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John Cleese

(1939-), Comedian and actor

Sitter in 9 portraits
Internationally admired as an outstanding writer and performer of comedy, Cleese rose to fame as a member of Monty Python's Flying Circus (1969-74) and consolidated his status as a leader of British television comedy with Fawlty Towers (1975, 1978). His film appearances have included Clockwise (1986) and A Fish Called Wanda (1988).

Watch a film clip on the sitter from the BBC Archive in the Media section below

Watch Paul Merton talking about John Cleese in the Media section below

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John Cleese, by Annie Leibovitz - NPG P622

John Cleese

by Annie Leibovitz
C-type colour print, 1990
NPG P622

John Cleese; Ronnie Corbett, by Unknown photographer - NPG x198496

John Cleese; Ronnie Corbett

by Unknown photographer
gelatin silver print, 1967
NPG x198496

Connie Booth; John Cleese, by Lewis Morley - NPG x38935

Connie Booth; John Cleese

by Lewis Morley
bromide fibre print, 1968
NPG x38935

John Cleese; Connie Booth, by Lewis Morley - NPG x125165

John Cleese; Connie Booth

by Lewis Morley
resin print, 1968
NPG x125165

John Cleese, by Lewis Morley - NPG x125167

John Cleese

by Lewis Morley
resin print, 1968
NPG x125167

John Cleese; Peter Cook; Rowan Atkinson, by Neil Libbert - NPG x199191

John Cleese; Peter Cook; Rowan Atkinson

by Neil Libbert
digital print, June 1979
NPG x199191

Monty Python group (John Cleese; Terry Gilliam; Graham Chapman; Eric Idle; Michael Palin; Terry Jones), by David Appleby - NPG x45078

Monty Python group (John Cleese; Terry Gilliam; Graham Chapman; Eric Idle; Michael Palin; Terry Jones)

by David Appleby
R-type colour print, 1982
NPG x45078

John Cleese, by Wolfgang Suschitzky - NPG x200731

John Cleese

by Wolfgang Suschitzky
gelatin silver print, 1988
NPG x200731

How Britain Went Bonkers, by Coldwar Steve (Christopher Spencer), published by Time Magazine UK Ltd - NPG D48909

How Britain Went Bonkers

by Coldwar Steve (Christopher Spencer), published by Time Magazine UK Ltd
colour offset lithograph magazine cover, published 17 June 2019
On display in Room 16 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG D48909

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