John Cleese

John Cleese (born 1939) is an English comedian, actor, writer, and producer. He rose to prominence as a co-founder of the comedy troupe Monty Python, whose television series and films became landmarks of British comedy. Cleese is also the co-creator of the sitcom *Fawlty Towers*, in which he starred as the irascible hotel owner Basil Fawlty; the series is widely regarded as a classic of television comedy. Beyond these signature works, he has appeared in numerous film and television roles and has continued to write and perform across stage and screen.