Performer
A performer whose catalogue work here is strong, with the fuller case still to be made.
Nutevio rank
#891
of 909177 performers
Top 1%
John Cleese represents the rare performer whose career became more ambitious with every decade — 48 years in, and John is still choosing the harder script.
The essay
Our editors on the work, the patterns and the reason this body of work holds together.
John Cleese appears in 46 films in the Nutevio catalogue, and none of them would work the same way without John. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone is the clearest case: a film rated 8.2 by our editors, where the performance carries weight the script only implies.
The recognisable elements are versatility, transformation, quiet performance. Watch two of these films back to back and the method separates from the material — the same instrument, tuned differently for comedy, family, animation. It is a style built on what is withheld as much as what is played.
Working with Ross Venokur, Roman Polanski, Rob Schneider and others, John Cleese helped set a standard other performers now audition against. Awards bodies have been slower than the work, which is usually the sign of a career built on choices rather than campaigns.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001) as Nearly Headless Nick · Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002) as Nearly Headless Nick (Sir Nicholas) · Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975) as Second Swallow-Savvy Guard / The Black Knight / Peasant 3 / Sir Launcelot the Brave / Taunting French Guard / Tim the Enchanter
Career snapshot
Ranked #891 of 909177 performers tracked in the Nutevio library.
Films in Nutevio
46
1975–2023
Career length
48 yrs
Measured across our catalogue
Academy Awards
—
Unknown
Oscar nominations
—
Unknown
Highest Nutevio score
8.2
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
Average Nutevio score
6.3
Across catalogue work
Highest IMDb rating
7.9
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
Most frequent director
Terry Jones
4 films together
Longest collaboration
4×
With Terry Jones
Most common genre
Comedy
34 titles
Average runtime
1h 42m
Across catalogue work
Golden Globe wins
—
Unknown
Nutevio metric
Ten weighted categories, applied identically to everyone we cover.
Nutevio Performer Score
7.1
out of 10
A performer whose catalogue work here is strong, with the fuller case still to be made.
Nutevio metric
Cultural impact and legacy, measured separately from craft — how far the work travelled once it left the cinema.
Nutevio Influence Score
6.7
out of 10
A quieter influence — felt inside the films rather than across the industry.
How far the work travelled past the people who saw it first.
What survives once the release-week conversation has burned off.
Institutional acknowledgement, weighted but never decisive.
Years of chosen, relevant work rather than years merely employed.
Statuettes, read as evidence rather than verdict.
Roles named without needing the film named alongside them.
Directors who wrote parts because this performer existed.
The reading other performers now have to answer.
Actor DNA
A fingerprint derived from the roles themselves — register, range and the kind of film they carry.
The shape of a career
Every performance plotted in time. Hover a point to read the title behind it.
Peak years
Where the scores, the awards and the sheer volume of work agree with each other.
Best decade
1970s
7.8 average MV
The 1970s are where the work and the material meet. Life of Brian, Monty Python and the Holy Grail — the run our editors reach for first when the argument is about range rather than fame.
Highest average Nutevio score
1970s
7.8
Across 2 catalogue films in this decade, our scores never drop below the level a career is judged on.
Highest average IMDb rating
1970s
7.8
The public agrees most strongly about this stretch — useful context, and occasionally a decade behind our own reading.
Most awarded era
1970s
0 Academy Awards
Statuettes for the films themselves, which is the honest way to read an ensemble career. Life of Brian, Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
Most productive era
2000s
16 films
The busiest stretch of the catalogue — volume that reads as appetite rather than availability.
Range, mapped
Genres down the side, decades across the top. Warmer cells mean stronger titles.
| Genre | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drama | — | 6.81 film | 6.32 films | 5.82 films | — | 5.81 film |
| Action | — | 6.81 film | 6.41 film | 5.84 films | — | — |
| Thriller | — | — | 6.41 film | 6.12 films | — | — |
| Comedy | 7.82 films | 6.84 films | 6.32 films | 6.112 films | 6.36 films | 5.48 films |
| Crime | — | 7.11 film | — | — | — | — |
| Romance | — | — | 6.42 films | 7.51 film | 6.22 films | — |
| Horror | — | — | 6.51 film | 6.21 film | — | 6.41 film |
Chronology
Firsts and peaks
The turning points, in the order they happened.
First film in Nutevio · Career peak
1975Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Where our catalogue meets this career, as Second Swallow-Savvy Guard / The Black Knight / Peasant 3 / Sir Launcelot the Brave / Taunting French Guard / Tim the Enchanter. Weighing billing against the film's own quality, this is the point where everything aligned at once.
Highest rated performance
2001Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
8.2 on the Nutevio scale, the top of the catalogue for this performer.
Most recent film
2023The Palace
The current state of the argument, as Arthur William Dallas III.
Our order
Every performance in the catalogue, ordered by Nutevio Score.
Every title
Filter by genre or decade, and compare any two titles side by side.
46 of 46 films
as Second Swallow-Savvy Guard / The Black Knight / Peasant 3 / Sir Launcelot the Brave / Taunting French Guard / Tim the Enchanter
Directed by Terry Gilliam
as Wise Man #1 / Reg / Jewish Official / First Centurion / Deadly Dirk / Arthur
Directed by Terry Jones
as Nearly Headless Nick
Directed by Chris Columbus
as Nearly Headless Nick (Sir Nicholas)
Directed by Chris Columbus
as King Harold (voice)
Directed by Andrew Adamson
From the library
Every movie and TV credit stored for this name in the Nutevio catalogue — filter by media, role or sort by rating.
Loading credits…
The defining work
#1
Second Swallow-Savvy Guard / The Black Knight / Peasant 3 / Sir Launcelot the Brave / Taunting French Guard / Tim the Enchanter
Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)
Performance score8.1
The performance the rest of the career is read through. Second Swallow-Savvy Guard / The Black Knight / Peasant 3 / Sir Launcelot the Brave / Taunting French Guard / Tim the Enchanter gives John Cleese a structure to work against, and the film hands over its centre of gravity without hesitation.
View movie#2
Wise Man #1 / Reg / Jewish Official / First Centurion / Deadly Dirk / Arthur
Life of Brian (1979)
Performance score8.0
Life of Brian asks for something the previous films did not, and gets it. Wise Man #1 / Reg / Jewish Official / First Centurion / Deadly Dirk / Arthur is played without a single line of pleading for the audience's sympathy — which is exactly why it lands.
View movie#3
Nearly Headless Nick
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001)
Performance score7.9
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone asks for something the previous films did not, and gets it. Nearly Headless Nick is played without a single line of pleading for the audience's sympathy — which is exactly why it lands.
View movie#4
Nearly Headless Nick (Sir Nicholas)
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)
Performance score7.8
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets asks for something the previous films did not, and gets it. Nearly Headless Nick (Sir Nicholas) is played without a single line of pleading for the audience's sympathy — which is exactly why it lands.
View movieStart here
A guided path through the work, ordered so each film explains the next.
Best entry point
as Second Swallow-Savvy Guard / The Black Knight / Peasant 3 / Sir Launcelot the Brave / Taunting French Guard / Tim the Enchanter
Start here. Monty Python and the Holy Grail is the clearest statement of what John Cleese does — accessible, 91 minutes, and rated 7.8 by our editors. No context required.
Our editors order this path by accessibility first and chronology second. You meet John at the most legible performance, then move forward in time so each film reads as a response to the one before it rather than a repetition of it.
Life of Brian (1979)
Keeps the comedy register of Monty Python and the Holy Grail but asks for a colder reading of it.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001)
A deliberate change of key after Life of Brian — same instrument, unfamiliar tuning, and the reason range gets mentioned.
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)
Same director as Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, different problem to solve. Watching them in order shows how much of the effect was the collaboration.
Shrek 2 (2004)
Keeps the fantasy register of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets but asks for a colder reading of it.
Company kept
The directors and performers this career keeps returning to.
Terry Jones
Director
4 films together
Notably Life of Brian
Terry Gilliam
Director
2 films together
Notably Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Chris Columbus
Director
2 films together
Notably Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
Ross Venokur
Director
2 films together
Notably Rally Road Racers
Lawrence Kasdan
Director
1 film together
Notably Silverado
Charles Crichton
Director
1 film together
Notably A Fish Called Wanda
Phil Nibbelink
Director
1 film together
Notably An American Tail: Fievel Goes West
Stephen Sommers
Director
1 film together
Notably The Jungle Book
Kenneth Branagh
Director
1 film together
Notably Mary Shelley's Frankenstein
Robert Young
Director
1 film together
Notably Fierce Creatures
Michael Apted
Director
1 film together
Notably The World Is Not Enough
Lee Tamahori
Director
1 film together
Notably Die Another Day
Ron Underwood
Director
1 film together
Notably The Adventures of Pluto Nash
David Grossman
Director
1 film together
Notably George of the Jungle 2
McG
Director
1 film together
Notably Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle
Frank Coraci
Director
1 film together
Notably Around the World in 80 Days
Andrew Adamson
Director
1 film together
Notably Shrek 2
Mike Binder
Director
1 film together
Notably Man About Town
Chris Miller
Director
1 film together
Notably Shrek the Third
Scott Derrickson
Director
1 film together
Notably The Day the Earth Stood Still
Mike Mitchell
Director
1 film together
Notably Shrek Forever After
David Frankel
Director
1 film together
Notably The Big Year
Bill Jones
Director
1 film together
Notably An Accidental Studio
Dean Murphy
Director
1 film together
Notably The Very Excellent Mr. Dundee
Rob Schneider
Director
1 film together
Notably Daddy Daughter Trip
Roman Polanski
Director
1 film together
Notably The Palace
Behind the camera
Who casts this performer, how often, and what the pairing produces.
Terry Jones
Director
4 films together · 6.8 avg MV
A working relationship rather than a booking — 4 films, and the register shifts each time.
Best film together
Life of BrianChris Columbus
Director
2 films together · 8.1 avg MV
A working relationship rather than a booking — 2 films, and the register shifts each time.
Best film together
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's StoneTerry Gilliam
Director
2 films together · 7.2 avg MV
A working relationship rather than a booking — 2 films, and the register shifts each time.
Best film together
Monty Python and the Holy GrailRoss Venokur
Director
2 films together · 6.4 avg MV
A working relationship rather than a booking — 2 films, and the register shifts each time.
Best film together
Rally Road RacersAndrew Adamson
Director
1 film together · 7.5 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Shrek 2Charles Crichton
Director
1 film together · 7.1 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
A Fish Called WandaLawrence Kasdan
Director
1 film together · 6.8 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
SilveradoMike Mitchell
Director
1 film together · 6.6 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Shrek Forever AfterRob Schneider
Director
1 film together · 6.5 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Daddy Daughter TripChris Miller
Director
1 film together · 6.5 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Shrek the ThirdKenneth Branagh
Director
1 film together · 6.5 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Mary Shelley's FrankensteinMichael Apted
Director
1 film together · 6.4 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
The World Is Not EnoughPhil Nibbelink
Director
1 film together · 6.4 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
An American Tail: Fievel Goes WestBill Jones
Director
1 film together · 6.3 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
An Accidental StudioRobert Young
Director
1 film together · 6.3 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Fierce CreaturesDavid Frankel
Director
1 film together · 6.2 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
The Big YearFrank Coraci
Director
1 film together · 6.2 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Around the World in 80 DaysLee Tamahori
Director
1 film together · 6.2 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Die Another DayStephen Sommers
Director
1 film together · 6.2 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
The Jungle BookScott Derrickson
Director
1 film together · 5.9 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
The Day the Earth Stood StillRoman Polanski
Director
1 film together · 5.8 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
The PalaceMike Binder
Director
1 film together · 5.8 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Man About TownMcG
Director
1 film together · 5.8 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Charlie's Angels: Full ThrottleDean Murphy
Director
1 film together · 5.7 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
The Very Excellent Mr. DundeeDavid Grossman
Director
1 film together · 5.2 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
George of the Jungle 2Ron Underwood
Director
1 film together · 5.1 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
The Adventures of Pluto NashSix degrees
Follow the thread outward — director, film, co-star, and the film after that.
Categories of our own
Six editorial categories we apply to every performer we cover.
Most rewatchable
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
as Nearly Headless Nick
The one that survives a fourth viewing. Nothing in the performance depends on surprise, which is why it keeps paying out.
Most emotional performance
Shrek 2
as King Harold (voice)
Grief played at conversational volume. The film never asks the audience to cry; the performance simply makes it difficult not to.
Most influential performance
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
as Nearly Headless Nick
You can hear this reading in other actors' auditions a decade later — the surest measure of influence there is.
Best ensemble performance
Time Warp Vol. 3: Comedy and Camp
as Self
Work that makes everyone else in the frame better without ever pulling the camera towards itself.
Career defining performance
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
as Second Swallow-Savvy Guard / The Black Knight / Peasant 3 / Sir Launcelot the Brave / Taunting French Guard / Tim the Enchanter
If the career had to be argued in a single scene, our editors would pick one from this film and rest the case.
In their films' words
“You can build a whole film around a performer who knows when not to speak. John Cleese has known it for a long time.”
Head to head
Put two careers on the same scale and see where the argument actually sits.
Ours alone
Recognitions handed out by this desk, on criteria no awards body uses.
Career Achievement
Awarded
48 years of relevant work — not merely a long career, but a long career of choices.
Modern Classic Performer
Awarded
Defining performances delivered inside the last twenty-five years, in films already being taught rather than merely remembered.
Comedy Legend
Awarded
34 catalogue titles in comedy, each one a reference point for the films that followed.
Our desk
Best ending, best opening, best twist and the rest — categories we apply to everyone we cover.
Best ending
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
as Nearly Headless Nick
The last five minutes reorganise everything before them, and hold up when you already know what's coming.
Best opening
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
as Nearly Headless Nick
A first sequence that states the rules of the film without explaining a single one of them.
Most emotional
Charming
as Fairy Godmother / Executioner (voice)
The film where the technique steps aside and lets the feeling arrive undefended.
Best twist
The Pink Panther 2
as Dreyfus
A reversal earned by information the film gave you and trusted you to misread.
Best visual achievement
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
as Nearly Headless Nick
Images that would survive with the sound switched off.
Best action sequence
Around the World in 80 Days
as Grizzled Sergeant
Geography, stakes and consequence held in the same frame — spectacle you can follow.
Best dialogue
Charming
as Fairy Godmother / Executioner (voice)
Lines written to be spoken, staged so the pauses do half the work.
Most underrated film
The Very Excellent Mr. Dundee
as John
The public vote sits below ours on this one, and the direction is the reason for the gap.
If you like this performer
Michael Caine
Built a career in the same territory: adventure and drama
Tom Hanks
Built a career in the same territory: animation and family
Bonnie Hunt
Built a career in the same territory: animation and family
Matt Damon
Built a career in the same territory: adventure and drama
Morgan Freeman
Built a career in the same territory: action and crime
Jamie Harris
Built a career in the same territory: adventure and drama
Have your say
Community
Which John Cleese performance holds up best?
Our readers argue about this one. Make your case, or read the ranked debate already in progress.
Join the conversation
Reference
Continue exploring
Trending performers
Directors they work with
Collections to read next
