Monty Python, Fawlty Towers,
A Fish Called Wanda
Six foot tall at the age of 12, Cleese started making people laugh as a defense mechanism. This talent ultimately derailed Cleese's study of law at Cambridge, where he found greater pleasure and success writing and acting in several celebrated Footlight Productions. At Cambridge, Cleese first met Graham Chapman, and together the two penned a dozen pieces. Cleese's comic reputation flourished, and he was soon offered a position writing jokes for the BBC.
By 1969 Cleese was very big news indeed, receiving frequent offers from the BBC for his own headlining comedy series. Eventually this turned into the six-way grouping of Monty Python. The first to leave Python, Cleese has enjoyed tremendous success outside of the team, working on the comedy series "Fawlty Towers" and the commercially successful film "A Fish Called Wanda". Cleese was a key figure behind the Amnesty International concerts, and has appeared with the Muppets. He is currently working with the World Wildlife Fund in a campaign to protect the parrots of the Amazon in South America.
Looking back over his long career in comedy, Cleese notes that he has been a lot less prolific than many of his cohorts, but with someone who stands at the epicentre of both Monty Python and Fawlty Towers, the heights could never get higher.
Location: CA
Speaking Subjects:
Celebrity
Comedy
Creativity
Entertainment
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