John Cleese is English comedian and actor.

John Cleese

Q: What is John Cleese known for?

John Cleese is primarily known as a(n) film producer, autobiographer, voice actor, comedian, television actor, film actor, stage actor, screenwriter, film director, actor, writer.

English comedian and actor

Born:October 27, 1939

Age:86

Zodiac Sign:Scorpio

Born in:Weston-super-Mare, United Kingdom

Languages:English

Film Producer Autobiographer Voice Actor Comedian Television Actor Film Actor Stage Actor Screenwriter Film Director Actor Writer

Signature

Links

Wikipedia Official Website IMDb X (Twitter)Instagram

Famous For

Movies & TV

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's StoneHarry Potter and the Chamber of SecretsDie Another DayThe World Is Not EnoughMonty Python’s Life of Brian

Books

Four Yorkshiremen sketchFamilies and How to Survive ThemFawlty Towers: The PlayLife and How to Survive ItMr Hilter and the Minehead by-election

Awards

doctor honoris causa (2016)Rose d'Or (2016)European Film Academy Lifetime Achievement Award (2001)BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role (1989)Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series (1987)

John Cleese

English comedian and actor

Biography

John Marwood Cleese ( KLEEZ; born 27 October 1939) is an English actor, comedian, screenwriter, producer, and television presenter. Emerging from the Cambridge Footlights in the 1960s, he first achieved success at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and as a scriptwriter and performer on The Frost Report (1966–1967). In the late 1960s, he cofounded Monty Python, the comedy troupe responsible for the surreal sketch comedy series Monty Python's Flying Circus (1969–1974). Along with his Python costars Graham Chapman, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin, Cleese starred in the films Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975), Life of Brian (1979), and The Meaning of Life (1983). Cleese and his first wife Connie Booth cowrote the television sitcom Fawlty Towers (1975–1979), in which he starred as hotel owner Basil Fawlty, which earned him the 1980 British Academy Television Award for Best Entertainment Performance. In 2000, the show topped the BFI TV 100, and in a 2001 Channel 4 poll, Basil was ranked second on its list of the 100 Greatest TV Characters. Cleese wrote and starred in the heist comedy film A Fish Called Wanda (1988), for which he received Academy Award, British Academy Film Award, and Golden Globe award nominations, and its quasi-sequel Fierce Creatures (1997). He has also starred in Time Bandits (1981), Silverado (1985), Clockwise (1986), Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (1994), George of the Jungle (1997), Rat Race (2001), Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle (2003), and The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008). His prominent franchise film roles include R and Q in the James Bond films The World Is Not Enough (1999) and Die Another Day (2002), Nearly Headless Nick in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001) and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002), and the last three Shrek films (2004–2010). He received a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for Cheers (1987) and was nominated for 3rd Rock from the Sun (1998) and Will & Grace (2004). Cleese has specialised in political and religious satire, dark humour, sketch comedy, and surreal humour. He was ranked the second best comedian ever in a 2005 Channel 4 poll of fellow comedians. He cofounded Video Arts, a production company making entertaining training films as well as The Secret Policeman's Ball benefit shows to raise funds for the human rights organisation Amnesty International. Formerly a staunch supporter of the Liberal Democrats, in 1999, he turned down an offer from the party to nominate him for a life peerage.

This biography uses content from the Wikipedia article “John Cleese”, available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License.

Quotes

“Four hundred years ago, we would have been burnt for this film. Now, I'm suggesting that we've made an advance.”

— Defending the film Life of Brian on BBC chat show Friday Night Saturday Morning (9 November 1979)

“Basil Fawlty was an easy character for me. For some reason, portraying a mean, uptight, incompetent bully comes naturally to me.”

— On Fresh Air with Terry Gross (1997)

“Cleese's "Three Laws of Comedy". Undated, quoted in "Players of Shakespeare 4: Further Essays in Shakespearean Performance by Players with the Royal Shakespeare Company", pg 21, edited by Robert Smallwood. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9780521794169”

Quotes sourced from the Wikiquote article "John Cleese", available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License.

Photos

John Cleese in 2026

Author : @Kiri Karma Comiccon Holland 2026 - Q & A John Cleese John Cleese aka Nearly Headless Nick, Q, member of the Monty Python Collective, King Harold, Basil Fawlty,... 'Always look on the bright side of life...' Whistle along with us and get ready to perfect your silly walks. Comic Con Holland is thrilled to announce the arrival of a true giant of comedy. John Cleese will be gracing us with his presence as early as next weekend. As a co-founder of the legendary Monty Python collective, Cleese's genius has left its mark on some of the most iconic films and series of all time. From his hilarious gags to his groundbreaking role in the revolutionary Monty Python's Flying Circus, which took the world by storm, his influence on comedy is indelible. The list of instant classics is endless: Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Monty Python's Life of Brian, Monty Python: The Meaning of Life, Monty Python Live (Mostly). All timeless. Fans of Harry Potter will also be delighted, as John Cleese portrayed the famous Nearly Headless Nick in the films, a rare and beloved figure in the wizarding world. But that's far from all for this GOAT of comedy. His hilarious portrayal of Basil Fawlty in Fawlty Towers had generations in stitches, while his roles as Q and R in the James Bond films The World Is Not Enough and Die Another Day showcase his versatility. He also appeared in the legendary The Muppet Show, voiced the majestic King Harold in Shrek, and starred in classics such as A Fish Called Wanda, Fierce Creatures, Winnie the Pooh, The Pink Panther, Erik the Viking, Time Bandits, Rat Race, Clockwise, and many more. Fans of comedy, classic British television, and pop culture are in for an unforgettable experience. Spend a weekend with the GOAT of comedy, John Cleese, at Comic Con Holland. This is a rare chance to meet a living legend who has made generations laugh. Whether you're a fan of his comedic antics or his more mysterious roles, get ready for an event full of humor, nostalgia, and maybe even a few absurd antics. ( Comic Con Holland is the event in the Netherlands for all true fans and enthusiasts of Comics, Manga, Cosplay, Gaming, Films, Series, Sci-Fi, Fantasy and more. Escape to a magical world, the ultimate Geek experience with world famous star guests to meet and a huge Geek Market to visit. But also fascinating workshops, Q&As and lectures, but you can also just play games and enjoy the many competitions and performances. Above all, it is the perfect time to make friends and have a fun day with other fans. We are very happy to land in the Brabanthallen with our Comic Con Spaceship! Come on Netherlands, Get Your Geek On! )

Comiccon Open Air 2026 - Q & A John Cleese John Cleese aka Nearly Headless Nick, Q, member of the Monty Python Collective, King Harold, Basil Fawlty,... 'Always look on the bright side of life...' Whistle along with us and get ready to perfect your silly walks. As a co-founder of the legendary Monty Python collective, Cleese's genius has left its mark on some of the most iconic films and series of all time. From his hilarious gags to his groundbreaking role in the revolutionary Monty Python's Flying Circus, which took the world by storm, his influence on comedy is indelible. The list of instant classics is endless: Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Monty Python's Life of Brian, Monty Python: The Meaning of Life, Monty Python Live (Mostly). All timeless. Fans of Harry Potter will also be delighted, as John Cleese portrayed the famous Nearly Headless Nick in the films, a rare and beloved figure in the wizarding world. But that's far from all for this GOAT of comedy. His hilarious portrayal of Basil Fawlty in Fawlty Towers had generations in stitches, while his roles as Q and R in the James Bond films The World Is Not Enough and Die Another Day showcase his versatility. He also appeared in the legendary The Muppet Show, voiced the majestic King Harold in Shrek, and starred in classics such as A Fish Called Wanda, Fierce Creatures, Winnie the Pooh, The Pink Panther, Erik the Viking, Time Bandits, Rat Race, Clockwise, and many more. Fans of comedy, classic British television, and pop culture are in for an unforgettable experience. Whether you're a fan of his comedic antics or his more mysterious roles, get ready for an event full of humor, nostalgia, and maybe even a few absurd antics.