John Cleese: Difference between revisions

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|job title      = Actor
|job title      = Actor
|story          = ''[[City of Death (TV story)|City of Death]]''
|story          = ''[[City of Death (TV story)|City of Death]]''
|time          =  
|time          = 1979
|non dwu        =  
|non dwu        =  
|imdb          = 0000092
|imdb          = 0000092
|official site  = www.thejohncleese.com/
|official site  = www.thejohncleese.com/
|twitter        = johncleese
|twitter        = johncleese
}}{{NOTOC}}
}}{{NOTOC}}{{you may|John Cleese (in-universe)|n1=his DWU counterpart}}
'''John Cleese''' (born [[27 October (people)|27 October]] [[1939 (people)|1939]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/montypython/status/791588849461911552|title=Happy Birthday @JohnCleese!|author=Monty Python|website name=Twitter|accessdate=6 November 2016}}</ref>) played an [[Male art lover (City of Death)|art gallery visitor]] in the ''[[Doctor Who]]'' story ''[[City of Death (TV story)|City of Death]]''.
'''John Cleese''' (born [[27 October (people)|27 October]] [[1939 (people)|1939]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/montypython/status/791588849461911552|title=Happy Birthday @JohnCleese!|author=Monty Python|website name=Twitter|accessdate=6 November 2016}}</ref>) played an [[Male art lover (City of Death)|art gallery visitor]] in the ''[[Doctor Who]]'' television story ''[[City of Death (TV story)|City of Death]],'' under the pseudonym of Kim Bread.<ref name=":0">''[[DWMSE 9]]''</ref>


During filming for ''City of Death'', Cleese and [[Tom Baker]] filmed a short spoof on the story's Louvre set for BBC's in-house Christmas tape. The sketch, in which Cleese asks Baker for an autograph for his godson, is available as an Easter egg on the story's DVD.
During filming for ''City of Death'', Cleese and [[Tom Baker]] filmed a short spoof on the story's Louvre set for BBC's in-house Christmas tape. The sketch, in which Cleese asks Baker to autograph a ''Doctor Who'' [[photograph]] for his blind godson (it turns out Cleese hasn't got a pen, but he tells Baker "Oh, never mind — I'll tell him you signed it"), is available as an Easter egg on the story's DVD.
 
The pseudonym was used (as was one for [[Eleanor Bron]]) on the production at the suggestion of John himself. Having suggested it to [[Graham Williams]] in the hopes of keeping the appearance devoid of publicity, Williams agreed and formally requested the pseudonymous credit on [[17 May (production)|17 May]] [[1979 (production)|1979]].<ref name=":0" />


== Career ==
== Career ==
Best known for his work on ''[[Monty Python|Monty Python's Flying Circus]]'' (a series to which [[Douglas Adams]] also contributed), Cleese moved on from Python to star as [[Basil Fawlty]] in the classic sitcom ''[[Fawlty Towers]]'' (which was in production around the time of his ''Doctor Who'' appearance), and in the 1980s established himself as an acclaimed character actor, with roles ranging from the dramatic, as in the western {{wi|Silverado}}, to the comic, such as his [[Emmy Award]]-winning turn on {{wi|Cheers}}. His writing has also been acclaimed, most notably when he got an Oscar nod for his {{wi|A Fish Called Wanda}} script.
Best known for his work on ''[[Monty Python|Monty Python's Flying Circus]]'' with [[Michael Palin]] (a series to which [[Douglas Adams]] also contributed), Cleese moved on from Python to star as [[Basil Fawlty]] in the classic sitcom ''[[Fawlty Towers]]'' (production of which had been affected by BBC industrial action around the time of his ''Doctor Who'' appearance) along with [[Andrew Sachs]] and [[Brian Hall]], and in the 1980s established himself as an acclaimed character actor, with roles ranging from the dramatic, as in the western {{wi|Silverado}}, to the comic, such as his [[Emmy Award]]-winning turn on {{wi|Cheers}}. His writing has also been acclaimed, most notably when he got an Oscar nod for his {{wi|A Fish Called Wanda}} script.


From 1999-2003 he was part of the [[James Bond]] film franchise as {{iw|jamesbond|Q}}, appearing in 1999's ''{{iw|jamesbond|The World Is Not Enough}}'' and 2002's ''{{iw|jamesbond|Die Another Day}}''. He also had a recurring role in the [[Harry Potter]] films as {{iw|harrypotter|Nearly Headless Nick}}.
From 1999-2003 he was part of the [[James Bond]] film franchise as {{iw|jamesbond|Q}}, appearing in 1999's ''{{iw|jamesbond|The World Is Not Enough}}'' and 2002's ''{{iw|jamesbond|Die Another Day}}''. He also had a recurring role in the [[Harry Potter]] films as {{iw|harrypotter|Nearly Headless Nick}}.


Although most of the Monty Python team have been rumoured to be considered for the role of the Doctor, Cleese remains {{as of|2015|lc=y}} the only one to actually appear on the series.
Although most of his fellow Monty Python team members (or Pythons) have been rumoured to be considered for the role of the Doctor, and fellow Python, Michael Palin, narrated the Big Finish ''[[Torchwood - Monthly Range]]'' audio story ''[[Tropical Beach Sounds and Other Relaxing Seascapes 4 (audio story)|Tropical Beach Sounds and Other Relaxing Seascapes 4]]'', Cleese remains the only Python to have appeared in a TV story {{as of|2020|lc=y}}.


== In the Doctor Who universe ==
== In the DWU ==
John Cleese was referenced by name in the novel ''[[Timeless (novel)|Timeless]]'' in connection to one of his ''[[Monty Python]]'' sketches set in a chemist's shop. In the novel ''[[Spiral Scratch (novel)|Spiral Scratch]]'', the [[Sixth Doctor]] said that "John and Connie" (Booth) were good friends of his, justifying his immediate recognition of a ''Fawlty Towers'' quote. In the comic story ''[[TV Action!]]'', [[Beep the Meep]] visited another universe and hypnotised a number of 1970s light-entertainment stars, including Cleese and his ''Fawlty Towers'' co-star [[Prunella Scales]].
[[John Cleese (in-universe)|John Cleese]] was referenced by name in the novel ''[[Timeless (novel)|Timeless]]'' in connection to one of his ''[[Monty Python]]'' sketches set in a chemist's shop. In the novel ''[[Spiral Scratch (novel)|Spiral Scratch]]'', the [[Sixth Doctor]] said that "John and Connie" (Booth) were good friends of his, justifying his immediate recognition of a ''Fawlty Towers'' quote. In the comic story ''[[TV Action!]]'', [[Beep the Meep]] visited another universe and hypnotised a number of 1970s light-entertainment stars, including Cleese and his ''Fawlty Towers'' co-star [[Prunella Scales]].


== External links ==
== External links ==
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Latest revision as of 20:46, 3 November 2024

RealWorld.png

You may be looking for his DWU counterpart.

John Cleese (born 27 October 1939[1]) played an art gallery visitor in the Doctor Who television story City of Death, under the pseudonym of Kim Bread.[2]

During filming for City of Death, Cleese and Tom Baker filmed a short spoof on the story's Louvre set for BBC's in-house Christmas tape. The sketch, in which Cleese asks Baker to autograph a Doctor Who photograph for his blind godson (it turns out Cleese hasn't got a pen, but he tells Baker "Oh, never mind — I'll tell him you signed it"), is available as an Easter egg on the story's DVD.

The pseudonym was used (as was one for Eleanor Bron) on the production at the suggestion of John himself. Having suggested it to Graham Williams in the hopes of keeping the appearance devoid of publicity, Williams agreed and formally requested the pseudonymous credit on 17 May 1979.[2]

Career[[edit] | [edit source]]

Best known for his work on Monty Python's Flying Circus with Michael Palin (a series to which Douglas Adams also contributed), Cleese moved on from Python to star as Basil Fawlty in the classic sitcom Fawlty Towers (production of which had been affected by BBC industrial action around the time of his Doctor Who appearance) along with Andrew Sachs and Brian Hall, and in the 1980s established himself as an acclaimed character actor, with roles ranging from the dramatic, as in the western Silverado, to the comic, such as his Emmy Award-winning turn on Cheers. His writing has also been acclaimed, most notably when he got an Oscar nod for his A Fish Called Wanda script.

From 1999-2003 he was part of the James Bond film franchise as Q, appearing in 1999's The World Is Not Enough and 2002's Die Another Day. He also had a recurring role in the Harry Potter films as Nearly Headless Nick.

Although most of his fellow Monty Python team members (or Pythons) have been rumoured to be considered for the role of the Doctor, and fellow Python, Michael Palin, narrated the Big Finish Torchwood - Monthly Range audio story Tropical Beach Sounds and Other Relaxing Seascapes 4, Cleese remains the only Python to have appeared in a TV story as of 2020.

In the DWU[[edit] | [edit source]]

John Cleese was referenced by name in the novel Timeless in connection to one of his Monty Python sketches set in a chemist's shop. In the novel Spiral Scratch, the Sixth Doctor said that "John and Connie" (Booth) were good friends of his, justifying his immediate recognition of a Fawlty Towers quote. In the comic story TV Action!, Beep the Meep visited another universe and hypnotised a number of 1970s light-entertainment stars, including Cleese and his Fawlty Towers co-star Prunella Scales.

External links[[edit] | [edit source]]

Footnotes[[edit] | [edit source]]

  1. Monty Python. Happy Birthday @JohnCleese!. Twitter. Retrieved on 6 November 2016.
  2. 2.0 2.1 DWMSE 9