John Cleese
Acting
Born: October 27, 1939 (age 86) · Weston-Super-Mare, Somerset, England, UK
Highest Rated
Biography
John Marwood Cleese (born 27 October 1939) is an English actor, comedian, writer and film producer. He achieved success at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and as a scriptwriter and performer on The Frost Report. In the late 1960s he became a member of Monty Python, the comedy troupe responsible for the sketch show Monty Python's Flying Circus and the four Monty Python films: And Now for Something Completely Different, Holy Grail, Life of Brian and The Meaning of Life. In the mid 1970s, Cleese and his first wife Connie Booth, co-wrote and starred in the British sitcom Fawlty Towers. Later, he co-starred with Kevin Kline, Jamie Lee Curtis and former Python colleague Michael Palin in A Fish Called Wanda and Fierce Creatures. He also starred in Clockwise, and has appeared in many other films, including two James Bond films, two Harry Potter films, and three Shrek films. With Yes Minister writer Antony Jay he co-founded the production company Video Arts, responsible for making entertaining training films. Description above from the Wikipedia article John Cleese, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia
Known for
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
2001
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
2002
Shrek 2
2004
Shrek the Third
2007
Shrek Forever After
2010
The Croods
2013
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
1975
Life of Brian
1979
The Croods: A New Age
2020
Die Another Day
2002
Trolls
2016
The Day the Earth Stood Still
2008
Photos (3)
Movies (132)
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
Nearly Headless Nick
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Nearly Headless Nick (Sir Nicholas)
Shrek the Third
King Harold (voice)
Shrek 2
King Harold (voice)
Shrek Forever After
King Harold (voice)
The Day the Earth Stood Still
Professor Barnhardt
Trolls
Roi Gristle (voice)
Clifford the Big Red Dog
Mr. Bridwell
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Second Swallow-Savvy Guard / The Black Knight / Peasant 3 / Sir Launcelot the Brave / Taunting French Guard / Tim the Enchanter
Die Another Day
Q
The World Is Not Enough
R
Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle
Mr. Munday
Planes
Bulldog (voice)
Life of Brian
Wise Man #1 / Reg / Jewish Official / First Centurion / Deadly Dirk / Arthur
George of the Jungle
An Ape Named 'Ape' (voice)
Around the World in 80 Days
Grizzled Sergeant
Planet 51
Professor Kipple (voice)
Winnie the Pooh
Narrator (voice)
Charlotte's Web
Samuel the Sheep (voice)
A Fish Called Wanda
Archie Leach
Mary Shelley's Frankenstein
Prof. Waldman
Rat Race
Donald P. Sinclair
Arctic Dogs
Otto von Walrus (voice)
Valiant
Mercury (voice)
Silverado
Sheriff John T. Langston
The Pink Panther 2
Dreyfus
Time Bandits
Robin Hood
Absolutely Anything
Chief Alien (voice)
Monty Python's The Meaning of Life
Various Roles
Mickey's House of Villains
Narrator (“Mickey's Mechanical House") (uncredited)
An American Tail: Fievel Goes West
Cat R. Waul (voice)
The Jungle Book
Dr. Julius Plumford
Igor
Dr. Glickenstein (voice)
Rally Road Racers
Archie Vainglorious (voice)
Yellowbeard
Harvey 'Blind' Pew
George of the Jungle 2
An Ape Named 'Ape' (voice)
The Swan Princess
Jean-Bob (voice)
The Adventures of Pluto Nash
James
Charming
Fairy Godmother / Executioner (voice)
The Big Year
Historical Montage Narrator (voice)
Elliot: The Littlest Reindeer
Donner (voice)
Mickey's Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of Mouse
Narrator (segment 'The Nutcracker') (voice)
The Out-of-Towners
Mr. Mersault
The Great Muppet Caper
Neville
The Palace
Arthur William Dallas III
Erik the Viking
Halfdan the Black
Man About Town
Dr. Primkin
Father Christmas Is Back
John Christmas
Fierce Creatures
Rollo Lee
A.C.O.R.N.S.: Operation Crackdown
Mr. Bellwood (voice)
The Big Picture
Bartender
Parting Shots
Maurice Walpole
Splitting Heirs
Raoul P. Shadgrind
Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl
Various Roles
The Wind in the Willows
Mr. Toad's Lawyer
Beethoven's Christmas Adventure
Narrator
A Liar's Autobiography: The Untrue Story of Monty Python's Graham Chapman
Various (voice)
Scorched
Charles Merchant
The Magic Christian
Director in Sotheby's
The Very Excellent Mr. Dundee
John
Daddy Daughter Trip
Frank
The Magic Pudding
Albert the Magic Pudding (voice)
Albion: The Enchanted Stallion
General Eeder
Isn't She Great
Henry Marcus
Spud
Mr. 'The Guv' Edly
British Sitcom: 60 Years of Laughing at Ourselves
Basil Fawlty (archive footage) (uncredited)
The Martini Shot
Dr. Auyeung
Clockwise
Brian Stimpson
L'Entente cordiale
Lord Conrad
The Naked Wanderer
Brian King
Bosses From Hell
Brian
Bullseye!
Man on the Beach in Barbados Who Looks Like John Cleese
Spud 3: Learning to Fly
Mr. 'The Guv' Edly
The Goodies and the Beanstalk
The Genie
Spud 2: The Madness Continues
Mr. 'The Guv' Edly
The Taming of the Shrew
Petruchio
God Loves Caviar
McCormick
Employees From Hell
Brian
The Nutcracker
Narrator
Edwurd Fudwupper Fibbed Big
The Giant Alien (voice)
Hitler: The Comedy Years
Adolf Hitler / Basil Fawlty (archive footage) (uncredited)
The Queen Special
Man in Bar
The Strange Case of the End of Civilization as We Know It
Sherlock Holmes
The Best House in London
Jones (uncredited)
Colleagues From Hell
1989
John Cleese Packs It In
2025
Complete Guide to Guys
Noted Behavioral Scientist / Noted Doctor / Leading Social Scientist / Leading Orthopedic Surgeon
Who Sold You This, Then?
1972
Privates on Parade
Major Giles Flack
The Bliss of Mrs. Blossom
Post Office Clerk
Doctor Who: City of Death
Art Gallery Visitor
Romance with a Double Bass
Smychkov
The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer
Pumer
Customer Service From Hell
1989
The Statue
Harry
Interviewers From Hell
1989
The Great Birds Eye Peas Relaunch 1971
1971
Monty Python's Flying Circus—Graham Chapman's Personal Best
Various Characters
Quantum Project
Alexander Pentcho
Customers From Hell
Brian
More Awkward Customers
Brian
Three Piece Suite
Kevin
The Cancellation Of Fawlty Towers
2025
The Love Ban
Contraceptives Lecturer
Monty Python's Flying Circus—Terry Gilliam's Personal Best
Various Characters
Is This a Record?
Various
Alexander Pope: Rediscovering a Genius
Interviewee
Golden Gordon
Passerby
Monty Python's Flying Circus—Eric Idle's Personal Best
Various Characters
Mickey’s Mechanical House
Narrator (voice)
Meetings, Bloody Meetings
1976
The Philosophers' Football Match
Archimedes
Monty Python's Flying Circus—Graham Chapman's Personal Best
Various Characters
Sales People from Hell
1989
Interlude
Television public relations man
Teams from Hell
1989
Monty Python: Who's There?
Timothy
Monty Python's Flying Circus—John Cleese's Personal Best
Various Characters
Monty Python's Flying Circus—Michael Palin's Personal Best
Various Characters
The Secret Policeman’s Third Ball
Jim Cleese
Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are?
1993
Michael Palin: A Life on Screen
2018
Awkward Customers
Brian
Communicators From Hell
Brian
Quark the Dragon Slayer
1989
John Cleese: The Alimony Tour Live
2011
Rockstar
Interviewer in lounge
Monty Python In The Netherlands
Narrator / Pie Face 2
Elementary, My Dear Watson
Sherlock Holmes
Away from It All
Nigel Farquhar-Bennett – Narrator (voice)
...To Norway, Home of Giants!
Norman Fearless
Fawlty Towers: An Interview with John Cleese
Kendisi
TV Shows (34)
Cheers
Dr. Simon Finch-Royce · 1 eps
Entourage
John Cleese · 1 eps
The Avengers
Marcus Rugman · 1 eps
Doctor Who
Art Gallery Visitor · 1 eps
Will & Grace
Lyle Finster (uncredited) · 4 eps
3rd Rock from the Sun
Dr. Liam Neesam · 4 eps
Speechless
Martin · 2 eps
Mickey Mouse Works
Narrator (voice) · 1 eps
Monty Python's Flying Circus
Various / Announcer · 39 eps
TFI Friday
1 eps
Over the Garden Wall
Adelaide (voice) · 1 eps
Over the Garden Wall
Quincy Endicott (voice) · 1 eps
Disney's House of Mouse
2001
Disney's House of Mouse
Narrator (voice) · 4 eps
Fawlty Towers
Basil Fawlty · 12 eps
Whitney
Dr. Grant · 2 eps
Friday Night, Saturday Morning
1 eps
Canterbury Tales
Comedy Role (archive footage) (uncredited) · 1 eps
Not the Nine O'Clock News
1 eps
Mini Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
Narrator (voice) · 40 eps
Ripping Yarns
1 eps
Casper & Mandrilaftalen
Fake Bosse Bo Johansson · 1 eps
Sez Les
7 eps
Whoops Apocalypse
Lacrobat · 3 eps
Hold the Sunset
Phil · 12 eps
E! True Hollywood Story
1 eps
At Last the 1948 Show
13 eps
Funny Business
6 eps
Wednesday 9:30 (8:30 Central)
Red Lansing · 6 eps
Three Piece Suite
Kevin · 6 eps
The Human Face
Presenter · 4 eps
More Dawn French's Boys Who Do: Comedy
1 eps
Monty Python's Fliegender Zirkus
Various Characters · 2 eps
Why there is no hope
Actor · 1 eps
Self / Appearances (121)
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Self · 1 eps
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Self · 1 eps
The Daily Show
Self · 1 eps
Late Night with Seth Meyers
Self - Guest · 1 eps
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self · 1 eps
The Graham Norton Show
Self - Guest · 1 eps
The Graham Norton Show
Self · 1 eps
Saturday Night Live
Self / Various / Mr. Praline (uncredited) · 1 eps
Real Time with Bill Maher
Self · 2 eps
Conan
Self - Guest · 1 eps
Markus Lanz
Self · 1 eps
Wogan
Self · 3 eps
Richard & Judy
Self · 1 eps
Omnibus
Self · 1 eps
The One Show
Self - Guest · 1 eps
The Last Leg
Self · 2 eps
Wetten, dass..?
Self · 1 eps
Parkinson
Self · 1 eps
Les Rendez-vous du dimanche
Self · 1 eps
The Muppet Show
Self - Special Guest Star · 1 eps
An Audience with...
Self · 1 eps
Skavlan
Self - Guest · 1 eps
The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn
Self · 1 eps
Robins
Self - Guest · 1 eps
LOL: Last One Laughing
Self · 1 eps
Legends
Self · 1 eps
Talkin' 'Bout Your Generation
Self - Contestant · 1 eps
John Bishop: In Conversation with...
Self · 1 eps
The Secret Policeman's Ball
Self · 15 eps
Soccer's American Dream
Self (archive footage) · 1 eps
Sez Les
self · 6 eps
Time Warp: The Greatest Cult Films of All Time
Self · 1 eps
And Now for Something Completely Different
Announcer / Hungarian Citizen / self - Defence Teacher / Sir George Head / Policeman / Interviewer / Mr. Praline / Second General / Christopher Columbus / Mungo the Cook / Bank Robber / Accountant #2 (falling past the window) / Vocational Guidance Counselor / Vivian Smith Smythe Smith / Mountie / Town Guild Lady
Monty Python: Almost the Truth (The Lawyer's Cut)
Self · 6 eps
Monty Python's Best Bits (Mostly)
Self (archive footage) · 5 eps
This Morning
Self · 1 eps
A Life on Screen
Self · 1 eps
Concert for George
Self
Euroshow '71: May Day Special
Self - Various (as Montypython Flyingcircus)
Movie Connections
Self · 1 eps
Jamie Lee Curtis: Hollywood Call of Freedom
Self (archive footage)
The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson
Self
MADtv
Self · 2 eps
Monty Python's Personal Best
Self / Various Characters · 6 eps
The Unpleasant World of Penn & Teller
Self · 1 eps
Monty Python: And Now for Something Rather Similar
Self
Monty Python Live (Mostly)
Self, others
The Undefeated
Self (archive footage)
Time Warp Vol. 1: Midnight Madness
Self
The Secret Life of Brian
Self
Why Are We Creative?
Self
The Grand Knockout Tournament
Self
The Secret Policeman's Other Ball
Self - Various Roles
Group Madness
Self
The Magic Touch of Harry Potter
Self
Best Ever Bond
Self / R
The Best of Monty Python's Flying Circus Volume 2
Self (archive footage)
Life of Python
Himself / Various Roles (also archive footage)
Monty Python: Live at Aspen
Self
Monty Python Conquers America
Self
What the Pythons Did Next...
Self (archive footage)
Pleasure at Her Majesty's
Self
Peter Cook & Co.
Himself / Various Characters
Monty Python: The Meaning of Live
Self
Making Rat Race
Himself
The Last Impresario
Self
Joe & David's Magical Sitcom Tour
Self · 1 eps
How to Irritate People
Himself - Various
The Pythons: Somewhere in Tunisia, Circa A.D. 1979
Self
Amnesty International's Big 30
Self
Behind Over the Garden Wall
Self
The Best of Monty Python's Flying Circus Volume 3
Self (archive footage)
Marty Feldman: Six Degrees of Separation
Self
Why Are We (Not) Creative?
Self
The Movie Life of George
Self
An Accidental Studio
Self (archive footage)
The Secret Policeman's Ball
Himself - Various Roles
Time Warp Vol. 3: Comedy and Camp
Self
Parrot Sketch Not Included: Twenty Years of Monty Python
Self / Various Characters
The Art of Football from A to Z
Self
The Roots of Monty Python
Self (archive footage)
Monty Python: Before the Flying Circus
Self
The Best of Monty Python's Flying Circus Volume 1
Self (archive footage)
The Dinosaur Hour
Self · 1 eps
Remember the Secret Policeman's Ball?
Self
Fawlty Towers: Re-Opened
Self / Basil Fawlty
Fawlty Towers Revisited
Himself
Fawlty Towers: The Play
Self
The Mermaid Frolics
Self- Various roles
The Meaning of Making 'The Meaning of Life'
Self
We Are Most Amused
Self - Presenter
Monty Python's Best Bits Celebrated
Self (archive footage)(uncredited)
Gonzo Presents Muppet Weird Stuff
Self
Monty Python & the Holy Grail Location Report
Self
Peter Cook: At a Slight Angle to the Universe
Self
Die Another Day: From Script to Screen
Self
The Monty Python Story
Self
Monty Python: From Spam to Sperm
Self
Assholes: A Theory
Himself
The Meaning of Monty Python
Self
The Life of Python
Self
Python at 50: Silly Talks and Holy Grails
Self (archive footage)
Gaybo Laughs Back
Self
The Seventh Python
Self
Stupidity
Self
Fawlty Towers: 50 Years of Laughs
Self
Anatomy of a Liar
Self
In The Wild: Operation Lemur With John Cleese
Self
The Many Faces of Ronnie Barker
Self
Monty Python: Almost the Truth (The Lawyer's Cut) - Theatrical Release
Self
The Secret Policeman’s Biggest Ball
Self
Spike
Self
Aud go'hjerta
Self (archive footage)
Now Pay Attention 007: A Tribute to Actor Desmond Llewelyn
Self
Fawlty Exclusive: Basil's Best Bits
Self / Basil Fawlty
Monty Python: 30th Anniversary Sketches
Self
Wine for the Confused
Self
Return of the Goodies
Himself
Michael Palin’s Super 8mm - “Life of Brian”
Self
The Roast of John Cleese
Self
Creativity in Management
Self
Upcoming (3)
Directing (3)
Writing (33)
The Croods
Story
Monty Python's Flying Circus
Writer
The Croods: A New Age
Characters
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Writer
Fawlty Towers
Writer
Life of Brian
Screenplay
ABC Stage 67
Writer
A Fish Called Wanda
Story
A Fish Called Wanda
Screenplay
The Two Ronnies
Writer
Monty Python's The Meaning of Life
Screenplay
That Was The Week That Was
Writer
And Now for Something Completely Different
Screenplay
Fierce Creatures
Screenplay
At Last the 1948 Show
Writer
Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl
Writer
Six Dates with Barker
Writer
Monty Python Live (Mostly)
Writer
The Human Face
Writer
Rentadick
Writer
How to Irritate People
Writer
The Strange Case of the End of Civilization as We Know It
Screenplay
John Cleese Packs It In
Writer
Parrot Sketch Not Included: Twenty Years of Monty Python
Writer
Romance with a Double Bass
Adaptation
The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer
Writer
Fawlty Towers: The Play
Writer
The Mermaid Frolics
Writer
The Great Birds Eye Peas Relaunch 1971
Writer
More Awkward Customers
Writer
Zum letzten Kliff
Original Story
Awkward Customers
Writer
Away from It All
Writer
Producing (5)
Other Crew (12)
The Croods: A New Age
Thanks
The Croods: Family Tree
Creator
Fawlty Towers
Creator
The Secret Policeman's Ball
Creator
At Last the 1948 Show
Creator
The Magic Christian
Additional Writing
Monty Python's Personal Best
Creator
Who Sold You This, Then?
Script
The Dinosaur Hour
Creator
Is This a Record?
Additional Writing
Zum letzten Kliff
Creative Consultant
Snavely
Creator