John Cleese is an English actor, comedian, producer, screenwriter and writer. He is known for his work on screen and stage. He was a member of the comedy sketch group Monty Python. This is a filmography of his work which consists of about 180 various roles.
Film Year Title Role Notes 1968 Interlude TV Publicist The Bliss of Mrs. Blossom Post Office Clerk 1969 Mr. Dougdale Jones Uncredited 1970 Pumer Also writer 1971 And Now for Something Completely Different Various Roles The Statue Harry 1973 The Love Ban Contraceptives Lecturer 1974 Romance with a Double Bass Musician Smychkov Also writer 1975 Monty Python and the Holy Grail Various Roles 1976 Meetings, Bloody Meetings Manager / Various Roles 1977 Arthur Sherlock Holmes 1979 Monty Python's Life of Brian Various Roles 1981 Neville Cameo Time Bandits Gormless Robin Hood 1982 Privates on Parade Major Giles Flack Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl Various Roles Concert film; also writer 1983 Yellowbeard Harvey "Blind" Pew Monty Python's The Meaning of Life Various Roles Also writer 1985 Silverado Sherriff Langston 1986 Clockwise Mr. Stimpson 1988 Barrister Archie Leach Also writer and executive producer 1989 Erik the Viking Halfdan The Black The Big Picture The Bartender Cameo 1990 Bullseye! Man On The Beach Who Looks Like John Cleese 1991 An American Tail: Fievel Goes West Cat R. Waul Voice 1993 Splitting Heirs Raoul P. Shadgrind 1994 Mary Shelley's Frankenstein Professor Waldman The Jungle Book Dr. Julius Plumford Jean-Bob Voice 1996 Mr. Toad's Lawyer Cameo 1997 Fierce Creatures Rollo Lee Also writer and producer George of the Jungle Ape Voice 1998 In the Wild: Operation Lemur with John Cleese The Narrator Documentary 1999 Mr. Mersault R 2000 Isn't She Great Henry Marcus The Magic Pudding Albert The Magic Pudding Voice 2001 Quantum Project Alexander Pentcho Here's Looking at You: The Evolution of the Human Face The Narrator Documentary Rat Race Donald P. Sinclair Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone Nearly Headless Nick 2002 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Roberto Benigni's Pinocchio The Talking Cricket Voice; English dub Die Another Day Q James 2003 Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle Mr. Munday Scorched Charles Merchant George of the Jungle 2 Ape Voice 2004 Shrek 2 Harold Around the World in 80 Days Grizzled Sergeant 2005 Valiant Mercury Voice 2006 Charlotte's Web Samuel the Sheep Man About Town Dr. Primkin L'Entente Cordiale Lord Conrad French film 2007 Shrek the Third Harold Voice 2008 Igor Dr. Glickenstein Dr. Karl Barnhardt 2009 Chief-Inspector Charles Dreyfus Planet 51 Professor Kipple Voice 2010 Spud "The Guv" Edly Shrek Forever After Harold Voice 2011 Beethoven's Christmas Adventure The Narrator The Big Year Historical Montage Narrator Winnie the Pooh The Narrator 2012 God Loves Caviar McCormick A Liar's Autobiography David Frost / Various Roles Voices 2013 The Last Impresario Himself Documentary The Croods Story credit Spud 2: The Madness Continues "The Guv" Edly Planes Bulldog Voice 2014 Spud 3: Learning to Fly "The Guv" Edly 2015 Absolutely Anything Chief Alien Voice 2016 Get Squirrely Mr. Bellwood Albion: The Enchanted Stallion General Eeder Trolls King Gristle Sr. Voice 2018 Charming The Fairy Godmother Elliot the Littlest Reindeer Donner 2019 The Naked Wanderer Brian King Arctic Dogs Doc Walrus Voice 2020 The Very Excellent Mr. Dundee John 2021 Father Christmas Is Back John ChristmasClifford the Big Red Dog Mr. Bridwell 2022 Daddy Daughter Trip Frank 2023 Rally Road Racers Archie Vainglorious Voice The Palace Arthur William Dallas III The Martini Shot Dr. Auyeung
Television Year Title Role Notes 1962–1963 That Was the Week That Was Writer 1966–1967 The Frost Report Various Roles 28 episodes; also writer 1967 At Last the 1948 Show Various Roles 2 seasons; also writer 1968 How to Irritate People Various Roles Television film; also writer The Avengers Marcus Rugman 1 episode 1969–1974 Monty Python's Flying Circus Various Roles 40 episodes; also co-creator and writer 1971, 1974 Sez Les Various Roles 18 episodes 1972 Monty Python's Fliegender Zirkus Various Roles 2 episodes; also co-creator and writer 1973 The Goodies The Genie Episode: "The Goodies and the Beanstalk" Comedy Playhouse Sherlock Holmes Episode: "Elementary, My Dear Watson" 1975–1979 Fawlty Towers Basil Fawlty 12 episodes; also co-creator and writer 1977 The Muppet Show Himself Episode: "John Cleese" 1979 Ripping Yarns Passer-By Episode: "Golden Gordon" To Norway, Home of Giants Norman Fearless Television film Doctor Who Art Gallery Visitor Cameo; City of Death Part 4 1980 The Taming of the Shrew Petruchio Television film Himself (Host) Television special 1982 Whoops Apocalypse Lacrobat 3 episodes 1987 Cheers Dr. Simon Finch-Royce Episode: "Simon Says" The Grand Knockout Tournament Himself Television special 1988 True Stories: Peace in our Time? Neville Chamberlain Television film 1993 Last of the Summer Wine Neighbour Episode: "Welcome to Earth" Dr. Seuss Video Classics The Narrator (voice) Episode: "Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are?" 1998 Monty Python Live at Aspen Himself Television special 1998, 2001 3rd Rock from the Sun Dr. Liam Neesam 4 episodes 1999 Casper & Mandrilaftalen Various Roles Episode #2.2 1999–2000 Mickey Mouse Works The Narrator (voice) 4 episodes 2001 The Human Face Himself (Host) 4 episodes; also writer 2002 Wednesday 9:30 (8:30 Central) "Red" Lansing 12 episodes 2003–2004 Will & Grace Lyle Finster 6 episodes 2004 Wine for the Confused Himself (host) Documentary; also writer 2008 Batteries Not Included Himself (host) 6 episodes We Are Most Amused Himself (host) Television special 2010 Entourage Himself Episode: "Lose Yourself" 2012–2013 Whitney Dr. Grant 2 episodes 2014 Over the Garden Wall Quincy Endicott / Adelaide (voices) 2 episodes 2018–2019 Hold the Sunset Phil 13 episodes 2018 Speechless Martin 2 episodes 2023 The Dinosaur Hour Himself (host) 8 episodes Himself 1 episode 2024 The Roast of John Cleese Himself Seven Network special
Theatre Year Title Role Notes 1965 Half a Sixpence Young Walsingham Broadway production 2005 Spamalot God (voice) 2014 Monty Python Live (Mostly) Various Roles Also writer 2017 Bang Bang! N/A Writer, adapting Georges Feydeau's Monsieur Chasse!
Video games Year Title Voice role Notes 1994 Monty Python's Complete Waste of Time Performer Video 1996 Monty Python & the Quest for the Holy Grail 1997 Monty Python's The Meaning of Life 1998 Starship Titanic The Bomb Credited as Kim Bread 2000 007 Racing R 007: The World Is Not Enough (Nintendo 64) 007: The World Is Not Enough (PlayStation) 2004 James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing Q Time Troopers Special Agent Wormold Trivial Pursuit: Unhinged History 2005 Jade Empire Sir Roderick Ponce Von Fontlebottom the Magnificent Bastard 2007 Shrek the Third King Harold 2010 Fable III Jasper 2012 Smart As The Narrator 2014 The Elder Scrolls Online Sir Cadwell 2015 The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited 2016 The Elder Scrolls Online: Gold Edition Payday 2 The Butler (Aldstone) 2017 Raid: World War II Control 2018 The Elder Scrolls Online: Summerset Sir Cadwell 2019 The Elder Scrolls Online: Elsweyr 2020 The Elder Scrolls Online: Greymoor 2021 The Elder Scrolls Online: Blackwood
Radio credits Year Title 1964–1973 I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again 1972 I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue
Discography Year Artist Album Role 2003 Mike Oldfield Tubular Bells 2003 Master of Ceremonies
Audiobooks (list only includes audiobooks in which Cleese is sole reader, not those in which he is part of a cast) Year Title 1997 The Inferno of Dante 1999 The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis 2006 Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are? by Dr. Seuss 2012The Comedy Greats by Russell Davies Tom Thumb 2016 So, Anyway... autobiography by John Cleese
Television advertisements Year Title Role 1970s Royal Mail Pirate / Sir Betty 1975 Texaco Himself 1978 Accurist 1980–1982 Sony 1981 Giroblauw (Netherlands) Interviewer 1982 Postbank (Netherlands) Himself EAC Multilist (Australia) Estate agent American Express Himself 1980s Compaq Planters Pretzels (Australia) 1986 Maxwell House 1988 Talking Pages Man who wants to marry Princess 1990–1991 Schweppes Himself 1991–1994 Magnavox 1992–1993 Talking Pages Colin 1993 Nestlé Milk Chocolate (Australia) Himself Cellnet Woman 1993–1995 Health Education Authority (Smoking Quitline) Himself 1996 Norwich Union Direct Tele Danmark (Denmark) 1998 Tostitos French chef Lexus Himself, voice only 1998–1999 Sainsbury's Himself 1999 Melba toast Artistdirect.com 2001 007: Agent Under Fire R 2001–2008 Titleist Ian MacCallister 2002 Little Tikes Himself Heineken 2003 Westinghouse Unplugged vacuum cleaner 2005 Intel 2006 TBS TV Spielfilm (Germany) 2006–2008 Kaupþing (Iceland) 2008 Bank Zachodni WBK (Poland) 2009 Elgiganten (Sweden) Hashahar Ha'oleh (Israel) Western general Accurist Himself 2010 William Hill (Austria) 2010–2011 AA 2011 Dogtober (Australia) Himself, voice only 2012 Czech Olympic Team (Czech Republic) Himself DirecTV Canadian Club (Australia) Himself, voice only 2015 Specsavers Basil Fawlty
Notes
References
External links
John Cleese at the BBC Guide to Comedy
Podcast to celebrate The Life of Brian (March 2008) Daily Llama: John Cleese Visits Lemurs at San Francisco Zoo John Cleese Speaking at the American School in London A Conversation with John Cleese at Cornell University (September 2017)