John Cleese
Author of Monty Python and the Holy Grail [1975 film]
About the Author
John Cleese, October 27, 1939 - John Cleese was born on October 27, 1939 in Weston-Super-Mare, Somerset, England to Reginald Cleese, and insurance salesman, and Muriel Cross. He attended Cambridge University beginning in 1960 and joined the Footlights Club in his second term. In 1963, a Footlights show more production called "A Clump of Plinths" became so popular that the production spawned Cambridge Circus and ran in London's West End. He eventually earned his law degree from Cambridge. In 1964, the show traveled first to New Zealand and then to America for 24 performances on Broadway. By the late 60's, Cleese was established as an actor and a writer. In 1969, the BBC, looking for a new show to fill an empty time slot, coupled Cleese and pal Graham Chapman with three graduates from Oxford, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin, as well as Terry Gilliam to create Monty Python's Flying Circus. The BBC produced 45 episodes which have been run and rerun over 30 years. Flying Circus became a cult classic and spawned yet another television show, "Fawlty Towers" as well as books and feature films such as "Monty Python's Life of Brian" and "Monty Python and the Holy Grail." Cleese then came down with a debilitating flu-like illness which his doctor suggested might be psychosomatic. After working with a therapist, Cleese returned with no signs of the illness and even joined the doctor in writing two books, "Families and How to Survive Them" and "Life and How to Survive It." He went on to create training films for corporations through his company called Video Arts. These videos enabled training to be fun as well as informative. Through all of this, Cleese has demonstrated his ability to perform in all walks of life and has made a name for himself doing what he loves best. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Image credit: Photo by Alan Light, 1989 (Flickr & Cropped for Wikipedia)
Series
Works by John Cleese
Monty Python's The Meaning of Life [1983 film] (1983) — Screenwriter & Actor — 489 copies, 5 reviews
The Complete Monty Python's Flying Circus: All The Words, Vol.1 & Vol. 2 (1989) 487 copies, 3 reviews
And Now for Something Completely Different [1971 film] (1971) — Screenwriter and Actor — 154 copies, 2 reviews
The Golden Skits of Wing-commander Muriel Volestrangler, F.R.H.S. and Bar (1984) 66 copies, 1 review
The Monty Python Box Set (And Now For Something Completely Different/Monty Python and the Holy Grail/Life of Brian/The… (2006) 36 copies
Monty Python Holy Trinity (Monty Python and the Holy Grail / Monty Python's Life of Brian / Monty Python's The Meaning… (1975) 14 copies
Fawlty Towers: Series 1 — Writer — 13 copies
Fawlty Towers - A Touch of Class/The Builders/The Wedding Party/The Hotel Inspectors (2001) 9 copies
Trolls 7 copies
Fawlty Towers,Vol. 4 - Communication Problems/The Anniversary/Basil The Rat (1975) — Actor/Writer — 7 copies
Fawlty Towers - Waldorf Salad/The Kipper and the Corpse/The Anniversary/Basil the Rat (2001) 6 copies
fawlty towers vol2 bbc radio collection audiobook cassette - the kipper and the corpse - the germans - waldorf salad -… (1981) 3 copies
How to Irritate People 2 copies
The secret policeman's ball 2 copies
Monty Python live! 20 years of Python, Parrot sketch not included [Monty Python's fliegender Zirkus] German episode #1 (2005) 2 copies
Scorched 2 copies
John Cleese Comedy Collection / How To Irritate People, Romance With A Double Bass, Strange Case Of The End Of… (2007) 2 copies
Montys Enzyklo Pythonia — Author — 1 copy
The importance of mistakes 1 copy
John Cleese greatest hits 1 copy
The Meaning Of Monty Python 1 copy
The Naked Wanderer 1 copy
Fawlty Towers Remastered BBC TV Comedy Series 1 & 2 Complete DVD Collection [3 Discs] Boxset Extras 1 copy
The Magic Christian (screenplay, 3rd draft) -- based on 1st draft by Terry Southern 1 copy, 1 review
In two minds 1 copy
So, Anyway… 1 copy
The Secret Policeman's Balls 1 copy
Art & the Creative Spirit 1 copy
Say Cleese! 1 copy
Associated Works
HP Double Feature: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone [and] Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Year 1 and Year… (2011) 67 copies
Mickey's Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of Mouse [2001 film] (2001) — Narrator — 45 copies
Monty Python: Almost the Truth: The Lawyer's Cut [2009 documentary series] (2009) — some editions — 30 copies
Best of the Muppet Show: Vol. 4: Peter Sellers / John Cleese / Dudley Moore (2001) — Guest Star — 23 copies
The Cat in the Hat and Other Dr. Seuss Favorites (2006) — Narrator, some editions — 17 copies, 2 reviews
Triple Feature: The Swan Princess — Actor — 15 copies
The Utterly Utterly Definitive and Pretty Damn Amusing Comic Relief Revue Book (1989) — Contributor — 11 copies
The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer [1970 film] — Actor — 9 copies
Scorched [2003 film] 9 copies
The Magic Pudding [2000 film] — Actor — 5 copies
The Screwtape Letters (Abridged) (2 Audio Cassette Set) (Spiritual Classics On Cassette) (1988) — Narrator, some editions — 4 copies
Splitting Heirs [1993 film] — Actor — 1 copy
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Legal name
- Cleese, John Marwood
- Birthdate
- 1939-10-27
- Gender
- male
- Nationality
- UK
- Birthplace
- Weston-super-Mare, England, UK
- Places of residence
- Montecito, California, USA
Bath, Somerset, England, UK - Education
- University of Cambridge (Downing College)
Clifton College - Occupations
- comedian
writer
producer
singer - Relationships
- Booth, Connie (wife|1968-1978)
- Organizations
- Monty Python's Flying Circus
Artists for Brexit (supporter)
Members
Reviews
Lists
Awards
You May Also Like
Associated Authors
Statistics
- Works
- 106
- Also by
- 63
- Members
- 13,142
- Popularity
- #1,775
- Rating
- 4.1
- Reviews
- 173
- ISBNs
- 380
- Languages
- 18
- Favorited
- 4