- Title: British 'Monty Python' actor John Cleese turns 85 on October 27
- Date: 25th October 2024
- Summary: ***WARNING: CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** CLEESE ON STAGE HOLDING HONORARY HEART OF SARAJEVO LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (FILE - OCTOBER 9, 2014) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF CLEESE BEING INTERVIEWED (SOUNDBITE) (English) ACTOR, JOHN CLEESE, SAYING: (Reporter: We may get our first UKIP MP tomorrow, and I wondered if Basil Fawlty (Cleese's character from British TV sitcom 'Fawl
- Embargoed: 8th November 2024 09:11
- Keywords: ANNIVERSARY BIRTHDAY FAWLTY TOWERS JOHN CLEESE MONTY PYTHON
- Location: VARIOUS
- City: VARIOUS
- Country: UK
- Topics: Celebrities,Arts/Culture/Entertainment,Europe
- Reuters ID: LVA006163814102024RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: THIS EDIT CONTAINS MATERIAL THAT WAS ORIGINALLY 4:3
British actor and comedian John Cleese turns 85 on Sunday (October 27).
Cleese is perhaps best known as rude hotel owner Basil Fawlty in the 1970s British TV series "Fawlty Towers," and the man from the Ministry of Silly Walks in the absurdist sketch series "Monty Python's Flying Circus."
The Monty Python comedy team, who poked fun at religion and the establishment, performed on the BBC TV sketch comedy programme from 1969 to 1974 before branching out into movies with their subversive comedy.
The remaining members of the group reunited in 2014 for 10 performances of "Monty Python Live (mostly): One Down, Five to Go" at London's cavernous O2 arena.
In addition to famous Python skits, it was a fully staged theatrical extravaganza with dancers and an orchestra and featured a filmed appearance by the late Python, Graham Chapman, who died in 1989.
Actor-turned-writer John Cleese launched his autobiography, "So, Anyway..." in London in October 2014.
In May 2024, Cleese brought a new stage version of his classic 1970s comedy show "Fawlty Towers" to London's West End.
"Fawlty Towers The Play" had been adapted by Cleese, who co-wrote and starred in the original series, playing Basil Fawlty, the inhospitable owner of a chaotic fictional hotel in the southern English seaside resort town of Torquay.
"Fawlty Towers" ran for 12 episodes in 1975 and 1979.
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