Cleese, John (Marwood) (1939– )

English actor and comedian. He has written for, and appeared in, television programmes and films. On British television, he is particularly associated with the comedy series Monty Python's Flying Circus (1969–74) and Fawlty Towers (1975–79). His films include Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1974), The Life of Brian (1979), A Fish Called Wanda (1988), Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (1994), Fierce Creatures (1997), which he also wrote and produced, the black comedy Parting Shots (1998), and Rat Race (2001). He has appeared in the James Bond (from 1999) and Harry Potter (from 2001) film series.

Cleese also wrote for, and appeared in, the satirical BBC television programmes That Was The Week That Was (1963) and The Frost Report (1966–67).