John Cleese: podcast appearances and interviews

John Marwood Cleese, born on 27 October 1939, is an English actor, comedian, screenwriter, producer, and presenter. Emerging from the Cambridge Footlights in the 1960s, he gained early recognition at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and as a scriptwriter and performer on The Frost Report. Cleese co-founded Monty Python, a comedy troupe responsible for the sketch show Monty Python's Flying Circus. He starred alongside his Python colleagues Graham Chapman, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, and Michael Palin in films such as Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Life of Brian, and The Meaning of Life. Along with his first wife Connie Booth, Cleese co-wrote and starred in the sitcom Fawlty Towers, portraying hotel owner Basil Fawlty. The show earned him the British Academy Television Award for Best Entertainment Performance and was later recognized as one of the greatest British TV programmes. He wrote and starred in the comedy film A Fish Called Wanda, receiving nominations for various awards, and its sequel Fierce Creatures. Cleese has appeared in numerous films and franchise roles, including parts in James Bond films, Harry Potter series, and Shrek films. He has been recognized with a Primetime Emmy Award for his guest role in Cheers and nominations for other television performances. Cleese is known for his work in political and religious satire, black comedy, sketch comedy, and surreal humour. He cofounded Video Arts, producing entertaining training films, and has been involved in benefit shows for Amnesty International. Although a former supporter of the Liberal Democrats, Cleese declined a life peerage nomination in 1999.