John Cleese

Date of Birth: October 27, 1939

Zodiac Sign: Scorpio

Biography

John Cleese is a renowned British actor, comedian, writer, and producer best known for his work with the comedy troupe Monty Python and for his role in the television series “Fawlty Towers.” Born in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, England, Cleese attended Clifton College and later studied law at Downing College, Cambridge. It was at Cambridge where he became involved with the Footlights Club, a breeding ground for British comedic talent. Cleese’s big break came as a member of Monty Python’s Flying Circus, a surreal comedy troupe that revolutionized television comedy in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The group’s work includes the television series “Monty Python’s Flying Circus” and films such as “Monty Python and the Holy Grail,” “Life of Brian,” and “The Meaning of Life.” In addition to his work with Monty Python, Cleese co-created and starred in “Fawlty Towers,” a sitcom considered one of the greatest British television shows of all time. He has also appeared in numerous films, including “A Fish Called Wanda,” which he co-wrote, and the “Harry Potter” series as Nearly Headless Nick. Cleese has been married four times and has two daughters. He continues to work in film, television, and stage productions and remains a prominent figure in the world of comedy.

5 Interesting Facts about John Cleese

1. John Cleese was almost a lawyer; he studied law at Downing College, Cambridge before pursuing a career in comedy.

2. He co-founded Video Arts, a business training film company, in 1972.

3. Cleese is an avid supporter of the Liberal Democrats in the UK.

4. He has a lemur named after him, the Bemaraha woolly lemur (Avahi cleesei), discovered in Madagascar.

5. He once turned down a life peerage, which would have given him a seat in the House of Lords.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from John Cleese

1. “If you want creative workers, give them enough time to play.”

2. “I find it rather easy to portray a businessman. Being bland, rather cruel, and incompetent comes naturally to me.”

3. “Creativity is not a talent. It is a way of operating.”

4. “I think that the problem with people like this [politicians] is that they are so stupid that they have no idea how stupid they are.”

5. “He who laughs most, learns best.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

At his peak, John Cleese’s net worth was estimated to be around $20 million.

Children

John Cleese has two daughters: 1. Cynthia Cleese, born to his first wife, American actress Connie Booth. 2. Camilla Cleese, born to his second wife, American actress Barbara Trentham.