John Cleese

John Marwood Cleese (/ˈkliːz/; 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 co-founded 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, Monty Python and the 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 the last three Shrek films.

With Yes Minister writer Antony Jay he co-founded Video Arts, a production company making entertaining training films.

Filmography

Films

Year

Title

Role

Notes

1968 Interlude TV Publicist 1969 The Magic Christian Mr. Dougdale (director in Sotheby's) 1969 The Best House in London Jones Uncredited 1970 The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer Pummer Writer 1971 And Now for Something Completely Different Various Roles Writer 1971 The Statue Harry 1973 Elementary, My Dear Watson Sherlock Holmes 1974 Romance with a Double Bass Musician Smychkov Writer 1975 Monty Python and the Holy Grail Various Roles Writer 1976 Meetings, Bloody Meetings Tim Writer/Executive Producer Documentary Short 1977 The Strange Case of the End of Civilization as We Know It Sherlock Holmes 1979 Monty Python's Life of Brian Various Roles Writer 1980 The Secret Policeman's Ball Himself-Various Roles 1981 The Great Muppet Caper Neville 1981 Time Bandits Gormless Robin Hood 1982 Privates on Parade Major Giles Flack 1983 Yellowbeard Blind Pew 1983 Monty Python's The Meaning of Life Various Roles Writer 1985 Silverado Langston 1986 Clockwise Mr. Stimpson Evening Standard British Film Awards Peter Sellers Award for Comedy 1988 A Fish Called Wanda Lawyer Archie Leach Writer/Executive Producer BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role Nominated—Academy Award For Best Original Screenplay Nominated—BAFTA Award for Best Original Screenplay Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy 1989 Erik the Viking Halfdan the Black 1989 The Big Picture Bartender 1990 Bullseye! Man on the Beach in Barbados Who Looks Like John Cleese 1991 An American Tail: Fievel Goes West Cat R. Waul Voice Only 1992 Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are? Narrator 1993 Splitting Heirs Raoul P. Shadgrind 1994 Mary Shelley's Frankenstein Professor Waldman 1994 Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book Dr. Julius Plumford 1994 The Swan Princess Jean-Bob speaking Voice Only 1996 The Wind in the Willows Mr. Toad's Lawyer 1996 Fierce Creatures Rollo Lee Writer/Producer 1997 George of the Jungle An Ape Named 'Ape' Voice Only 1998 In the Wild: Operation Lemur with John Cleese Host Narrator 1999 The Out-of-Towners Mr. Mersault 1999 The World Is Not Enough R 2000 Isn't She Great Henry Marcus 2000 The Magic Pudding Albert, The Magic Pudding Voice Only 2001 Quantum Project Alexander Pentcho 2001 Here's Looking at You: The Evolution of the Human Face Narrator 2001 Rat Race Donald P. Sinclair 2001 Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone Nearly Headless Nick 2002 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Nearly Headless Nick Nominated—Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Ensemble Acting 2002 Roberto Benigni's Pinocchio The Talking Crickett Voice Only: English Version 2002 Die Another Day Q Second appearance in a James Bond film, replaces Desmond Llewelyn as Q in the series three years after Llewelyn's death in 1999 2002 The Adventures of Pluto Nash James 2003 Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle Mr. Munday 2003 Scorched Charles Merchant 2003 George of the Jungle 2 An Ape Named 'Ape' Voice Only 2004 Shrek 2 King Harold 2004 Around the World in 80 Days Grizzled Sergeant 2005 Valiant Mercury Voice Only 2006 Charlotte's Web Samuel the Sheep 2006 Man About Town Dr. Primkin 2007 Shrek the Third King Harold Voice Only 2008 Igor Dr. Glickenstein Voice Only 2008 The Day the Earth Stood Still Dr. Barnhardt 2009 The Pink Panther 2 Chief-Inspector Charles Dreyfus 2009 Planet 51 Professor Kipple Voice Only 2010 Spud The Guv Awaiting international release 2010 Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole Ghost Voice Only 2010 Shrek Forever After King Harold Voice Only 2011 The Big Year Historical Montage Narrator Voice Only 2011 Winnie the Pooh Narrator 2012 God Loves Caviar McCormick 2013 The Last Impresario Himself Featured interview subject in this documentary film about Michael White, producer of Monty Python and the Holy Grail. 2013 The Croods Story credit 2013 Spud 2 The Guv Awaiting international release 2013 Planes Bulldog Voice Only 2015 Absolutely Anything Voice Only