John Cleese: Difference between revisions

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'''John Cleese''' (born [[27th October]] [[1939]]) played an art gallery visitor in ''[[City of Death]]'', written by [[Douglas Adams]]. Best known for his work on ''[[Monty Python's Big Red Book|Monty Python's Flying Circus]]'' (a series to which Adams also contributed), Cleese moved on from Python to star 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 (the western ''Silverado'') to award-winning comic roles (such as the hit film ''A Fish Called Wanda'' and an Emmy-winning appearance on ''Cheers''). In the 1990s he joined the James Bond film franchise as the new Q, most recently appearing in that role in ''Die Another Day'' (2002).
{{Infobox Person
|name          = John Cleese
|aka            = Kim Bread, John Cheese
|image          = John Cleese.jpg
|birth date    = [[27 October (people)|27 October]] [[1939 (people)|1939]]
|role          = [[Male art lover (City of Death)|Male art lover]]
|job title      = Actor
|story          = ''[[City of Death (TV story)|City of Death]]''
|time          = 1979
|non dwu        =
|imdb          = 0000092
|official site  = www.thejohncleese.com/
|twitter        = johncleese
}}{{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]]'' television story ''[[City of Death (TV story)|City of Death]],'' under the pseudonym of Kim Bread.<ref name=":0">''[[DWMSE 9]]''</ref>


At one point or another, every one of the Pythons (save American Terry Gilliam) were at one point mooted as potential lead actors for ''Doctor Who'' either on TV or in film. To date, Cleese remains the only one of them to actually appear on the series.
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.


==External links==
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" />
{{imdb name|id=0000092|name=John Cleese}}
 
[[Category:Doctor Who guest actors|Cleese, John]]
== Career ==
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}}.
 
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 DWU ==
[[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 ==
{{imdb name|id=0000092}}
{{official website|www.thejohncleese.com/}}
{{twitter|johncleese}}
* [http://www.triviatribute.com/johncleese.html John Cleese at TriviaTribute.com]
 
== Footnotes ==
{{reflist}}
{{NameSort}}
 
[[Category:Doctor Who guest actors]]
[[Category:BAFTA award winners]]
[[Category:Emmy Award winners]]
[[Category:Academy Award nominees]]
[[Category:Hugo award nominees]]
[[Category:Doctor Who actors that exist in the DWU]]
[[Category:Golden Globe Award nominees]]
[[Category:Grammy Award nominees]]
[[Category:VES award nominees]]

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
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