What can be said about John Cleese, the man that co-founded Monty Python, helped usher in a new era of comedy with his work on the genre-defining sketch comedy series Monty Python’s Flying Circus and co-wrote and co-starred in Monty Python and the Holy Grail—a film that still consistently tops lists of the funniest films of all-time half-a-century after its initial release? Well, quite a lot, actually!

Cleese continued his legacy of impressing audiences across the globe by writing and starring in the celebrated film A Fish Called Wanda as well as the legendary BBC series Fawlty Towers. In addition to fan-favorite roles in the James Bond, Harry Potter, and Shrek franchises, Cleese's film credits include Silverado, The Out-of-Towners, Rat Race, and Kenneth Branagh’s Frankenstein. On the small screen, John Cleese is also known for his work on programs such as Cheers, 3rd Rock from the Sun, Will & Grace, and the Emmy®-nominated TLC documentary The Human Face with John Cleese. 

John Cleese also co-authored two best-selling books on psychology—Families and How to Survive Them and Life and How to Survive It—and served briefly as Minister of Defense in the John Major Cabinet. His autobiography, So, Anyway… was described by the Daily Mail as “self-obsessed”, and he most recently penned the popular Creativity: A Short and Cheerful Guide. In his twilight years, Cleese passes his time writing film scripts, giving speeches to business audiences, doing seminars on creativity, teaching at Cornell, paying alimony, and doting on three huge cats and a fish.

Grant funding has been provided by the Middlesex County Board of County Commissioners through a grant award from the Middlesex County Cultural and Arts Trust Fund. For information on events, go to MiddlesexCountyCulture.com