Born in Weston-Super-Mare, Somerset, England; educated at Downing College, Cambridge (law). Tall (6'4¾") and jut-jawed, Cleese began his comedy career with the Cambridge Circus, and met both Connie Booth (whom he would later marry -- 1968-1978; their daughter is actress Cynthia Cleese) and Terry Gilliam (a future co-member of Monty Python's Flying Circus) while on tour with the student revue group in the US. On returning to England, Cleese landed a job writing for TV's "The Frost Report" before becoming a member of the Monty Python team. Possibly the best-known of the Pythons, he also enjoyed considerable success with the TV series "Fawlty Towers," co-written by Booth. During a 20 Questions interview with Playboy magazine, Cleese spun a wild yarn about his ancestors being named "Cheese". Couple this with the fact that close friends call him Jack (a common alternative for John), Cleese joked that he might go back to his old "family" name and move to Monterey, CA, thus becoming Monterey Jack Cheese. In fact, though, his grandfather's name was Cheese and he did change it to Cleese when he joined the British army in 1915. His other film writing credits include THE MAGIC CHRISTIAN (1969 - additional material), THE RISE AND FALL OF MICHAEL RIMMER (1970), AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT (1971), ROMANCE WITH A DOUBLE BASS (1974), MONTY PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL (1975), THE STRANGE CASE OF THE END OF CIVILIZATION AS WE KNOW IT (1977), LIFE OF BRIAN (1979), MONTY PYTHON'S THE MEANING OF LIFE (1983), FIERCE CREATURES (1997), and CROOD AWAKENING (scheduled for 2009). Who's Who lists his recreations as "gluttony, sloth." Cleese is also founder of Video Arts Ltd., a company specializing in witty training films. He is co-owner of the Christine Schell Fine Objects antique shop in Montecito, CA.    Nominated for Achievement in Writing (Screenplay written directly for the screen) 1988: A FISH CALLED WANDA (w. Charles Crichton) 1 nomination