John Cleese

John Marwood Cleese was born on October 27, 1989 in Weston-Super-Mare, Somerset. He is perhaps best known for being a member of the comedy group "Monty Python". He holds a law degree from Downing College, Cambridge University and also co-wrote several episodes of "Doctor in the House" (1969) and its sequels with Graham Chapman, and also wrote some later episodes as sole author.

John Cleese was a cast member of the highly successful radio show "I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again". His fellow cast members were Tim Brooke-Taylor, Graeme Garden, Bill Oddie, David Hatch and Jo Kendall. It was in this radio show that Cleese's famous 'Ferret Song' (later sung on the television series, "At Last the 1948 Show" (1967)) was first heard.

He was also a member of the prestigious Cambridge University Footlights Club and went to the United States with the Footlights stage show "Cambridge Circus" in 1964, and appeared on the "Ed Sullivan Show".

When he had to join the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists in 1989 for his third appearance on American TV, none of the staff at the AFTRA office recognised him, or had any idea who he was.

According to Brian Henson, when Cleese guest starred on "Muppet Show, The" (1976), he enjoyed the show very much and became very close with the writers because he wanted to get involved in the writing. When he did get involved with the writing, he and the other writers came up with a concept where Cleese was being held against his will on the show and would try to get off the show while the Muppets were trying to get him to do his scheduled bits. Of course, in this case, life did not imitate art, as a few years later, Cleese appeared again with the Muppets in the film The Great Muppet Caper (1981).

Other miscellaneous facts:

Who's Who lists his recreations as "gluttony, sloth."

Rector of University of St Andrews from 1973-1976.

Is an Andrew D. White Professor-at-Large at Cornell University.

During a 20 Questions interview with Playboy magazine, Cleese spun a wild yarn about his ancestors being named "Cheese". Couple this with the fact that close friends call him Jack (a common alternative for John), Cleese joked that he might go back to his old "family" name and move to Monterey, California... thus becoming Monterey Jack Cheese. In fact, though, his grandfather's name *was* Cheese and he did change it to Cleese!

Co-owns the Christine Schell Fine Objects antique shop in Montecito, CA.

John's father's name was Reg Cleese but his grandfather was named John Edwin Cheese. He changed his name when he joined the British army in 1915.

Was 6 feet tall by the time he was 12.

Is the father of Cynthia Cleese, an actress.

Daughter, Camilla, born 1984 (with second wife Barbara Trentham)

Reached adult height of 6' 4 3/4" by the age of 13.

Said he was to be the first person to say the F-word at a memorial service when he spoke at Graham Chapman's funeral.

His mother, Muriel Cleese (b. Cross, 11 November 1899 - 11 November 2000) died on her 101th birthday.
The inspiration for Fawlty Towers came from a hotel stay Cleese had with the other Pythons in the Gleneagles Hotel in Torquay, UK. The hotel manager was called Donald Sinclair, someone Cleese considered to be the rudest man he had ever encountered. When he left the Monty Python team, he was approached by the BBC to do something else, and together with Booth, created Fawlty Towers based on their experiences in Torquay.

In the late nineties he appeared in German TV commercials for a lottery service. He actually spoke German in some of these spots (while some had no dialogue and others where dubbed later on).

When the Globe Theatre was rebuilt in London, a service was offered whereby you could have your name on a tile in the courtyard, for a donation to the project. Cleese and fellow python Michael Palin both signed up for tiles, but Palin's was spelled wrong. Cleese paid extra to ensure it would be spelled "Pallin."

Was the tallest member of Monty Python, having been about 2 inches taller than Graham Chapman.

Father-in-law of Ed Solomon.

He allegedly refused the British Honour of the C.B.E. (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in 1996.

Biography in: "Who's Who in Comedy" by Ronald L. Smith. Pg. 108-109. New York: Facts on File, 1992. ISBN 0816023387 He has played the character of the "Black Knight" on two occasions, "Monty Python And The Quest For The Holy Grail" and the episode "Mary Loves Scoochie" on the show "3rd Rock From The Sun."

Appeared in a series of educational short subjects produced by Video Arts [gb] designed to teach management and trainees how to handle stress and unusual situations. Cleese took advantage of his comic talents and portrayed events as absurd situations so that audiences would better remember their training.

If you would like to send John Cleese a fan letter, the following address handles his fan mail: