John Cleese’s sharp wit and towering presence helped define British comedy with Monty Python’s iconic films like Monty Python and the Holy Grail and The Meaning of Life. Beyond Python, Cleese brought a uniquely dry humor to characters such as the stiff upper-lip unwitting hero in And Now for Something Completely Different. He also lent his voice and charm to family favorites, including the wise-humored King Harold in Shrek films and the bumbling but lovable voodoo villain in Charlotte’s Web. Frequent collaborations with directors like Terry Gilliam and Terry Jones highlight his gift for blending absurdity with clever satire, making his performances endlessly quotable and endlessly entertaining.