop.” He also co-wrote and starred in the group’s films, including Monty Python and the Holy Grail and Life of Brian.
Cleese’s work with Monty Python helped to redefine comedy and has had a lasting impact on popular culture. The group’s irreverent and subversive approach to humor has influenced generations of comedians and comedy writers.
Although the group disbanded in the 1980s, Cleese has continued to work with his former Monty Python colleagues on various projects over the years, including live shows and reunion specials.
His time at Fawlty Towers:
John Cleese’s time in Fawlty Towers was a critical period in his career as a comedian and writer. Fawlty Towers was a British television sitcom that aired for two seasons in 1975 and 1979. The show was co-written by Cleese and his then-wife Connie Booth, and it starred Cleese in the lead role of Basil Fawlty, the inept and frequently irritable owner of a fictional seaside hotel in Torquay, England.
Fawlty Towers is widely regarded as one of the greatest sitcoms of all time and is known for its sharp writing, clever wordplay, and physical comedy. Cleese’s performance as Basil Fawlty is particularly memorable, as he imbued the character with a unique blend of arrogance, frustration, and manic energy. Cleese’s physical comedy skills were also on full display in the show, as he often engaged in pratfalls and slapstick humor.
Cleese’s work on Fawlty Towers helped cement his status as one of the preeminent comedy writers and performers of his generation. The show’s influence can be seen in many subsequent sitcoms, and it remains a beloved and enduring classic of British television.
Cleese is known for his dry, sarcastic wit and his tall, lanky frame. He has also lent his voice to a number of animated films and television series, including Shrek 2 and 3, The Jungle Book 2, and Planes.
Aside from his entertainment career, Cleese has also been involved in education and psychology. He has written several books on these subjects, including Families and How to Survive Them, which he co-wrote with therapist Robin Skynner, and Life and How to Survive It, which he co-wrote with psychiatrist Robin Skinner.
Cleese has been married four times and has three children. He was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1996 and a Knight Bachelor in the 2020 New Year Honours for services to drama and charity.
Famous John Cleese Quotes:
“If I can’t joke about the most horrendous things in the world, what’s the point of being a comedian?”
“I’m not arguing, I’m just explaining why I’m right.”
“I’m very proud of my ignorance. I think it’s one of the things that makes me so happy.”
“The English contribution to world cuisine – the chip.”
“I have a very large seashell collection, which I keep scattered on beaches all over the world.”
“It’s not the despair, Laura. I can take the despair. It’s the hope I can’t stand.”
“He who laughs most, learns best.”
“I’m not a great believer in awards ceremonies, but I’m very happy to get this one for most of the other people.”
“The really good idea is always traceable back quite a long way, often to a not very good idea which sparked off another idea that was only slightly better, which somebody else misunderstood in such a way that they then said something which was really rather interesting.”
“The fact that no one understands you doesn’t make you an artist.”