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John Cleese

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John Cleese is a famous English actor and comedian.

John Cleese 2008 bigger crop
John Cleese 2008 bigger crop

He has spent his life making people laugh through many different ways. He works as an actor, a writer, and even a producer. He is known for many styles of humor. These include sketch comedy, which uses short funny scenes, and surreal humor. He also uses satire to poke fun at politics and religion. People have even voted him the second best comedian ever in a poll.

Monty Python Graffiti Leicester
Monty Python Graffiti Leicester

Cleese learned how to be funny at a club called the Cambridge Footlights. He went to Downing College, Cambridge, to study law. While he was there, he met his future writing partner, Graham Chapman. Cleese once said he joined the club because he could make people laugh. He worked on many shows like the Footlights Revue. These shows were so popular they toured in places like New Zealand and Broadway. He also worked on a radio series called I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again. This show ran for many years from 1965 to 1974.

In the late 1960s, Cleese helped start a famous comedy group. This group was called Monty Python. They created a silly television show called Monty Python's Flying Circus.

Monty Python Live 02-07-14 13 00 13 (14415341590)
Monty Python Live 02-07-14 13 00 13 (14415341590)

Cleese worked with other stars like Eric Idle and Terry Jones. He often played two types of characters. Sometimes he was a very serious person, like a government official. Other times he was a silly person, like the man with the dead parrot. He even used a famous line about something "completely different."

Cleese also became very famous for a TV show called Fawlty Towers. He wrote the show with his wife, Connie Booth.

John Cleese at 1989 Oscars
John Cleese at 1989 Oscars

In the show, he played a hotel owner named Basil Fawlty. This role won him a British Academy Television Award in 1980. Many people think Basil is one of the best TV characters ever made. Cleese also wrote and starred in the movie A Fish Called Wanda. This movie earned him many big awards, including nominations for an Academy Award. He has also been in many other famous films.

Many people know Cleese from big movie series. He played a ghost named Nearly Headless Nick in the Harry Potter films.

Monty Python O2 Arena
Monty Python O2 Arena

He also had roles in the Shrek movies from 2004 to 2010. He appeared in the James Bond films, The World Is Not Enough and Die Another Day. Cleese even helped people through his work with a company called Video Arts. He helped raise money for human rights through special shows. His long career shows how much he loves to entertain the world.

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File:Monty Python Live 02-07-14 13 00 13 (14415341590).jpg
Monty Python Live 02-07-14 13 00 13...
File:John Cleese at 1989 Oscars.jpg
John Cleese at 1989 Oscars.jpg
File:John Cleese 2008 bigger crop.jpg
John Cleese 2008 bigger crop.jpg
File:Monty Python O2 Arena.jpg
Monty Python O2 Arena.jpg
File:Monty Python Graffiti Leicester.jpg
Monty Python Graffiti Leicester.jpg
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