John Cleese

ActorWriterCrewProducerDirecting Oct 27 (age 86) Weston-Super-Mare, Somerset, England, UK 1961–2025 (64 year career)

6.4 avg rating

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…

Known For

Film

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

Nearly Headless Nick

Film

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Nearly Headless Nick (Sir Nicholas)

Film

Shrek 2

King Harold (voice)

Film

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

Film

Life of Brian

Wise Man #1 / Reg / Jewish Official / First Centurion / Deadly Dirk / Arthur

Film

The Croods: A New Age

Characters

Film

The Croods

Story

Film

Shrek the Third

King Harold (voice)

Filmography

Acting (294)

Movies (220)

The Cancellation Of Fawlty Towers

2025

Fawlty Towers: The Play

2025

as Self

7.8

John Cleese Packs It In

2025

The Roast of John Cleese

2024

as Self

3.5

Fawlty Towers: 50 Years of Laughs

2023

as Self

9.0

Rally Road Racers

2023

as Archie Vainglorious (voice)

6.5

The Palace

2023

as Arthur William Dallas III

The Martini Shot

as Dr. Auyeung

Daddy Daughter Trip

as Frank

Clifford the Big Red Dog

2021

as Mr. Bridwell

7.2

Father Christmas Is Back

2021

as John Christmas

4.6

Why Are We (Not) Creative?

2021

as Self

6.0

Monty Python's Best Bits Celebrated

2021

as Self (archive footage)(uncredited)

Alexander Pope: Rediscovering a Genius

2021

as Interviewee

The Very Excellent Mr. Dundee

2020

as John

4.8

Time Warp Vol. 3: Comedy and Camp

2020

as Self

6.8

Time Warp Vol. 1: Midnight Madness

as Self

Assholes: A Theory

as Himself

Arctic Dogs

as Otto von Walrus (voice)

The Naked Wanderer

as Brian King

An Accidental Studio

as Self (archive footage)

6.4

Python at 50: Silly Talks and Holy Grails

2019

as Self (archive footage)

9.0

Charming

2018

as Fairy Godmother / Executioner (voice)

6.4

Elliot: The Littlest Reindeer

as Donner (voice)

Why Are We Creative?

as Self

Michael Palin: A Life on Screen

2018

7.0

Trolls

2016

as Roi Gristle (voice)

6.6

Albion: The Enchanted Stallion

2016

as General Eeder

5.8

British Sitcom: 60 Years of Laughing at Ourselves

2016

as Basil Fawlty (archive footage) (uncredited)

5.7

Absolutely Anything

2015

as Chief Alien (voice)

5.9

A.C.O.R.N.S.: Operation Crackdown

2015

as Mr. Bellwood (voice)

4.7

Behind Over the Garden Wall

2015

as Self

Spud 3: Learning to Fly

2014

as Mr. 'The Guv' Edly

6.0

Monty Python Live (Mostly)

2014

as Self, others

7.1

Monty Python: And Now for Something Rather Similar

2014

as Self

6.0

Monty Python: The Meaning of Live

as Self

The Last Impresario

as Self

Planes

as Bulldog (voice)

Spud 2: The Madness Continues

2013

as Mr. 'The Guv' Edly

6.9

The Meaning of Monty Python

as Self

Anatomy of a Liar

as Self

A Liar's Autobiography: The Untrue Story of Monty Python's Graham Chapman

as Various (voice)

God Loves Caviar

as McCormick

The Many Faces of Ronnie Barker

2012

as Self

8.0

Beethoven's Christmas Adventure

as Narrator

Winnie the Pooh

as Narrator (voice)

John Cleese: The Alimony Tour Live

2011

7.8

The Big Year

2011

as Historical Montage Narrator (voice)

6.0

The Undefeated

2011

as Self (archive footage)

2.0

Shrek Forever After

2010

as King Harold (voice)

6.4

Spud

2010

as Mr. 'The Guv' Edly

7.0

Monty Python: Almost the Truth (The Lawyer's Cut) - Theatrical Release

2010

as Self

Planet 51

2009

as Professor Kipple (voice)

5.9

Fawlty Exclusive: Basil's Best Bits

2009

as Self / Basil Fawlty

Fawlty Towers: Re-Opened

2009

as Self / Basil Fawlty

8.0

The Pink Panther 2

2009

as Dreyfus

5.7

Marty Feldman: Six Degrees of Separation

2008

as Self

7.8

The Seventh Python

2008

as Self

The Day the Earth Stood Still

2008

as Professor Barnhardt

5.7

Igor

2008

as Dr. Glickenstein (voice)

5.9

Life Of Brian Screenplay

2008

as Wise Man #1, Reg, Jewish Official, First Centurion

Monty Python Conquers America

2008

as Self

6.5

Monty Python: Before the Flying Circus

as Self

We Are Most Amused

as Self - Presenter

Gaybo Laughs Back

as Self

Shrek the Third

2007

as King Harold (voice)

6.3

Hitler: The Comedy Years

2007

as Adolf Hitler / Basil Fawlty (archive footage) (uncredited)

5.0

The Secret Life of Brian

2007

as Self

7.6

What the Pythons Did Next...

2007

as Self (archive footage)

Charlotte's Web

2006

as Samuel the Sheep (voice)

L'Entente cordiale

as Lord Conrad

Man About Town

as Dr. Primkin

Monty Python's Flying Circus—Eric Idle's Personal Best

2006

as Various Characters

8.0

Monty Python's Flying Circus—Terry Gilliam's Personal Best

2006

as Various Characters

7.0

Monty Python's Flying Circus—Terry Jones' Personal Best

2006

as Various Characters

8.3

Monty Python's Flying Circus—Graham Chapman's Personal Best

2006

as Various Characters

Monty Python's Flying Circus—John Cleese's Personal Best

2006

as Various Characters

The Art of Football from A to Z

2006

as Self

4.8

Monty Python's Flying Circus—Graham Chapman's Personal Best

2006

as Various Characters

10.0

Aud go'hjerta

2006

as Self (archive footage)

Monty Python's Flying Circus—Michael Palin's Personal Best

2006

as Various Characters

Valiant

2005

as Mercury (voice)

5.6

The Roots of Monty Python

2005

as Self (archive footage)

Fawlty Towers Revisited

2005

as Himself

5.0

The Funny Blokes of British Comedy

2005

as Himself

6.0

Return of the Goodies

2005

as Himself

6.9

Complete Guide to Guys

2005

as Noted Behavioral Scientist / Noted Doctor / Leading Social Scientist / Leading Orthopedic Surgeon

4.8

Shrek 2

2004

as King Harold (voice)

7.3

Around the World in 80 Days

2004

as Grizzled Sergeant

6.0

Wine for the Confused

2004

as Self

8.2

The Magic Touch of Harry Potter

2004

as Self

7.7

The Best of Monty Python's Flying Circus Volume 3

2004

as Self (archive footage)

The Best of Monty Python's Flying Circus Volume 1

2004

as Self (archive footage)

9.0

The Best of Monty Python's Flying Circus Volume 2

2004

as Self (archive footage)

9.0

Remember the Secret Policeman's Ball?

2004

as Self

4.8

Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle

as Mr. Munday

Scorched

as Charles Merchant

George of the Jungle 2

2003

as An Ape Named 'Ape' (voice)

Concert for George

as Self

Stupidity

as Self

The Meaning of Making 'The Meaning of Life'

2003

as Self

8.0

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

2002

as Nearly Headless Nick (Sir Nicholas)

7.7

Die Another Day: From Script to Screen

as Self

Die Another Day

as Q

Mickey's House of Villains

2002

as Narrator (“Mickey's Mechanical House") (uncredited)

7.3

The Adventures of Pluto Nash

as James

Best Ever Bond

as Self / R

Making Rat Race

as Himself

Peter Cook: At a Slight Angle to the Universe

2002

as Self

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

2001

as Nearly Headless Nick

7.9

Rat Race

2001

as Donald P. Sinclair

6.3

Mickey's Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of Mouse

2001

as Narrator (segment 'The Nutcracker') (voice)

6.9

Fawlty Towers: An Interview with John Cleese

2001

as Kendisi

Edwurd Fudwupper Fibbed Big

2000

as The Giant Alien (voice)

The Magic Pudding

2000

as Albert the Magic Pudding (voice)

5.1

The Life of Python

2000

as Self

Isn't She Great

2000

as Henry Marcus

4.9

Rockstar

2000

as Interviewer in lounge

3.0

Quantum Project

2000

as Alexander Pentcho

Now Pay Attention 007: A Tribute to Actor Desmond Llewelyn

2000

as Self

5.7

The World Is Not Enough

1999

as R

6.3

Monty Python: From Spam to Sperm

1999

as Self

Mickey’s Mechanical House

1999

as Narrator (voice)

The Out-of-Towners

as Mr. Mersault

Parting Shots

as Maurice Walpole

The Nutcracker

as Narrator

The Monty Python Story

1999

as Self

Monty Python: 30th Anniversary Sketches

1999

as Self

Monty Python: Live at Aspen

1998

as Self

7.1

In The Wild: Operation Lemur With John Cleese

1998

as Self

George of the Jungle

1997

as An Ape Named 'Ape' (voice)

5.7

Fierce Creatures

1997

as Rollo Lee

6.2

The Wind in the Willows

1996

as Mr. Toad's Lawyer

5.7

Spike

1996

as Himself

The Swan Princess

1994

as Jean-Bob (voice)

6.6

Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

1994

as Prof. Waldman

6.4

The Jungle Book

1994

as Dr. Julius Plumford

6.0

Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are?

1993

Splitting Heirs

1993

as Raoul P. Shadgrind

5.2

An American Tail: Fievel Goes West

1991

as Cat R. Waul (voice)

6.3

Amnesty International's Big 30

1991

as Self

4.0

Rabbit Ears - Tom Thumb

1991

as Narrator (voice)

The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson

1990

as Self

6.8

Bullseye!

1990

as Man on the Beach in Barbados Who Looks Like John Cleese

5.1

Life of Python

1990

as Himself / Various Roles (also archive footage)

5.3

Parrot Sketch Not Included: Twenty Years of Monty Python

1989

as Self / Various Characters

7.0

Employees From Hell

1989

as Brian

Bosses From Hell

1989

as Brian

The Big Picture

as Bartender

Erik the Viking

as Halfdan the Black

Teams from Hell

The Movie Life of George

1989

as Self

Customers From Hell

1989

as Brian

Quark the Dragon Slayer

1989

The Secret Policeman’s Biggest Ball

1989

as Self

7.5

Interviewers From Hell

1989

Communicators From Hell

1989

as Brian

Colleagues From Hell

1989

Sales People from Hell

1989

Customer Service From Hell

1989

John Cleese's First Farewell Performance

as Self

A Fish Called Wanda

as Archie Leach

Quark and the Highway Robber

1987

The Grand Knockout Tournament

as Self

Baby Quark

Dragonslayer Quark

The Secret Policeman’s Third Ball

as Jim Cleese

Clockwise

as Brian Stimpson

Silverado

as Sheriff John T. Langston

6.9

Gonzo Presents Muppet Weird Stuff

1985

as Self

Yellowbeard

1983

as Harvey 'Blind' Pew

5.6

Monty Python's The Meaning of Life

1983

as Various Roles

7.3

Group Madness

1983

as Self

Privates on Parade

1983

as Major Giles Flack

4.5

Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl

1982

as Various Roles

7.4

The Secret Policeman's Other Ball

1982

as Self - Various Roles

6.0

Time Bandits

1981

as Robin Hood

6.6

The Great Muppet Caper

1981

as Neville

6.9

The Taming of the Shrew

1980

as Petruchio

7.8

The Queen Special

1980

as Man in Bar

The Tom Machine

1980

as Computer (voice)

Peter Cook & Co.

1980

as Himself / Various Characters

6.7

...To Norway, Home of Giants!

1979

as Norman Fearless

7.0

Life of Brian

1979

as Wise Man #1 / Reg / Jewish Official / First Centurion / Deadly Dirk / Arthur

7.8

The Secret Policeman's Ball

1979

as Himself - Various Roles

6.1

Doctor Who: City of Death

1979

as Art Gallery Visitor

9.0

The Pythons: Somewhere in Tunisia, Circa A.D. 1979

as Self

Golden Gordon

as Passerby

Away from It All

as Nigel Farquhar-Bennett – Narrator (voice)

6.3

The Mermaid Frolics

1977

as Self- Various roles

5.3

Three Piece Suite

1977

as Kevin

The Strange Case of the End of Civilization as We Know It

1977

as Sherlock Holmes

6.2

Pleasure at Her Majesty's

1976

as Self

6.5

Meetings, Bloody Meetings

1976

5.7

Monty Python and the Holy Grail

1975

as Second Swallow-Savvy Guard / The Black Knight / Peasant 3 / Sir Launcelot the Brave / Taunting French Guard / Tim the Enchanter

7.8

How Not to Exhibit Yourself

1975

as John Cleese

More Awkward Customers

1975

as Brian

Awkward Customers

1975

as Brian

Romance with a Double Bass

1974

as Smychkov

5.7

Monty Python & the Holy Grail Location Report

1974

as Self

Elementary, My Dear Watson

1973

as Sherlock Holmes

Is This a Record?

1973

as Various

6.0

The Love Ban

1973

as Contraceptives Lecturer

2.8

Monty Python In The Netherlands

1973

The Goodies and the Beanstalk

1973

as The Genie

Who Sold You This, Then?

1972

6.5

And Now for Something Completely Different

1971

as 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

7.2

The Statue

1971

as Harry

4.3

Euroshow '71: May Day Special

1971

as Self - Various (as Montypython Flyingcircus)

The Great Birds Eye Peas Relaunch 1971

1971

Monty Python: Who's There?

1970

as Timothy

6.0

The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer

1970

as Pumer

5.9

How to Irritate People

1969

as Himself - Various

6.6

The Magic Christian

1969

as Director in Sotheby's

5.6

The Best House in London

1969

as Jones (uncredited)

3.6

Interlude

1968

as Television public relations man

5.3

The Bliss of Mrs. Blossom

1968

as Post Office Clerk

6.5

How to Make Her Cheat

as Terry

Taking The Wheel

as Nathan

The Philosophers' Football Match

as Archimedes

10.0

Television (74)

The Dinosaur Hour

2023

as Self

The Dinosaur Hour Extra

2023

LOL: Last One Laughing

2021

as Self

7.4

Why there is no hope

2020

as Actor

Hold the Sunset

as Phil

Speechless

as Martin

John Bishop: In Conversation with...

2016

as Self

7.0

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

2015

as Self

6.2

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

2014

as Self

5.9

Over the Garden Wall

2014

as Quincy Endicott (voice)

8.6

Monty Python's Best Bits (Mostly)

2014

as Self (archive footage)

A Life on Screen

as Self

The Last Leg

as Self

Whitney

as Dr. Grant

Mini Adventures of Winnie the Pooh

as Narrator (voice)

Conan

as Self - Guest

Skavlan

as Self - Guest

Talkin' 'Bout Your Generation

2009

as Self - Contestant

2.0

Monty Python: Almost the Truth (The Lawyer's Cut)

as Self

Markus Lanz

as Self

The Graham Norton Show

2007

as Self

7.2

Movie Connections

2007

as Self

More Dawn French's Boys Who Do: Comedy

The One Show

as Self - Guest

Legends

as Self

Robins

as Self - Guest

Monty Python's Personal Best

2006

as Self / Various Characters

5.4

Entourage

2004

as John Cleese

7.4

Real Time with Bill Maher

2003

as Self

6.0

NDR Kultur – Das Journal

2002

as Self

Wednesday 9:30 (8:30 Central)

2002

as Red Lansing

Richard & Judy

2001

as Self

2.9

Disney's House of Mouse

as Narrator (voice)

The Human Face

as Presenter

Mickey Mouse Works

as Narrator (voice)

The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn

1999

as Self

4.6

Casper & Mandrilaftalen

1999

as Fake Bosse Bo Johansson

7.7

Will & Grace

1998

as Lyle Finster (uncredited)

6.8

Parkinson

1998

as Self

The Daily Show

1996

as Self

6.4

3rd Rock from the Sun

1996

as Dr. Liam Neesam

7.5

E! True Hollywood Story

1996

8.1

Look at the State We're In!

1995

as Harold Kingsby

MADtv

1995

as Self

7.0

The Unpleasant World of Penn & Teller

as Self

Funny Business

This Morning

as Self

Cheers

as Dr. Simon Finch-Royce

Wogan

as Self

Whoops Apocalypse

as Lacrobat

Wetten, dass..?

as Self

Not the Nine O'Clock News

1979

7.0

Friday Night, Saturday Morning

An Audience with...

as Self

Three Piece Suite

as Kevin

The Muppet Show

as Self - Special Guest Star

8.0

Ripping Yarns

1976

7.5

The Secret Policeman's Ball

1976

as Self

5.0

Saturday Night Live

1975

as Self - Cameo (uncredited)

7.0

Fawlty Towers

1975

as Basil Fawlty

8.3

Les Rendez-vous du dimanche

1975

as Self

6.0

Last of the Summer Wine

1973

as Neighbour

7.1

Monty Python's Fliegender Zirkus

1972

as Various Characters

7.3

Monty Python's Flying Circus

1969

as Various / Announcer

Sez Les

as self

Omnibus

as Self

At Last the 1948 Show

Misleading Cases

as Mr. Partridge

The Frost Report

Doctor Who

as Art Gallery Visitor

7.9

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

as Self

The Avengers

as Marcus Rugman

Untitled Fawlty Towers Reboot

as Basil Fawlty

Cancel Me

as Self - Host / Presenter

Crew (51)

Movies (41)

Fawlty Towers: The Play

2025

Writer

7.8

John Cleese Packs It In

2025

Writer

The Croods: A New Age

2020

Characters

7.4

The Croods: A New Age

2020

Thanks

7.4

Monty Python Live (Mostly)

Writer

The Croods

Story

Life Of Brian Screenplay

2008

Screenplay

The Art of Football from A to Z

2006

Executive Producer

4.8

Zum letzten Kliff

2001

Creative Consultant

Zum letzten Kliff

2001

Original Story

Fierce Creatures

Producer

Fierce Creatures

Screenplay

Parrot Sketch Not Included: Twenty Years of Monty Python

Writer

A Fish Called Wanda

Executive Producer

A Fish Called Wanda

Screenplay

A Fish Called Wanda

Story

Monty Python's The Meaning of Life

1983

Screenplay

7.3

Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl

1982

Writer

7.4

The Secret Policeman's Other Ball

1982

Assistant Director

6.0

The Secret Policeman's Other Ball

Producer

Life of Brian

Screenplay

The Secret Policeman's Ball

1979

Producer

6.1

The Secret Policeman's Ball

Stage Director

Away from It All

Director

Away from It All

Writer

Snavely

Creator

The Mermaid Frolics

1977

Writer

5.3

The Strange Case of the End of Civilization as We Know It

1977

Screenplay

6.2

Monty Python and the Holy Grail

1975

Writer

7.8

More Awkward Customers

1975

Writer

Awkward Customers

1975

Writer

Romance with a Double Bass

Adaptation

Is This a Record?

Additional Writing

Rentadick

Writer

Who Sold You This, Then?

1972

Script

6.5

And Now for Something Completely Different

1971

Screenplay

7.2

The Great Birds Eye Peas Relaunch 1971

1971

Writer

The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer

1970

Writer

5.9

How to Irritate People

Writer

The Magic Christian

Additional Writing

Eric Idle Exploits Monty Python

Writer

Television (10)

The Human Face

2001

Writer

6.8

Look at the State We're In!

1995

Executive Producer

Look at the State We're In!

1995

Writer

Fawlty Towers

Writer

The Two Ronnies

Writer

Six Dates with Barker

1971

Writer

7.0

Monty Python's Flying Circus

1969

Writer

8.3

At Last the 1948 Show

Writer

ABC Stage 67

Writer

That Was The Week That Was

1962

Writer

8.0