John Cleese Biography

Fast Facts

• Donated money alongside Python Michael Palin to have his name engraved in stone in the courtyard of the reconstructed Globe Theatre in London, and later admitted to paying extra to have Palin's name misspelled
• Claims to have a passion for lemurs and reportedly donated proceeds from the London premiere of "Fierce Creatures" to the Betampona Reserve in Madagascar to help reintroduce the animal into the wild
• Won a BAFTA Award in in 1989 for Best Actor for his performance in "A Fish Called Wanda․"
• Graduated from Cambridge University in 1963
• Began his career at the Cambridge University comedy club, where he also met future writing partner, actor Graham Chapman
• Played cricket for Clifton College
• Quote: "It's very important for me that my friends have a sense of humor․ To me it's the kind of touchstone of communication․"
• Quote: "I don't want to have to start being unselfish again․ The great thing about being on your own is you do what you damn well like․"
• Gained widespread prominence after being approached by BBC to formulate a television series that would later be called "Monty Python," which ran from 1969 to 1974
• Co-founded the production company Video Arts
• His grandfather decided to change the family's surname from Cheese to Cleese after finding the name too embarrassing before enlisting in the Army
• Reportedly turned down the British Honor of Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1996
• Served as a rector for the University of St Andrews
• Published his autobiography "So, Anyway" in 2014
• Co-authored the "Superman: True Brit" graphic novel released in 2004
• Taught Latin and history before attending college
• Voices the character Sir Roderick in the 2005 video game "Jade Empire․"