John Cleese
Acting
290
Acting Credits
1
Directed
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
Filmography
The Cancellation Of Fawlty Towers
2025
John Cleese Packs It In
2025
Fawlty Towers: The Play
2025
as Self
The Roast of John Cleese
2024
as Self
The Palace
2023
as Arthur William Dallas III
The Martini Shot
2023
as Dr. Auyeung
Rally Road Racers
2023
as Archie Vainglorious (voice)
Fawlty Towers: 50 Years of Laughs
2023
as Self
The Dinosaur Hour
2023
as Self
The Dinosaur Hour Extra
2023
Daddy Daughter Trip
2022
as Frank
Alexander Pope: Rediscovering a Genius
2021
as Interviewee
Why Are We (Not) Creative?
2021
as Self
Father Christmas Is Back
2021
as John Christmas
Clifford the Big Red Dog
2021
as Mr. Bridwell
Monty Python's Best Bits Celebrated
2021
as Self (archive footage)(uncredited)
LOL: Last One Laughing
2021
as Self
Time Warp Vol. 1: Midnight Madness
2020
as Self
The Very Excellent Mr. Dundee
2020
as John
Time Warp Vol. 3: Comedy and Camp
2020
as Self
Why there is no hope
2020
as Actor
Arctic Dogs
2019
as Otto von Walrus (voice)
An Accidental Studio
2019
as Self (archive footage)
The Naked Wanderer
2019
as Brian King
Assholes: A Theory
2019
as Himself
Python at 50: Silly Talks and Holy Grails
2019
as Self (archive footage)
Elliot: The Littlest Reindeer
2018
as Donner (voice)
Charming
2018
as Fairy Godmother / Executioner (voice)
Michael Palin: A Life on Screen
2018
Why Are We Creative?
2018
as Self
Hold the Sunset
2018
as Phil
Trolls
2016
as Roi Gristle (voice)
British Sitcom: 60 Years of Laughing at Ourselves
2016
as Basil Fawlty (archive footage) (uncredited)
Albion: The Enchanted Stallion
2016
as General Eeder
John Bishop: In Conversation with...
2016
as Self
Speechless
2016
as Martin
Absolutely Anything
2015
as Chief Alien (voice)
A.C.O.R.N.S.: Operation Crackdown
2015
as Mr. Bellwood (voice)
Behind Over the Garden Wall
2015
as Self
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
2015
as Self
Monty Python Live (Mostly)
2014
as Self, others
Spud 3: Learning to Fly
2014
as Mr. 'The Guv' Edly
Monty Python: The Meaning of Live
2014
as Self
Monty Python: And Now for Something Rather Similar
2014
as Self
A Life on Screen
2014
as Self
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
2014
as Self
Monty Python's Best Bits (Mostly)
2014
as Self (archive footage)
Over the Garden Wall
2014
as Quincy Endicott (voice)
Over the Garden Wall
2014
as Adelaide (voice)
Planes
2013
as Bulldog (voice)
Spud 2: The Madness Continues
2013
as Mr. 'The Guv' Edly
The Meaning of Monty Python
2013
as Self
The Last Leg
2013
as Self
A Liar's Autobiography: The Untrue Story of Monty Python's Graham Chapman
2012
as Various (voice)
Anatomy of a Liar
2012
as Self
God Loves Caviar
2012
as McCormick
The Many Faces of Ronnie Barker
2012
as Self
Winnie the Pooh
2011
as Narrator (voice)
Beethoven's Christmas Adventure
2011
as Narrator
John Cleese: The Alimony Tour Live
2011
The Undefeated
2011
as Self (archive footage)
The Big Year
2011
as Historical Montage Narrator (voice)
Whitney
2011
as Dr. Grant
Mini Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
2011
as Narrator (voice)
Shrek Forever After
2010
as King Harold (voice)
Spud
2010
as Mr. 'The Guv' Edly
Monty Python: Almost the Truth (The Lawyer's Cut) - Theatrical Release
2010
as Self
The Pink Panther 2
2009
as Dreyfus
Planet 51
2009
as Professor Kipple (voice)
Fawlty Towers: Re-Opened
2009
as Self / Basil Fawlty
Fawlty Exclusive: Basil's Best Bits
2009
as Self / Basil Fawlty
Monty Python: Almost the Truth (The Lawyer's Cut)
2009
as Self
Skavlan
2009
as Self - Guest
Talkin' 'Bout Your Generation
2009
as Self - Contestant
The Day the Earth Stood Still
2008
as Professor Barnhardt
Life Of Brian Screenplay
2008
as Wise Man #1, Reg, Jewish Official, First Centurion
Igor
2008
as Dr. Glickenstein (voice)
The Seventh Python
2008
as Self
We Are Most Amused
2008
as Self - Presenter
Marty Feldman: Six Degrees of Separation
2008
as Self
Monty Python: Before the Flying Circus
2008
as Self
Monty Python Conquers America
2008
as Self
Gaybo Laughs Back
2008
as Self
Markus Lanz
2008
as Self
Shrek the Third
2007
as King Harold (voice)
Hitler: The Comedy Years
2007
as Adolf Hitler / Basil Fawlty (archive footage) (uncredited)
The Secret Life of Brian
2007
as Self
What the Pythons Did Next...
2007
as Self (archive footage)
Movie Connections
2007
as Self
More Dawn French's Boys Who Do: Comedy
2007
The Graham Norton Show
2007
as Self - Guest
The Graham Norton Show
2007
as Self
L'Entente cordiale
2006
as Lord Conrad
Man About Town
2006
as Dr. Primkin
Monty Python's Flying Circus—Graham Chapman's Personal Best
2006
as Various Characters
Charlotte's Web
2006
as Samuel the Sheep (voice)
The Art of Football from A to Z
2006
as Self
Monty Python's Flying Circus—John Cleese's Personal Best
2006
as Various Characters
Monty Python's Flying Circus—Eric Idle's Personal Best
2006
as Various Characters
Monty Python's Flying Circus—Michael Palin's Personal Best
2006
as Various Characters
Monty Python's Flying Circus—Terry Gilliam's Personal Best
2006
as Various Characters
Monty Python's Flying Circus—Terry Jones' Personal Best
2006
as Various Characters
Monty Python's Flying Circus—Graham Chapman's Personal Best
2006
as Various Characters
Aud go'hjerta
2006
as Self (archive footage)
The One Show
2006
as Self - Guest
Monty Python's Personal Best
2006
as Self / Various Characters
Robins
2006
as Self - Guest
Legends
2006
as Self
Valiant
2005
as Mercury (voice)
The Funny Blokes of British Comedy
2005
as Self
Fawlty Towers Revisited
2005
as Himself
The Roots of Monty Python
2005
as Self (archive footage)
Return of the Goodies
2005
as Himself
Complete Guide to Guys
2005
as Noted Behavioral Scientist / Noted Doctor / Leading Social Scientist / Leading Orthopedic Surgeon
Around the World in 80 Days
2004
as Grizzled Sergeant
Shrek 2
2004
as King Harold (voice)
Wine for the Confused
2004
as Self
Remember the Secret Policeman's Ball?
2004
as Self
The Magic Touch of Harry Potter
2004
as Self
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)
The Best of Monty Python's Flying Circus Volume 2
2004
as Self (archive footage)
Entourage
2004
as John Cleese
Scorched
2003
as Charles Merchant
George of the Jungle 2
2003
as An Ape Named 'Ape' (voice)
Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle
2003
as Mr. Munday
Stupidity
2003
as Self
The Meaning of Making 'The Meaning of Life'
2003
as Self
Concert for George
2003
as Self
Real Time with Bill Maher
2003
as Self
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
2002
as Nearly Headless Nick (Sir Nicholas)
The Adventures of Pluto Nash
2002
as James
Mickey's House of Villains
2002
as Narrator (“Mickey's Mechanical House") (uncredited)
Die Another Day
2002
as Q
Peter Cook: At a Slight Angle to the Universe
2002
as Self
Best Ever Bond
2002
as Self / R
Die Another Day: From Script to Screen
2002
as Self
Making Rat Race
2002
as Himself
Wednesday 9:30 (8:30 Central)
2002
as Red Lansing
NDR Kultur – Das Journal
2002
as Self
Mickey's Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of Mouse
2001
as Narrator (segment 'The Nutcracker') (voice)
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
2001
as Nearly Headless Nick
Fawlty Towers: An Interview with John Cleese
2001
as Kendisi
Rat Race
2001
as Donald P. Sinclair
Disney's House of Mouse
2001
Richard & Judy
2001
as Self
The Human Face
2001
as Presenter
Disney's House of Mouse
2001
as Narrator (voice)
Quantum Project
2000
as Alexander Pentcho
The Magic Pudding
2000
as Albert the Magic Pudding (voice)
Isn't She Great
2000
as Henry Marcus
Edwurd Fudwupper Fibbed Big
2000
as The Giant Alien (voice)
Now Pay Attention 007: A Tribute to Actor Desmond Llewelyn
2000
as Self
Rockstar
2000
as Interviewer in lounge
The Life of Python
2000
as Self
The Out-of-Towners
1999
as Mr. Mersault
The World Is Not Enough
1999
as R
Parting Shots
1999
as Maurice Walpole
The Monty Python Story
1999
as Self
Monty Python: From Spam to Sperm
1999
as Self
Monty Python: 30th Anniversary Sketches
1999
as Self
The Nutcracker
1999
as Narrator
Mickey’s Mechanical House
1999
as Narrator (voice)
The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn
1999
as Self
Casper & Mandrilaftalen
1999
as Fake Bosse Bo Johansson
Mickey Mouse Works
1999
as Narrator (voice)
In The Wild: Operation Lemur With John Cleese
1998
as Self
Monty Python: Live at Aspen
1998
as Self
Will & Grace
1998
as Lyle Finster (uncredited)
Parkinson
1998
as Self
George of the Jungle
1997
as An Ape Named 'Ape' (voice)
Fierce Creatures
1997
as Rollo Lee
The Wind in the Willows
1996
as Mr. Toad's Lawyer
Spike
1996
as Self
E! True Hollywood Story
1996
The Daily Show
1996
as Self
3rd Rock from the Sun
1996
as Dr. Liam Neesam
MADtv
1995
as Self
Look at the State We're In!
1995
as Harold Kingsby
Look at the State We're In!
1995
as Politician
Mary Shelley's Frankenstein
1994
as Prof. Waldman
The Jungle Book
1994
as Dr. Julius Plumford
The Swan Princess
1994
as Jean-Bob (voice)
The Unpleasant World of Penn & Teller
1994
as Self
Splitting Heirs
1993
as Raoul P. Shadgrind
Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are?
1993
Funny Business
1992
An American Tail: Fievel Goes West
1991
as Cat R. Waul (voice)
Amnesty International's Big 30
1991
as Self
Rabbit Ears - Tom Thumb
1991
as Narrator (voice)
Creativity in Management
1991
as Self
Life of Python
1990
as Himself / Various Roles (also archive footage)
Bullseye!
1990
as Man on the Beach in Barbados Who Looks Like John Cleese
The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson
1990
as Self
The Secret Policeman’s Biggest Ball
1989
as Self
Quark the Dragon Slayer
1989
Parrot Sketch Not Included: Twenty Years of Monty Python
1989
as Self / Various Characters
Erik the Viking
1989
as Halfdan the Black
The Big Picture
1989
as Bartender
The Movie Life of George
1989
as Self
Bosses From Hell
1989
as Brian
Customers From Hell
1989
as Brian
Communicators From Hell
1989
as Brian
Employees From Hell
1989
as Brian
Customer Service From Hell
1989
Teams from Hell
1989
Sales People from Hell
1989
Colleagues From Hell
1989
Interviewers From Hell
1989
A Fish Called Wanda
1988
as Archie Leach
John Cleese's First Farewell Performance
1988
as Self
This Morning
1988
as Self
The Secret Policeman’s Third Ball
1987
as Jim Cleese
Baby Quark
1987
Dragonslayer Quark
1987
Quark and the Highway Robber
1987
The Grand Knockout Tournament
1987
as Self
Clockwise
1986
as Brian Stimpson
Silverado
1985
as Sheriff John T. Langston
Gonzo Presents Muppet Weird Stuff
1985
as Self
Monty Python's The Meaning of Life
1983
as Various Roles
Yellowbeard
1983
as Harvey 'Blind' Pew
Privates on Parade
1983
as Major Giles Flack
Group Madness
1983
as Self
Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl
1982
as Various Roles
The Secret Policeman's Other Ball
1982
as Self - Various Roles
Wogan
1982
as Self
Cheers
1982
as Dr. Simon Finch-Royce
Whoops Apocalypse
1982
as Lacrobat
Time Bandits
1981
as Robin Hood
The Great Muppet Caper
1981
as Neville
Wetten, dass..?
1981
as Self
The Taming of the Shrew
1980
as Petruchio
The Tom Machine
1980
as Computer (voice)
Peter Cook & Co.
1980
as Himself / Various Characters
The Queen Special
1980
as Man in Bar
Life of Brian
1979
as Wise Man #1 / Reg / Jewish Official / First Centurion / Deadly Dirk / Arthur
The Secret Policeman's Ball
1979
as Himself - Various Roles
The Pythons: Somewhere in Tunisia, Circa A.D. 1979
1979
as Self
...To Norway, Home of Giants!
1979
as Norman Fearless
Doctor Who: City of Death
1979
as Art Gallery Visitor
Away from It All
1979
as Nigel Farquhar-Bennett – Narrator (voice)
Golden Gordon
1979
as Passerby
Not the Nine O'Clock News
1979
An Audience with...
1978
as Self
The Strange Case of the End of Civilization as We Know It
1977
as Sherlock Holmes
The Mermaid Frolics
1977
as Self- Various roles
Three Piece Suite
1977
as Kevin
Pleasure at Her Majesty's
1976
as Self
Meetings, Bloody Meetings
1976
The Secret Policeman's Ball
1976
as Self
The Muppet Show
1976
as Self - Special Guest Star
Ripping Yarns
1976
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
How Not to Exhibit Yourself
1975
as John Cleese
Awkward Customers
1975
as Brian
More Awkward Customers
1975
as Brian
Fawlty Towers
1975
as Basil Fawlty
Saturday Night Live
1975
as Self - Cameo (uncredited)
Les Rendez-vous du dimanche
1975
as Self
Monty Python & the Holy Grail Location Report
1974
as Self
Romance with a Double Bass
1974
as Smychkov
Is This a Record?
1973
as Various
The Love Ban
1973
as Contraceptives Lecturer
Elementary, My Dear Watson
1973
as Sherlock Holmes
Monty Python In The Netherlands
1973
The Goodies and the Beanstalk
1973
as The Genie
Who Sold You This, Then?
1972
Monty Python's Fliegender Zirkus
1972
as Various Characters
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
The Statue
1971
as Harry
Euroshow '71: May Day Special
1971
as Self - Various (as Montypython Flyingcircus)
The Great Birds Eye Peas Relaunch 1971
1971
The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer
1970
as Pumer
Monty Python: Who's There?
1970
as Timothy
The Magic Christian
1969
as Director in Sotheby's
How to Irritate People
1969
as Himself - Various
The Best House in London
1969
as Jones (uncredited)
Monty Python's Flying Circus
1969
as Various / Announcer
Sez Les
1969
Sez Les
1969
as self
Interlude
1968
as Television public relations man
The Bliss of Mrs. Blossom
1968
as Post Office Clerk
At Last the 1948 Show
1967
Misleading Cases
1967
as Mr. Partridge
Omnibus
1967
as Self
The Frost Report
1966
Doctor Who
1963
as Art Gallery Visitor
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962
as Self
The Avengers
1961
as Marcus Rugman