Often named the funniest man alive, John Cleese is both a versatile comedic actor and a leading business motivator. With the legendary Monty Python's Flying Circus, Fawlty Towers and A Fish Called Wanda, he created a unique comedic style that has inspired countless writers and comedians. John Cleese's influence is also felt in the corporate world as the founder of Video Arts, the world's largest provider of business training programs. Established in 1972 with three fellow British actors, Video Arts has gained an international reputation as the premiere source for business know-how.

Cleese attributes his success at making hit training programs to his fascination with psychology and his love for teaching and making people laugh. He believes that "humor in training increases retention and decreases anxiety. When the training point is surrounded with humor, it can be readily digested, remembered and applied." His philosophy has obviously paid off as Video Arts continues to expand. Cleese's unique mix of humor and corporate knowledge can now be experienced on computer desktops with classic video vignettes that compromise Video Arts' new Fundamental Interactive CD-ROM series on entry-level business skills.

On the lecture stage, Cleese brings his award-winning series of videos to life. His boundless energy and inimitable sense of humor create a hilarious exploration of business basics, from corporate etiquette and customer service to creative thinking and problem solving.

John Marwood Cleese was born in Weston-Super-Mare, England. His schooling included attendance at St. Peters Prep School, Clifton College, and Cambridge's Downing college, where he intended on studying law. His plans changed, however, after joining the Footlights Society drama club and meeting future writing partner and Monty Python member Graham Chapman.

Cleese officially broke into professional show business in 1966 when David Frost asked him to join in The Frost Report on the BBC, as both a performer and writer. Also working for The Frost Report at the time were Chapman, Eric Idle, Michael Palin and Terry Jones (all of Python fame). Cleese continued his writing partnership with Chapman, collaborating on such titles as The Magic Christian with Peter Sellers and Ringo Starr. The partnership continued into Monty Python's Flying Circus, which first aired on October 5, 1969 with Palin, Idle, Jones and Terry Gilliam. The group went on to create such comedic classics as Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Life of Brian, and The Meaning of Life. Cleese later collaborated with Connie Booth for Fawlty Towers, a popular BBC series about a chaotic hotel.

His other credits include a critically acclaimed performance as Petruchio in a television adaptation of Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew. On the silver screen, Cleese has been seen in Interlude, How to Irritate People, The Bliss of Mrs. Blossom, The Best House in London, The Rise and Fall of Michael Rimmer, And Now for Something Completely Different, The Great Muppet Caper, The Secret Policeman's Other Ball, Yellowbeard, Silverado, Clockwise, Mary Shelby's Frankenstein, Time Bandits, The Jungle Book and most recently The Out-of-Towners. He also starred in and co-wrote the hit films A Fish Called Wanda and Fierce Creatures.