Actor, comedian, film producer and writer John Cleese was co-founder of the famous comedy group Monty Python. The group produced films such as ‘The Life of Brian’ and ‘The Holy Grail’. He is famous for his work on the television series such as Fawlty Towers and films such as ‘A Fish Called Wanda.
John Marwood Cleese was born in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, England in 1939. He was educated locally and at Clifton College, Bristol. In 1960 he went to the University of Cambridge to study law and graduated with honours in 1963. Interested in comedy from an early age Cleese joined the Cambridge Footlights Dramatic Club and performed with them at the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1962.
After college he decided to follow his interest in comedy and went on to perform in London and New York. He returned to England and was employed by the BBC as a writer of comedy sketches. He worked at first for radio and later began writing and performing on television. The outlandish comedy series Monty Python’s Flying Circus had its debut in October 1969. The successful show ran for four seasons.
Fawlty Towers was first aired on the BBC in 1975. Cleese working with his wife Connie Booth had created the series. He played the part of the highly-strung manager of the Fawlty Towers hotel. His wife played the part of a waitress named Polly. When the show first appeared it attracted poor reviews. However it gradually gained popularity and a second series was produced in 1979. Cleese continued to work with the Monty Python group and helped write and appear in films such as ‘The Holy Grail’ (1975), ‘The Life of Brian’ (1979) and ‘The Meaning of Life’ (1983). The films were very successful. Though some of the films were banned in some countries they are now ranked among the best comedies ever made.
Cleese appeared in films such as ‘The Secret Policeman’s Ball’ and ‘Clockwise’ during the 1980’s. In 1988 he co-wrote and starred in the film ‘A Fish Called Wanda’. The film was a massive success and earned Cleese an Academy Award nomination. He continued to appear in movies including Bond movies such as ‘The World Is Not Enough’ and ‘Die Another Day’. He has also appeared in Harry Potter and Shrek movies. John Cleese is a visiting professor at Cornell University. He continues to tour, appear in movies and in comedy shows. He is the author of several books.
John Cleese was born in Weston-super-Mare, England in the year 1939 On This Day.
John Cleese by Lord Biro on 2008-05-29 17:19:23
Fawlty Towers
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