John Cleese on screen and stage

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.

John Cleese in 2008

Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1968 Interlude TV Publicist
The Bliss of Mrs. Blossom Post Office Clerk
1969 The Magic Christian Mr. Dougdale (director in Sotheby's)
The Best House in London Jones Uncredited
1970 The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer Pummer Also writer
1971 And Now for Something Completely Different Various roles
The Statue Harry
1973 The Love Ban Sex Therapist
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 The Strange Case of the End of Civilization as We Know It Arthur Sherlock Holmes
1979 Monty Python's Life of Brian Various roles
1981 The Great Muppet Caper 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 Langston
1986 Clockwise Mr. Stimpson
1988 A Fish Called Wanda Barrister Archie Leach Also writer and executive producer
1989 Erik the Viking Halfdan the Black
The Big Picture 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
The Swan Princess Jean-Bob Voice
1996 The Wind in the Willows 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 Narrator Documentary
1999 The Out-of-Towners Mr. Mersault
The World Is Not Enough 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 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
The Adventures of Pluto Nash James
2003 Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle Mr. Munday
Scorched Charles Merchant
George of the Jungle 2 Ape Voice
2004 Shrek 2 King 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
2007 Shrek the Third King Harold Voice
2008 Igor Dr. Glickenstein
The Day the Earth Stood Still Dr. Barnhardt
2009 The Pink Panther 2 Chief-Inspector Charles Dreyfus
Planet 51 Professor Kipple Voice
2010 Spud The Guv
Shrek Forever After King Harold Voice
2011 Beethoven's Christmas Adventure Narrator
The Big Year Historical Montage Narrator
Winnie the Pooh 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
Planes Bulldog Voice
2014 Spud 3: Learning to Fly The Guv
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 Christmas[1]
Clifford 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

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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 2 seasons; also writer
1968 How to Irritate People 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 18 episodes
1972 Monty Python's Fliegender Zirkus 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
The Secret Policeman's Ball 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 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
2001 The Human Face Himself (host) 4 episodes; also writer
2002 Wednesday 9:30 (8:30 Central) Red Lansing 12 episodes
Disney's House of Mouse Narrator (voice) 4 episodes
2003–2004 Will & Grace Lyle Finster 6 episodes
2004 Wine for the Confused Himself (host) Documentary; also writer
2008 Batteries Not Included 6 episodes
We Are Most Amused Television special
2010 Entourage Himself Episode: "Lose Yourself"
2012–2013 Whitney Dr. Grant 2 episodes
2014 Over the Garden Wall Quincy Endicott / Adelaide (voices)
2018–2019 Hold the Sunset[note 1][3] Phil 13 episodes
2018 Speechless Martin 2 episodes
2023 LOL: Last One Laughing [de] Himself 1 episode

Theatre

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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

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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
2007 Shrek the Third King Harold
2010 Fable III Jasper
2012 Smart As The Narrator[4]
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)[5]
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

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Year Title
1964–1973 I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again
1972 I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue

Audiobooks

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(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
2012 The Comedy Greats by Russell Davies
Tom Thumb
2016 So, Anyway... autobiography by John Cleese

Television advertisements

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Year Title Role
1970s Royal Mail Pirate / Sir Betty
1975 Texaco Himself
1978 Accurist
1980–82 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
1990–91 Schweppes Himself
1991–94 Magnavox
1992–93 Talking Pages Colin
1993 Nestlé Milk Chocolate (Australia) Himself
Cellnet Woman
1993–95 Health Education Authority (Smoking Quitline) Himself
1996 Norwich Union Direct
Tele Danmark (Denmark)
1998 Tostitos French chef
Lexus Himself, voice only
1998–99 Sainsbury's Himself
1999 Melba toast
Artistdirect.com
2001 007: Agent Under Fire R
2001–08 Titleist Ian MacCallister
2002 Little Tikes Himself
Heineken
2003 Westinghouse Unplugged vacuum cleaner
2005 Intel
2006 TBS
TV Spielfilm (Germany)
2006–08 Kaupþing (Iceland)
2008 Bank Zachodni WBK (Poland)
2009 Elgiganten (Sweden)
Hashahar Ha'oleh (Israel) Western general
Accurist Himself
2010 William Hill (Austria)
2010–11 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

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  1. ^ Previously named Edith[2]

References

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  1. ^ Wiseman, Andreas (9 November 2020). "'Father Christmas Is Back': First Trailer For Comedy Starring Elizabeth Hurley, John Cleese, Kelsey Grammer –AFM". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
  2. ^ "Edith". Archived from the original on 1 May 2017. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  3. ^ "Hold the Sunset". Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  4. ^ David Hinkle (14 August 2012). "John Cleese to crack wise in Smart As". Joystiq. Archived from the original on 25 May 2014. Retrieved 25 May 2014.
  5. ^ PAYDAY 2: Hoxton's Housewarming Party Trailer. Overkill Software. 6 October 2016. Archived from the original on 8 October 2016 – via YouTube.
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