John Cleese

Career timeline

1. 1939 · Born

   Born in Weston-Super-Mare, Somerset, England, UK

2. 1961 · Screen debut

   The Avengers (TV)

3. 1971 · Writing debut

   And Now for Something Completely Different (Movie)

4. 1997 · First production

   Fierce Creatures (Movie)

5. 2001 · Breakthrough

   Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (Movie)

6. 2021 · Latest release

   Clifford the Big Red Dog (Movie)

Career in numbers

7 1960s

11 1970s

14 1980s

14 1990s

24 2000s

18 2010s

2 2020s

• Comedy71
• Adventure29
• Family29
• Animation23
• Fantasy15
• Drama10

Highest-rated title Over the Garden Wall 2014 8.6 Most popular title Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone 2001 7.9

Frequent collaborators

People who appear most often alongside John Cleese in our catalogue.

Michael Palin

17 titles together

Eric Idle

13 titles together

Graham Chapman

10 titles together

Terry Jones

8 titles together

Terry Gilliam

8 titles together

Carol Cleveland

6 titles together

Cameron Diaz

5 titles together

Eddie Murphy

4 titles together

Mike Myers

4 titles together

Wayne Allwine

4 titles together

1. 2021 Clifford the Big Red Dog as Bridwell 7.1 Movie
2. 2019 Arctic Dogs as Otto von Walrus (voice) 5.9 Movie
3. 2018 Charming as Fairy Godmother / Executioner (voice) 6.3 Movie
4. 2018 Hold the Sunset as Phil TV
5. 2016 Trolls as Roi Gristle (voice) 6.6 Movie
6. 2016 Speechless as Martin 6.9 TV
7. 2015 Absolutely Anything as Chief Alien (voice) 5.9 Movie
8. 2014 Over the Garden Wall as Adelaide (voice) 8.6 TV
9. 2014 Monty Python Live (Mostly) as Self, others 7.1 Movie
10. 2014 The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon as Self 5.8 TV
11. 2013 Planes as Bulldog (voice) 5.9 Movie
12. 2012 A Liar's Autobiography: The Untrue Story of Monty Python's Graham Chapman as Various (voice) 5.9 Movie
13. 2011 The Big Year as Historical Montage Narrator (voice) 6.0 Movie
14. 2011 Beethoven's Christmas Adventure as Narrator 6.0 Movie
15. 2011 Whitney as Dr. Grant 5.2 TV
16. 2011 Mini Adventures of Winnie the Pooh as Narrator (voice) TV
17. 2011 Winnie the Pooh as Narrator (voice) 6.9 Movie
18. 2010 Shrek Forever After as King Harold (voice) 6.4 Movie
19. 2009 Planet 51 as Professor Kipple (voice) 5.9 Movie
20. 2009 The Pink Panther 2 as Dreyfus 5.7 Movie
21. 2008 The Day the Earth Stood Still as Professor Barnhardt 5.7 Movie
22. 2008 Igor as Dr. Glickenstein (voice) 6.1 Movie
23. 2008 Monty Python: Before the Flying Circus as Self Movie
24. 2008 Marty Feldman: Six Degrees of Separation as Self Movie
25. 2007 Shrek the Third as King Harold (voice) 6.3 Movie
26. 2006 Charlotte's Web as Samuel the Sheep (voice) 6.2 Movie
27. 2005 Valiant as Mercury (voice) 5.7 Movie
28. 2004 Entourage as John Cleese 7.4 TV
29. 2004 Around the World in 80 Days as Grizzled Sergeant 6.0 Movie
30. 2004 Shrek 2 as King Harold (voice) 7.3 Movie
31. 2003 George of the Jungle 2 as An Ape Named 'Ape' (voice) 4.5 Movie
32. 2003 Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle as Mr. Munday 5.5 Movie
33. 2003 Scorched as Charles Merchant 5.5 Movie
34. 2002 Die Another Day as Q 6.0 Movie
35. 2002 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets as Nearly Headless Nick (Sir Nicholas) 7.7 Movie
36. 2002 Mickey's House of Villains as Narrator (“Mickey's Mechanical House") (uncredited) 7.3 Movie
37. 2002 The Adventures of Pluto Nash as James 4.4 Movie
38. 2001 Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone as Nearly Headless Nick 7.9 Movie
39. 2001 Mickey's Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of Mouse as Narrator (segment 'The Nutcracker') (voice) 7.0 Movie
40. 2001 Rat Race as Donald P. Sinclair 6.3 Movie
41. 2001 Disney's House of Mouse 7.7 TV
42. 2000 Quantum Project as Alexander Pentcho Movie
43. 1999 The World Is Not Enough as R 6.3 Movie
44. 1999 The Nutcracker as Narrator Movie
45. 1999 Mickey Mouse Works as Narrator (voice) TV
46. 1999 The Out-of-Towners as Mr. Mersault 5.8 Movie
47. 1998 Will & Grace as Lyle Finster (uncredited) 6.9 TV
48. 1997 George of the Jungle as An Ape Named 'Ape' (voice) 5.7 Movie
49. 1997 Fierce Creatures as Rollo Lee 6.2 Movie
50. 1996 TFI Friday TV
51. 1996 3rd Rock from the Sun as Dr. Liam Neesam 7.5 TV
52. 1994 The Jungle Book as Dr. Julius Plumford 6.0 Movie
53. 1994 The Swan Princess as Jean-Bob (voice) 6.7 Movie
54. 1994 Mary Shelley's Frankenstein as Prof. Waldman 6.4 Movie
55. 1991 An American Tail: Fievel Goes West as Cat R. Waul (voice) 6.3 Movie
56. 1990 Life of Python as Himself / Various Roles (also archive footage) Movie
57. 1989 Erik the Viking as Halfdan the Black 5.9 Movie
58. 1989 Teams from Hell Movie
59. 1989 Interviewers From Hell Movie
60. 1989 Communicators From Hell as Brian Movie
61. 1989 Bosses From Hell as Brian Movie
62. 1988 A Fish Called Wanda as Archie Leach 7.2 Movie
63. 1986 Clockwise as Brian Stimpson 6.3 Movie
64. 1985 Silverado as Sheriff John T. Langston 6.9 Movie
65. 1983 Yellowbeard as Harvey 'Blind' Pew 5.6 Movie
66. 1983 Monty Python's The Meaning of Life as Various Roles 7.3 Movie
67. 1982 Cheers as Dr. Simon Finch-Royce 7.6 TV
68. 1982 Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl as Various Roles 7.4 Movie
69. 1981 Time Bandits as Robin Hood 6.6 Movie
70. 1981 The Great Muppet Caper as Neville 6.9 Movie
71. 1979 Not the Nine O'Clock News 7.3 TV
72. 1979 Life of Brian as Wise Man #1 / Reg / Jewish Official / First Centurion / Deadly Dirk / Arthur 7.8 Movie
73. 1978 The South Bank Show TV
74. 1977 Three Piece Suite as Kevin (segment "Every Day in Every Way") TV
75. 1976 The Muppet Show as Self - Special Guest Star 8.0 TV
76. 1976 Ripping Yarns 7.7 TV
77. 1975 Fawlty Towers as Basil Fawlty 8.3 TV
78. 1975 Monty Python and the Holy Grail as Second Swallow-Savvy Guard / The Black Knight / Peasant 3 / Sir Launcelot the Brave / Taunting French Guard / Tim the Enchanter 7.8 Movie
79. 1971 And Now for Something Completely Different 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 Co 7.2 Movie
80. 1969 Monty Python's Flying Circus as Various / Announcer 8.3 TV
81. 1969 How to Irritate People as Himself - Various 6.7 Movie
82. 1968 Interlude as Television public relations man Movie
83. 1967 Omnibus as Self TV
84. 1963 Doctor Who as Art Gallery Visitor 7.9 TV
85. 1961 The Avengers as Marcus Rugman 7.8 TV

1. 2013 The Croods 7.0 Movie
2. 1988 A Fish Called Wanda 7.2 Movie

1. 2014 Monty Python Live (Mostly) 7.1 Movie
2. 1982 Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl 7.4 Movie
3. 1975 Fawlty Towers 8.3 TV
4. 1975 Monty Python and the Holy Grail 7.8 Movie
5. 1971 The Two Ronnies 7.8 TV
6. 1969 How to Irritate People 6.7 Movie
7. 1962 That Was the Week That Was TV

1. 1997 Fierce Creatures 6.2 Movie
2. 1988 A Fish Called Wanda 7.2 Movie
3. 1983 Monty Python's The Meaning of Life 7.3 Movie
4. 1979 Life of Brian 7.8 Movie
5. 1971 And Now for Something Completely Different 7.2 Movie

1. 2021 The Croods: Family Tree 7.2 TV
2. 1976 The Secret Policeman's Ball TV
3. 1975 Fawlty Towers 8.3 TV

1. 1997 Fierce Creatures 6.2 Movie

1. 1988 A Fish Called Wanda 7.2 Movie

Photos

Quick facts