Profession: Actor and Comedian
Biography: John Cleese is a British comedian and one of the 6 member of the influential comedy group Monty Python. As part of Monty Python he appeared in TV sketch shows and such movies as "Life of Brian".
Cleese went on to create and star in the comedy sitcom "Fawlty Towers" with his then wife Connie Booth.
Cleese has gone on to write and star in a number of successful films including "A Fish Called Wanda" (1988), two James Bond films and two Harry Potter films.
Cleese is also one of the organizers of The Secret Policeman's Ball, a series of benefit concerts for Amnesty International.
Born: October 27, 1939
Birthplace: Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, England, United Kingdom
Age: 84 years old
Generation: Silent Generation
Chinese Zodiac: Rabbit
Star Sign: Scorpio
Married Life
- 1968-02-20 British future Monty Python comedian John Cleese (28) weds American actress and writer Connie Booth (27); divorce in 1978
Historical Events
- 1969-05-11 British comedy troupe Monty Python forms, made up of Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, and Michael Palin
- 1969-05-23 BBC orders 13 episodes of Monty Python's Flying Circus
- 1969-10-05 TV sketch comedy series "Monty Python's Flying Circus" premieres on BBC1
- 1972-10-26 Ringo Starr and singer Lulu appear in non-speaking cameos on "Monty Python's Flying Circus" program
- 1973-01-18 John Cleese's final episode on "Monty Python's Flying Circus" on BBC TV
- 1974-12-05 Final episode of Monty Python's Flying Circus airs on BBC TV
- 1975-09-19 "Fawlty Towers" starring John Cleese, Prunella Scales and Andrew Sachs premieres on BBC2 in the UK
- 1976-04-20 George Harrison sings "The Lumberjack Song" with Monty Python in NYC
- 1978-09-16 Filming begins for "Monty Python's Life of Brian", on location in Monastir, Tunisia
- 1979-08-17 "Monty Python's Life of Brian" directed by Terry Jones, starring Graham Chapman, Mickael Palin, & John Cleese, and funded by George Harrison's HandMade Films, premieres in US theaters
- 1983-03-31 "Monty Python's The Meaning of Life," is released in the US
- 2002-11-29 "The Concert for George", a benefit memorial to George Harrison held at the Royal Albert Hall, London, features Eric Clapton; Paul McCartney; Ringo Starr; Jeff Lynne; Tom Petty; Joe Brown; Anoushka Shankar; Billy Preston; and members of Monty Python
- 2005-03-17 John Du Prez and Eric Idle's musical "Spamalot", based on the film "Monty Python and the Holy Grail," and starring Tim Curry and David Hyde Pierce, opens at the Shubert Theatre, NYC; runs for 1575 performances, winning 3 Tony Awards
- 2009-01-11 John Du Prez and Eric Idle's musical "Spamalot", based on the film "Monty Python and the Holy Grail," and starring Tim Curry and Davis Hyde Pierce, closes at the Shubert Theatre, NYC, after 1,575 and 3 Tony Award wins
- 2023-11-16 Revival of John Du Prez and Eric Idle's musical "Spamalot", based on the film "Monty Python and the Holy Grail," opens at the St. James Theatre, NYC
Quotes by John Cleese
- "He who laughs most, learns best."
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