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John Cleese: Cambridge Circus
built 237 days ago
John Cleese was studying law in the early 1960s at Cambridge University when he was sidetracked, and joined the Cambridge University Footlights Revue, a performing group. The group played in London's West End, and in 1964, Cleese went with their stage show, "Cambridge Circus," to the U.S. and performed on the Ed Sullivan Show. He stayed on in New York for a year, appearing on Broadway in a small role in the musical Half a Sixpence.
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After graduating (gaining a 2:1), John Cleese accepted a job at the BBC, writing for a number of pilots, as well as established shows such as the Dick Emery Show. In 1964, he rejoined Cambridge Circus, on its tour, first in New Zealand, then on Broadway. When the tour ended, Cleese stayed in New York, appearing in the play Half a Sixpence, and then moving on to some serious journalism for Newsweek, playing in the American Establishment Review, and appearing in a humorous photo story for the magazine Help! (for which he was recruited by a Mr. T. Gilliam).
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[B]esides his acting experience, Cleese ... brings with him a diverse academic repertoire. Cleese studied law at Cambridge, has written several books and speaks on a wide variety of subjects such as science, politics, religion and society.
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