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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
C-type colour print, 1990
NPG P622

John Cleese; Ronnie Corbett

by Unknown photographer
gelatin silver print, 1967
NPG x198496

Connie Booth; John Cleese

by Lewis Morley
bromide fibre print, 1968
NPG x38935

John Cleese; Connie Booth

by Lewis Morley
resin print, 1968
NPG x125165

John Cleese

by Lewis Morley
resin print, 1968
NPG x125167

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
R-type colour print, 1982
NPG x45078

John Cleese

by Wolfgang Suschitzky
gelatin silver print, 1988
NPG x200731

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Recent acquisition

How Britain Went Bonkers

by Coldwar Steve (Christopher Spencer), published by Time Magazine UK Ltd
colour offset lithograph magazine cover, published 17 June 2019
NPG D48909

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Recent acquisition

Related People

Connie Booth (wife)

Groups

Place

Somerset

Media

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John Cleese