# List of John Cleese performances

John Cleese is an English actor, comedian, producer, screenwriter and writer. He is known for his work on screen and stage. He was a member of the comedy sketch group Monty Python. This is a filmography of his work which consists of about 180 various roles.

## Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1968 | Interlude | TV Publicist | |
| 1968 | The Bliss of Mrs. Blossom | Post Office Clerk | |
| 1969 | The Magic Christian | Mr. Dougdale (director in Sotheby's) | |
| 1969 | The Best House in London | Jones | Uncredited |
| 1970 | The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer | Pummer | Also writer |
| 1971 | And Now for Something Completely Different | Various roles | Also writer |
| 1971 | The Statue | Harry | |
| 1973 | The Love Ban | Sex Therapist | |
| 1974 | Romance with a Double Bass | Musician Smychkov | Also writer |
| 1975 | Monty Python and the Holy Grail | Various roles | Also writer |
| 1976 | Meetings, Bloody Meetings | Manager, various roles | Also writer |
| 1977 | The Strange Case of the End of Civilization as We Know It | Arthur Sherlock Holmes | Also writer |
| 1979 | Monty Python's Life of Brian | Various roles | Also writer |
| 1981 | The Great Muppet Caper | Neville | Cameo |
| 1981 | Time Bandits | Gormless Robin Hood | |
| 1982 | Privates on Parade | Major Giles Flack | |
| 1982 | Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl | Various roles | Concert film; also writer |
| 1983 | Yellowbeard | Harvey "Blind" Pew | |
| 1983 | Monty Python's The Meaning of Life | Various roles | Also writer |
| 1985 | Silverado | Langston | |
| 1986 | Clockwise | Mr. Stimpson | |
| 1988 | A Fish Called Wanda | Barrister Archie Leach | Also writer and executive producer |
| 1989 | Erik the Viking | Halfdan the Black | |
| 1989 | The Big Picture | Bartender | Cameo |
| 1990 | Bullseye! | Man on the Beach Who Looks Like John Cleese | Cameo |
| 1991 | An American Tail: Fievel Goes West | Cat R. Waul | Voice |
| 1993 | Splitting Heirs | Raoul P. Shadgrind | |
| 1994 | Mary Shelley's Frankenstein | Professor Waldman | |
| 1994 | The Jungle Book | Dr. Julius Plumford | |
| 1994 | The Swan Princess | Jean-Bob | Voice |
| 1996 | The Wind in the Willows | Mr. Toad's Lawyer | Cameo |
| 1997 | Fierce Creatures | Rollo Lee | Also writer and producer |
| 1997 | George of the Jungle | Ape | Voice |
| 1998 | In the Wild: Operation Lemur with John Cleese | Narrator | Documentary |
| 1999 | The Out-of-Towners | Mr. Mersault | |
| 1999 | The World Is Not Enough | R | |
| 2000 | Isn't She Great | Henry Marcus | |
| 2000 | The Magic Pudding | Albert The Magic Pudding | Voice |
| 2001 | Quantum Project | Alexander Pentcho | |
| 2001 | Here's Looking at You: The Evolution of the Human Face | Narrator | Documentary |
| 2001 | Rat Race | Donald P. Sinclair | |
| 2001 | Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone | Nearly Headless Nick | |
| 2002 | Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets | Nearly Headless Nick | |
| 2002 | Roberto Benigni's Pinocchio | The Talking Cricket | Voice; English dub |
| 2002 | Die Another Day | Q | |
| 2002 | The Adventures of Pluto Nash | James | |
| 2003 | Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle | Mr. Munday | |
| 2003 | Scorched | Charles Merchant | |
| 2003 | George of the Jungle 2 | Ape | Voice |
| 2004 | Shrek 2 | King Harold | Voice |
| 2004 | Around the World in 80 Days | Grizzled Sergeant | |
| 2005 | Valiant | Mercury | Voice |
| 2006 | Charlotte's Web | Samuel the Sheep | Voice |
| 2006 | Man About Town | Dr. Primkin | |
| 2006 | L'Entente Cordiale | Lord Conrad | French film |
| 2007 | Shrek the Third | King Harold | Voice |
| 2008 | Igor | Dr. Glickenstein | Voice |
| 2008 | The Day the Earth Stood Still | Dr. Barnhardt | |
| 2009 | The Pink Panther 2 | Chief-Inspector Charles Dreyfus | |
| 2009 | Planet 51 | Professor Kipple | Voice |
| 2010 | Spud | The Guv | |
| 2010 | Shrek Forever After | King Harold | Voice |
| 2011 | Beethoven's Christmas Adventure | Narrator | Voice |
| 2011 | The Big Year | Historical Montage Narrator | Voice |
| 2011 | Winnie the Pooh | Narrator | Voice |
| 2012 | God Loves Caviar | McCormick | |
| 2012 | A Liar's Autobiography | David Frost / Various roles | Voices |
| 2013 | The Last Impresario | Himself | Documentary |
| 2013 | The Croods | | Story credit |
| 2013 | Spud 2: The Madness Continues | The Guv | |
| 2013 | Planes | Bulldog | Voice |
| 2014 | Spud 3: Learning to Fly | The Guv | |
| 2015 | Absolutely Anything | Chief Alien | Voice |
| 2016 | Get Squirrely | Mr. Bellwood | Voice |
| 2016 | Albion: The Enchanted Stallion | General Eeder | |
| 2016 | Trolls | King Gristle Sr. | Voice |
| 2018 | Charming | The Fairy Godmother | Voice |
| 2018 | Elliot the Littlest Reindeer | Donner | Voice |
| 2019 | The Naked Wanderer | Brian King | |
| 2019 | Arctic Dogs | Doc Walrus | Voice |
| 2020 | The Very Excellent Mr. Dundee | John | |
| 2021 | Father Christmas Is Back | John Christmas | |
| 2021 | Clifford the Big Red Dog | Mr. Bridwell | |
| 2022 | Daddy Daughter Trip | Frank | |
| 2023 | Rally Road Racers | Archie Vainglorious | Voice |
| 2023 | The Palace | Arthur William Dallas III | |
| 2023 | The Martini Shot | Dr. Auyeung | |

## Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1962–1963 | That Was the Week That Was | | Writer |
| 1966–1967 | The Frost Report | Various roles | 28 episodes; also writer |
| 1967 | At Last the 1948 Show | Various roles | 2 seasons; also writer |
| 1968 | How to Irritate People | Various roles | Television film; also writer |
| 1968 | The Avengers | Marcus Rugman | 1 episode |
| 1969–1974 | Monty Python's Flying Circus | Various roles | 40 episodes; also co-creator and writer |
| 1971, 1974 | Sez Les | Various roles | 18 episodes |
| 1972 | Monty Python's Fliegender Zirkus | Various roles | 2 episodes; also co-creator and writer |
| 1973 | The Goodies | The Genie | Episode: "The Goodies and the Beanstalk" |
| 1973 | Comedy Playhouse | Sherlock Holmes | Episode: "Elementary, My Dear Watson" |
| 1975–1979 | Fawlty Towers | Basil Fawlty | 12 episodes; also co-creator and writer |
| 1977 | The Muppet Show | Himself | Episode: "John Cleese" |
| 1979 | Ripping Yarns | Passer-by | Episode: "Golden Gordon" |
| 1979 | To Norway, Home of Giants | Norman Fearless | Television film |
| 1979 | Doctor Who | Art Gallery Visitor | Cameo; City of Death Part 4 |
| 1980 | The Taming of the Shrew | Petruchio | Television film |
| 1980 | The Secret Policeman's Ball | Himself (host) | Television special |
| 1982 | Whoops Apocalypse | Lacrobat | 3 episodes |
| 1987 | Cheers | Dr. Simon Finch-Royce | Episode: "Simon Says" |
| 1987 | The Grand Knockout Tournament | Himself | Television special |
| 1988 | True Stories: Peace in our Time? | Neville Chamberlain | Television film |
| 1993 | Last of the Summer Wine | Neighbour | Episode: "Welcome to Earth" |
| 1993 | Dr. Seuss Video Classics | Narrator (voice) | Episode: "Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are?" |
| 1998 | Monty Python Live at Aspen | Himself | Television special |
| 1998, 2001 | 3rd Rock from the Sun | Dr. Liam Neesam | 4 episodes |
| 1999 | Casper & Mandrilaftalen | Various roles | Episode #2.2 |
| 2001 | The Human Face | Himself (host) | 4 episodes; also writer |
| 2002 | Wednesday 9:30 (8:30 Central) | Red Lansing | 12 episodes |
| 2002 | Disney's House of Mouse | Narrator (voice) | 4 episodes |
| 2003–2004 | Will & Grace | Lyle Finster | 6 episodes |
| 2004 | Wine for the Confused | Himself (host) | Documentary; also writer |
| 2008 | Batteries Not Included | Himself (host) | 6 episodes |
| 2008 | We Are Most Amused | Himself (host) | Television special |
| 2010 | Entourage | Himself | Episode: "Lose Yourself" |
| 2012–2013 | Whitney | Dr. Grant | 2 episodes |
| 2014 | Over the Garden Wall | Quincy Endicott / Adelaide (voices) | 2 episodes |
| 2018–2019 | Hold the Sunset | Phil | 13 episodes |
| 2018 | Speechless | Martin | 2 episodes |
| 2023 | LOL: Last One Laughing [de] | Himself | 1 episode |

## Theatre

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1965 | Half a Sixpence | Young Walsingham | Broadway production |
| 2005 | Spamalot | God (voice) | |
| 2014 | Monty Python Live (Mostly) | Various roles | Also writer |
| 2017 | Bang Bang! | N/A | Writer, adapting Georges Feydeau's Monsieur Chasse! |

## Video games

| Year | Title | Voice role | Notes |
| 1994 | Monty Python's Complete Waste of Time | Performer | Video |
| 1996 | Monty Python & the Quest for the Holy Grail | Performer | Video |
| 1997 | Monty Python's The Meaning of Life | Performer | Video |
| 1998 | Starship Titanic | The Bomb | Credited as Kim Bread |
| 2000 | 007 Racing | R | |
| 2000 | 007: The World Is Not Enough (Nintendo 64) | R | |
| 2000 | 007: The World Is Not Enough (PlayStation) | R | |
| 2004 | James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing | Q | |
| 2004 | Time Troopers | Special Agent Wormold | |
| 2004 | Trivial Pursuit: Unhinged | History | |
| 2005 | Jade Empire | Sir Roderick | |
| 2007 | Shrek the Third | King Harold | |
| 2010 | Fable III | Jasper | |
| 2012 | Smart As | The Narrator | |
| 2014 | The Elder Scrolls Online | Sir Cadwell | |
| 2015 | The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited | Sir Cadwell | |
| 2016 | The Elder Scrolls Online: Gold Edition | Sir Cadwell | |
| 2016 | Payday 2 | The Butler (Aldstone) | |
| 2017 | Raid: World War II | Control | |
| 2018 | The Elder Scrolls Online: Summerset | Sir Cadwell | |
| 2019 | The Elder Scrolls Online: Elsweyr | Sir Cadwell | |
| 2020 | The Elder Scrolls Online: Greymoor | Sir Cadwell | |
| 2021 | The Elder Scrolls Online: Blackwood | Sir Cadwell | |

## Radio credits

| Year | Title |
| 1964–1973 | I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again |
| 1972 | I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue |

## Audiobooks

(list only includes audiobooks in which Cleese is sole reader, not those in which he is part of a cast)
| Year | Title |
| 1997 | The Inferno of Dante |
| 1999 | The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis |
| 2006 | Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are? by Dr. Seuss |
| 2012 | The Comedy Greats by Russell Davies |
| 2012 | Tom Thumb |
| 2016 | So, Anyway... autobiography by John Cleese |

## Television advertisements

| Year | Title | Role |
| 1970s | Royal Mail | Pirate / Sir Betty |
| 1975 | Texaco | Himself |
| 1978 | Accurist | Himself |
| 1980–82 | Sony | Himself |
| 1981 | Giroblauw (Netherlands) | Interviewer |
| 1982 | Postbank (Netherlands) | Himself |
| 1982 | EAC Multilist (Australia) | Estate agent |
| 1982 | American Express | Himself |
| 1980s | Compaq | Himself |
| 1980s | Planters Pretzels (Australia) | Himself |
| 1986 | Maxwell House | Himself |
| 1988 | Talking Pages | Man who wants to marry Princess |
| 1990–91 | Schweppes | Himself |
| 1991–94 | Magnavox | Himself |
| 1992–93 | Talking Pages | Colin |
| 1993 | Nestlé Milk Chocolate (Australia) | Himself |
| 1993 | Cellnet | Woman |
| 1993–95 | Health Education Authority (Smoking Quitline) | Himself |
| 1996 | Norwich Union Direct | Himself |
| 1996 | Tele Danmark (Denmark) | Himself |
| 1998 | Tostitos | French chef |
| 1998 | Lexus | Himself, voice only |
| 1998–99 | Sainsbury's | Himself |
| 1999 | Melba toast | Himself |
| 1999 | Artistdirect.com | Himself |
| 2001 | 007: Agent Under Fire | R |
| 2001–08 | Titleist | Ian MacCallister |
| 2002 | Little Tikes | Himself |
| 2002 | Heineken | Himself |
| 2003 | Westinghouse Unplugged vacuum cleaner | Himself |
| 2005 | Intel | Himself |
| 2006 | TBS | Himself |
| 2006 | TV Spielfilm (Germany) | Himself |
| 2006–08 | Kaupþing (Iceland) | Himself |
| 2008 | Bank Zachodni WBK (Poland) | Himself |
| 2009 | Elgiganten (Sweden) | Himself |
| 2009 | Hashahar Ha'oleh (Israel) | Western general |
| 2009 | Accurist | Himself |
| 2010 | William Hill (Austria) | Himself |
| 2010–11 | AA | Himself |
| 2011 | Dogtober (Australia) | Himself, voice only |
| 2012 | Czech Olympic Team (Czech Republic) | Himself |
| 2012 | DirecTV | Himself |
| 2012 | Canadian Club (Australia) | Himself, voice only |
| 2015 | Specsavers | Basil Fawlty |