How tall is John Cleese

Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 25/May/23
Rob, between Cleese and Douglas Adams who do you think was taller peak?

Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 24/May/23
Yeah Arch...she was actually English in real life! Pretty convincing Aussie accent in Fawlty. Sadly she passed away a few years ago.

The guy who played Alan was Trevor Adams. He also played Tony Webster in Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin. Made a bunch of guest appearances in Z-Cars, The Professionals, The New Avengers and Crown Court. Quit acting to go into law and died in 2000...

Arch Stanton said on 21/May/23
Click Here

Rampage, Luan Peters was her name (the Aussie tourist in Fawlty). She was in Land of the Minotaur with Donald Pleasence, check it out at 36 minutes ;-) She was in some Hammer Horrror films which I've seen but didn't recognize her.

Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 19/May/23
Rob, how tall would you say this guy is?


Click Here


He's listed 6ft1 in places but I think nearer the 6ft mark. I see about 5in between him and Cleese.

Click Here

He was also in Reginald Perrin. About 3-4in on Leonard Rossiter whose listed 5ft8½ here

Arch Stanton said on 19/May/23
Click Here A better comparison with Camilla there (with a ludicrous £350 price tag LOL). She's looking close to 5 ft 11 I'd say. Looks like she could take care of herself!

Arch Stanton said on 19/May/23
Camilla doesn't look like her mother Barbara Trentham either. Cynthia does have similar colouring to her mother, though I wouldn't call her a clone of her or anything! The women look very tall in that photo with John though he is dropping height.

Ooh yes, that blonde Olivia Newton John Aussie type in the tight t-shirt! Smoking! I rather liked the episode with Connie in the super tight green t shirt too hehe!

Cleese is at the age now where he should have lost over two inches.

Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 18/May/23
Gonna blow a major fuse if they remake Fawlty...it's a 70's classic, leave it alone. I've heard rumblings of a Father Ted reboot as well 🤢🤮.

Arch is right, the visual style is what also makes the show so brilliant. There's this great mix of these older actors like the guy who played Major or the deaf woman (some of them might've even born in the late 1800's), the squares like Basil who looked older then they probably were (Cleese was only in mid-30's) then of course these then young actors who are totally immersed in 70's fashion like the dude from Poldark with his leather bomber, Connie's friend with the long hair wearing that Saturday Night Fever-like suit or the beautiful blonde Aussie doing the stretches. All of those things were current which is why it's got such lasting value....same with Only Fools or Reginald Perrin (some of those actors showed up in Fawlty).


But yes back to height - Click Here I would definitely say 5ft10 range is believable for Camilla as you can see in flat shoes she's not much shorter than John granted he's lost some height. His other daughter Cynthia looks pretty average Click Here spitting image of Connie though...

Arch Stanton said on 17/May/23
Bad, bad idea to make Fawlty Towers again. Yes, they could have easily made another dozen back in the 70s and 80s but a big part of the series was the look of the hotel and actors back in the 70s.

On a height related note I thought Camilla Cleese had a page? I think I read 5 ft 10 and a half. Probably about right, got a good dose of her father's height genes, though no resemblance, she kind of looks a bit like a meaner Delta Goodrum!

Hyper said on 28/Mar/23
I didn’t get a picture but I saw John Cleese up close, recently.

He looks his currently listing but Jack O'Halloran was definitely taller than him.

Sandy Cowell said on 13/Mar/23
Fantastic actor with a sense of humour so funny that I used to mimic his Ministry of Silly Walks to entertain my friends! My legs weren’t as long though…..

6ft5.25 peak and 6ft3.75 today. 🤣

Gerald S said on 1/Mar/23
Rob, could Cleese please join the Bond Actors tag?

Arch Stanton said on 24/Feb/23
He didn't say that James, just that their heights are rare!! ;-) , Cleese and Robbins are the very top of normal range IMO, as I've said before I think around Vlad Klitscho/Howard Stern height it starts to get unusua. lI think a solid 6 ft 4 is the most I'd want to be barefoot, but there's times at rock concerts or walking through cities where I think it would cool to be super tall for a day. Cleese made jokes about his height, so obviously saw himself as too tall.

James.B 172cm said on 22/Feb/23
Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 14/Feb/23
Cleese and Robbins are a rarity


Not every man likes being 6ft5 as shocking as that may sound.

Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 14/Feb/23
Cleese and Robbins are a rarity

Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 2/Feb/23
Cleese definitely the more solid 6ft5er than Clarkson

5'7 and a fraction said on 30/Jan/23
@Rob, between Cleese and Jeremy Clarkson, who do you think had the better chance of measuring over 6'5 peakwise?

Sandy Cowell said on 29/Jan/23
John played Samuel the Sheep in Charlotte’s Web.

Of course, we couldn’t see his height; for a grand idea of his peak height, check out the Two Ronnies’ sketch, in which Messrs. Barker and Corbett stand with John - in height order. It’s also very funny!

Sandy Cowell said on 20/Jan/23
I was just watching the scene from ‘The Meaning of Life’, in which the fish are bidding each other “Morning !”

Then I got back to my Happy Valley and the first thing I saw was someone saying, “Morning!”

I did laugh! 🤣

Peak height - 6ft5 and today - 6ft3.5.

Mickie said on 6/Jan/23
I believe the man himself - 6'4.5" in his prime. That's when he's being the most specific, and he rounded to 6'4" or 6'5" at various times. 6'4.5" is taller than many imagine.

Sandy C said on 5/Aug/22
John looked huge in Monty Python as well, MaskDeMasque, especially when he performed The Ministry of Silly Walks!

Peak - 6ft5; Today - 6ft3.75.

MaskDeMasque 5'9.5 said on 27/Jul/22
He looked huge in Fawlty towers. Certainly no less than 6'5 at his peak. 6'5.25 is possible for him.

mark thompson said on 10/Jun/22
@matt we have a 6ft 8 85 year old man who lives down the road. im friends with his son (whos probably only around 6ft 3) who told me his dad is around 5 inches taller than him. his peak must have been insane, and god bless his soul for making it to 85.

Mickie said on 27/Apr/22
The man himself seems to indicate 6'4.5" as his precise height. I believe him and I think it's a fair mark. People sometimes don't realize just how tall that is.

RickHavoc said on 4/Apr/22
So his height is roughly the same as John Lithgow's these days? It was just a couple of days ago I realized he was in a some of episodes of 3rd Rock From The Sun, and there he looked easily an inch taller than Lithgow. So their peak heights here seem to make sense too.

Matt6'4.5 said on 13/Mar/22
Rob, would you say Cleese is held onto his height well? As of now (2022) he’s an 82 yr old man. I’ve only ever met one other 80+ man over 6’3. Do you think it’s rare for men of this age l be that tall?

berta said on 7/Mar/22
one of the most legit 6´5 guys on the site. i would never guess this guy shorter than vinvce vaughn. i think he could look 196 and even 197 somtimes. i think 6`5 1/4 is clser and even 2 mm over that on good days. By now i feel he still could be 6´4

Robbe said on 13/Feb/22
The guy on the left is a danish comedian. He claims 6'4.

Click Here

Picture is from 2015.

Hyper said on 18/Jan/22
@Canson

It’s possible. Again, I think when he found out he was 6’4.75” at the age of 13, he didn’t bother measuring himself for a long time until later he measured himself and found out he is really 6’5.” (6’4.75” is already huge as it is, let alone 13.)

Canson said on 9/Jan/22
@Hyper: he looks like he was a minimum 6’5 guy in his prime. 6’5.25” is possible

Canson said on 9/Jan/22
James B 171.5cm said on 8/Jan/22
Carson- why not just say 6ft4 and a bit?

Not worth it. I’m only 1/4” taller than a regular 6’4” so not seeing a point. And the “bit” is an excuse people would use to try to get me to claim taller so I don’t bother

James B 171.5cm said on 8/Jan/22
Carson- why not just say 6ft4 and a bit?

Canson said on 7/Jan/22
@ James B: I thought I was a proper 6’4.5 years ago and still claimed 6’4” regularly. Now I know I measure 6’4.25 later in the day but still say 6’4 exclusively

James B 171.5cm said on 5/Jan/22
Rob is it possible he lied about being 6ft4 just so he could get more acting roles?

Chaoscontrol 6'2.75/190cm said on 19/Dec/21
Looking at when the 6’4.5 quotes are from, it says ones from 2006 and another from 2013 (with the claim of 1.93 being from 2021). So what I’m thinking is he’s aware of his height loss and knows he’s dropped to 6’4.5 and later 6’4. That does make the claim of 6’4.5 in the 70s an odd one out though

The5'11Dudr said on 16/Dec/21
I would guess he held onto 6'4 range for quite a while. He towered over 6'1 Brosnan in TWINE and DAD by a solid 3-4 inches.

DanDanDanDanDanDan said on 9/Dec/21
It's worth noting, I think, that John has a tendency to raise his head in pictures, which will likely add to his perceived height. Not like he would need it.

Toby Barrett said on 26/Nov/21
he is tall 6'5.1 peak 6'3'5 now

Vincent Caleb said on 13/Nov/21
He was over 6’5 by a bit when he was young

berta said on 2/Nov/21
strange that he have claimed 193-194 he have never really looked under 6´5 ever. I would actually believe strong 6´5 is more likely than under.

James B 171.5 said on 3/Oct/21
rob maybe cleese was more 6'4.75 peak and like tim robbins just claims 6ft4.5?

ChaosControl said on 10/Sep/21
Andrea said on 27/Aug/21
Why would he consistently claim 6'4.5 if he really was the full 6'5? If it was a downplay, it makes little sense to come out with such a precise mark, at that point just go with 6'4! Plus, the fact that he even claimed it on Twitter really makes me think of a guy who actually measured around that mark and stuck with it.

Yeah it makes little sense. Which is weird cause he normally looks 6’5. I’ll look at footwear next time I see him in something

Andrea said on 27/Aug/21
Why would he consistently claim 6'4.5 if he really was the full 6'5? If it was a downplay, it makes little sense to come out with such a precise mark, at that point just go with 6'4! Plus, the fact that he even claimed it on Twitter really makes me think of a guy who actually measured around that mark and stuck with it.

James B 171.5cm said on 24/Aug/21
Or maybe penn jillete was no more than a flat 6’6?

Hong said on 13/Aug/21
Click Here Here's John with 6ft3 listed Tom Baker,he looks comfortably 2 inches taller in fact he looks a fraction more.

Hyper said on 12/Aug/21
@Rob

Do you think 6’5.25” is arguable with 6’6.5” listed Penn Jillett?

Hong said on 28/Jul/21
Click Here Here's John with 6ft6.5 listed Penn Jillett,he looks about 1 inch shorter or maybe 1.5 inches max,it still puts him in the 6ft5 range.

ChaosControl 6'2.5/189.2cm said on 3/Jun/21
Interesting that he and Eric Idle have both made lower claims than their old listings. He might need to be dropped to 6’4.75

Leo2001 said on 1/Jun/21
Cleese claimed 1.93 (6 feet 4) some months ago.

Click Here

Tall In The Saddle said on 26/May/21
Tidbit: Just saw a height related Python skit circa 1970 on television in which Cleese’s character proclaimed himself to be 6’5”.

Curious how fellow Python Graham Chapman at times could appear to be dropping 2” to Cleese while at other times seem to be as close as 1”. That doesn’t cause me to question Cleese’s height, rather, it puts a question mark on Chapman’s exact height. Perhaps it came down to different footwear on Chapman’s part. Any which way, I believe Chapman was at least a solid 6’3”, particularly as compared to Cleese and Eric Idle.

PS - Cleese’s then future wife Connie Booth pops up a lot in the old skit series. Incredibly cute lady. She looks a lot younger than Cleese but I think the age difference was only a few years.

Hong said on 20/Mar/21
I meant from 25 seconds,but its a pretty short clip.A barefoot Cleese is still looking 6ft4 in comparison to 6ft2.5 Walliams IMO.

Covvvid1984. said on 19/Mar/21
Tall. Still holds up well.

Hong said on 17/Mar/21
Click Here Pause the video at 56 seconds Cleese still looks a comfortable 6ft4 too me.

Hong said on 17/Mar/21
Click Here Considering Cleese is barefoot and 6ft2.5 Walliams is not I think Cleese still looks 6ft4 in comparison,taking into consideration Walliams posture,even stood tall Cleese would still be taller.

Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 11/Mar/21
I think 196-197cm zone in the Python/Fawlty years isn't an unreasonable range, I'm inclined to believe that more than 195cm. I'm sure he woke up at 6ft6.


It's amazing how much older Cleese made himself look/sound in Fawlty Towers...easily passed for a 50 something year old when he was only in his mid-30's!

Arch Stanton said on 10/Mar/21
Christian 6'5 3/8" said on 29/Sep/20
@RJT
I'm pretty sure it's almost entirely genetics. I almost never drank milk growing up, because I hated the taste of it. Yet I ended up at over 6'5". The whole "milk for growing children" thing is a big myth. It's the protein that's found in dairy and other animal products, that has more to do with height

Well milk and dairy products cause inflammation in most people so are far from ideal. The amount of protein in regular cow's milk is hardly that great either, and there's more calcium in certain vegetables. Feeding your child pure whey protein in a fruit and veg smoothie would probably be more beneficial.

recapa said on 6/Mar/21
195.5-196cm peak,192.5-193cm.

The5'11Dude said on 31/Jan/21
I think he hold onto a strong 6'4 for quite a while, he looked a solid 3.5, maybe 4 inches taller than 6'1 Pierce Brosnan in TWINE AND DAD.

vastlybetter566 said on 4/Jan/21
If Cleese was a legitimate big 6ft5 in his younger days, would a big 6ft6 be the modern day equivalent, Rob?

Rapha said on 4/Jan/21
Rob

Would you make a case for Cleese being 197 cm during his peak ? He looked very tall during the fawlty towers seasons, not far off 2 meters.

vastlybetter566 said on 1/Jan/21
His imposing height didn't stop Cleese from losing his virginity only at age 24.

cmillz said on 17/Dec/20
Easily 6’5 at his peak, similar to Robbins.

Canson said on 23/Nov/20
His 6’4 claim likely came after he had experienced and was aware of height loss

Robbe said on 23/Nov/20
Around 6'5.5 peak Click Here

OriginalAnon said on 22/Nov/20
In his prime he would have easily measured 196cm.

Canson said on 21/Nov/20
@Tall Sam: yea he’s definitely not under 6’5” (in his prime). I used to entertain 195cm but not now. He had Lithgow by at least an inch on occssion

@Vincent: that’s a possibility. I know one 6’4.25 poster met him here and said he looked an inch taller at

Tall Sam said on 20/Nov/20
Another very tall guy, who often looks 6'5", claiming 6'4.5". I think Cleese was a legit solid 6'5", not sure I would see him as over it though. Would've been interesting to see him by Howard Stern prior to height loss.

Ethan99 said on 20/Nov/20
cleese looked about an close to an inch taller than 6'2.5 david williams. so my guess is 6'3-6'3.5 today

Canson said on 19/Nov/20
@Recapa: yea easily 6’5” peak height

recapa said on 17/Nov/20
i am kinda in agreement with the average guesses.he still had about an inch on 6ft3.5 conan on 2015 so 6ft5 3/8 peak and 6ft4 today.

Miss Sandy Cowell said on 27/Oct/20
🎁🎂🎈🎊 Happy Birthday John! 🎊🎈🎂🎁

A VERY Happy 81st Birthday to John Cleese! Monty Python's Flying Circus used to be on so late when I was a kid that I'd have to creep downstairs, turn the telly on low and listen out for my Mum, who'd have been very annoyed if she'd caught me, but she never did. Not for Monty Python anyway, but for plenty of other things!

John's peak height - 6ft5.25
Today - 6ft4 😁👌😂😂😂

🎁🎂🎈🎊🎁🎂🎈😂🎁🎂🎈🎊🎁🎂🎈😂

Vincent Caleb said on 25/Oct/20
Peak could be 6’5.25”

recapa said on 19/Oct/20
at least 196cm peak

Canson said on 18/Oct/20
@RJT: Im not even sure about that. But maybe. I remember being about 6’3 at some point freshman year in the second half. I was measured some time my junior year and I was certainly 6’4” Then. I’m not sure if I was sophomore year or not. If I grew beyond junior or senior it was a tiny fraction.

James B 172c, said on 15/Oct/20
I didn’t think he looked over 6’5 in Fawlty towers.

Almost 180cm guy said on 6/Oct/20
Cleese was one of the stronger 6ft 5 guys so I think the 6ft 5.25 was what he measured. Here is another of his photo next to Malcolm McDowell from 1997: Click Here
I am also sending a photo of Cleese with Jamie Lee Curtis from 1997: Click Here
Their footwear: Click Here Click Here
Showcasing a few photos of Cleese alongside Linda Thorson from 1968: Click Here Click Here Click Here
Cleese really was one of the more solid 6ft 5 guys. Rob, will you give him a fraction over 6ft 5?

Christian 6'5 3/8" said on 1/Oct/20
@RJT
The hanging stuff is also a myth. All it does is slightly lengthen your discs temporarily because of gravity, but it won't stretch bones. Anyways, both my parents are around 5'11", so I definitely got most of my height from my mom. My mom's side of my family tend to be taller than my dad's.

RJT said on 30/Sep/20
@Canson
So you grew only around 1" after 15, that's less than I thought. For some people it differs I guess, Lewis who is Rob's nephew (?) grew full 3 inches since he was 5'10.25" at 16 and is said to be at least 6'1.25" now at 18.

@Christian
Yeah it's mostly genetic but on some rare occasions, I've seen guys who are way taller than his parents. There's this 1 guy who is billed at 192cm and looks like 190cm guy, he's a pro volleyball player in my Country, however his parents are only 5'6 and 5'3 and look it next to him. He claimed that he used to hang on a tree a lot when he was younger.

How tall are your parents btw? Mine is 5'11 range maybe near 6ft at his prime for dad, mom is only 5'3-5'4 range.

Christian 6'5 3/8" said on 29/Sep/20
@RJT
I'm pretty sure it's almost entirely genetics. I almost never drank milk growing up, because I hated the taste of it. Yet I ended up at over 6'5". The whole "milk for growing children" thing is a big myth. It's the protein that's found in dairy and other animal products, that has more to do with height.

Christian 6'5 3/8" said on 28/Sep/20
@JD
Good point

Canson said on 28/Sep/20
@RJT: I was 6’3” range at the end of my Freshman year I believe. I hit 6’4” around my Junior Year I think

RJT said on 28/Sep/20
@Canson

How tall were you at 14? I was 6ft remember to measure it distinctly and now I'm only 6'2.75" peak afternoon height as an adult. Not sure whether I kinda stunted my growth at later teenage years or it's just my maximum potential gene cause I have 7 siblings and the tallest after me is only 5'11 range. 1 thing for sure is that I wasn't height aware and didn't really care about height, if I did maybe I could've done something to maximize my growth.

@Editor Rob

Your website got mentioned in a site talking about Barron Trump's height! Click Here

JD1996 said on 28/Sep/20
@canson @christian as I just turned 16 I was 6’1” at a low now at age 24 I’m 6’6.75” so I grew lots after 16 but maybe I’m not the usual case. Trumps son is only 14 still and looks around 6’5” already hard to tell if he is an early or late bloomer. Although I can’t see him reaching as high as 6’10” I think he could easily have 2-3 inches Of growth left at his age so I’m gonna estimate he will end up 6’7”-6’8” if he’s an early bloomer as canson said maybe 6’6” range but if he’s late maybe even taller than 6’7”-6’8” range like up to 6’9”.

Canson said on 27/Sep/20
@Christian: I can’t see 6’10” but I can see maybe 6’6” or somewhere between 198-200. He could be 6’5 or perhaps 6’4.5” today. He may be a guy who sees growth early and slows soon then stops at 16 or 17, I essentially stopped in my teens and if anything got to my peak height of 6’4 3/8 around 18 if I had to guess. I’m 6’4.25” now. Still questionable if I was the full 6’4 3/8 though. But I’m almost 39 so it wouldn’t surprise me

Dream said on 11/Sep/20
@Christian

Off-Topic: I think Barron might end up being a strong 6'7", probably. I could be wrong.

Christian 6'5 3/8" said on 11/Sep/20
@Julian
Around 6'1" or so, especially in my freshman year of HS. I remember claiming something like 6'2" though, but I wasn't aware of height back then, like I'm now.

6'3 Julian said on 8/Sep/20
Hey Christian how tall were you at 14? Given that you claim to be 6’5 3/8”

Christian 6'5 3/8" said on 4/Sep/20
@Dream
Cleese was definitely a very early bloomer. Even Barron Trump's around 6'5" now at 14, and some posters believe that he'll end up as tall as 6'10".

Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 26/Aug/20
Actually Arch, a solid 6ft3 for Gwynn if not a little over (not under) is possible if were gonna argue Cleese was a bit over 6ft5. About 1½-2in between them.

Dream said on 25/Aug/20
@Christian

Yeah! I can see why he rounded down at 13. I do remember reading about it though!

Honestly, if he was that high at 13, he could’ve been 6’7”, if he kept growing.

Arch Stanton said on 22/Aug/20
Rob any chance of adding Michael Gwynn?

Arch Stanton said on 22/Aug/20
Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 15/Aug/20
Michael Gwynn needs a page here. Classic British character but best known for Lord Melbury on Fawlty Towers...one of his last performances oddly enough!

Very tall man himself obviously but he looked a bit more than an inch shorter than Cleese. 6ft3 range is my guess. Not convinced on 6ft4 barefoot

Yes I think it looked about 2 inches diff. Of course Cleese could have been a bit over 6'5. I think about 6 ft 3 for Lord Melbury is OK. A guy I was in school with was 6 ft 4 at the age of 11 LOL. He only grew one more inch!!

Christian 6'5 3/8" said on 22/Aug/20
@Dream
6'5" at only 13? Dang, that must've been intimidating for his peers, lol.

Canson said on 20/Aug/20
Dream said on 20/Aug/20
@Canson

The claim 6'4.75" of his actually was when he was 13. At the same time, I definitely think he could've grown taller.

I think he's eligable for 6'5.25". He gave a taller impression than Michael Jordan, with David Letterman.

Yea but he claimed 6’4.5 too as an adult. I definitely have him taller than Jordan. Jordan was around 6’4.5-.75 max whereas he was a legit 6’5 or maybe a strong 6’5 max

Dream said on 20/Aug/20
@Canson

The claim 6'4.75" of his actually was when he was 13. At the same time, I definitely think he could've grown taller.

I think he's eligable for 6'5.25". He gave a taller impression than Michael Jordan, with David Letterman.

Canson said on 17/Aug/20
@Dream: I don’t completely rule that figure out for him either. I remember one poster said he met him once and that he himself was 6’4.25” and that Cleese was 1” taller. Now an inch and 2cm are kind of tough to distinguish at times and we don’t know if Jim really met him of course but his estimate is certainly credible. Not only that but is Jim really 6’4.25 and is he that at a low? That said, Cleese could look a very legit 196 guy at times I agree

Canson said on 17/Aug/20
@Tall in the Saddle: No Problem! Yea I could see some height loss by the time he appeared on 3rd Rock too. But he is interesting being he claimed 6’4.5” once. I wonder if it was him downplaying his height by half inch at one point or if he possibly measured an extreme low at 6’4 7/8” once and maybe rounded down lol. Looking at all that I’ve seen with those pics and your comparisons, I can agree that he stacked up well with other Legit 6’5”s. Surprisingly today, he looks to have lost some significant height though

Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 15/Aug/20
Michael Gwynn needs a page here. Classic British character but best known for Lord Melbury on Fawlty Towers...one of his last performances oddly enough!

Very tall man himself obviously but he looked a bit more than an inch shorter than Cleese. 6ft3 range is my guess. Not convinced on 6ft4 barefoot

Arch Stanton said on 14/Aug/20
6'4 in shoes was probably legit for Gwynn but not barefoot.

Arch Stanton said on 14/Aug/20
Cleese was more than an inch taller than Michael Gwynn, in fact I estimated Gwynn at between 6'2.5 and 6'3. Maybe 6'3 but definitely not a real 6'4, tall guy nonethless.

Tall In The Saddle said on 13/Aug/20
@Canson

Thanks for your reply and the excellent pics. Agree, Cleese def. a solid 6'5" peak at least. Possibly smidge of height loss by the time of 3rd Rock but that first pic (golfing) seems to suggest good a 1+ inch advantage. Not so much in the third photo.

Sinclair said on 13/Aug/20
Cleese gets the full 6’5” from me. In the first Fawlty Towers episode, Cleese looks roughly an inch taller than 6’4” listed Michael Gwynn. In A Fish Called Wanda, I feel Cleese easily has three inches over Kevin Kline. Maybe Cleese claimed 6’4.5” in his younger days because he didn’t want to be associated with the full 6’5” but I think out of Cleese, Stephen Fry and Jeremy Clarkson, Cleese was the tallest and Clarkson was the shortest, when comparing their peak heights. Rob, who do you think was the tallest and shortest out of those three?

Dream said on 7/Aug/20
Perhaps that 6’5.25” has always been arguable. He really did look taller than Michael Jordan, with David Letterman.

Dream said on 3/Aug/20
I watched a few videos of him and David Letterman.

Click Here
Click Here

He kinda looked taller than Michael Jordan, with David Letterman.

Perhaps that 6'5.25" is in need of an upgrade.

Tall In The Saddle said on 30/Jul/20
@Canson

I know you estimate Lithgow at perhaps a bit less than 6'4". How well do you think Cleese stood next to him in 3rd Rock? Cleese appeared in seasons 3 and 6, aged about 59 and 62 respectively. Lithgow would've been about 53 and 56 respectively. I didn't watch the series but some clips that I have seen seem to have Cleese holding a better advantage than in other clips (possibly later clips). I wonder if that was evidence of Cleese, already up in years but still standing tall, perhaps losing some height during the 3 years between appearances.

Canson said on 29/Jul/20
@Tall in the Saddle: I think they would be similar at 6’3.5”. I agree with you that I doubt he is shorter than Conan

Canson said on 29/Jul/20
@Tall in the Saddle: I think they would be similar

Tall In The Saddle said on 29/Jul/20
@184guy2
I haven't seen any recent appearance of Cleese together with O'Brien. I can't imagine him being solidly shorter than O'Brien, let alone shorter full stop. For that to be the case, Cleese would have to be near 6'3" flat or less. If Cleese is still rocking a good 6'3.5" at least, I would expect him to appear at least equal to O'Brien if not in fact edging him.

Matt6'5 said on 23/Jul/20
Rob,

Cleese is still clearing 6’3 at age 80! How rare would you say that is? Overall, who do you feel held their height better into old age : John Cleese or Christopher Lee (who looked close to 6’3 with Samuel L. Jackson at Star Wars premiers in the mid 2000s)

184guy2 said on 6/Jul/20
He is nowdays solid shorter than Conan
He isn't over 6'3.5 and more likely under . Had 2in on a peak Danny Glover

Canson said on 5/Jul/20
@Sandy and Tall in the Saddle: oddly enough he was only listed 6’4.5 before and 6’4.75 but I agree with Rob that he was prob the full 6’5” if not maybe a 196cm guy. I don’t rule out Sandy’s estimate either. Today I doubt 6’4” more like 192cm

the name's Sam said on 2/Jul/20
Peak was a 196 cm in 1985 Silverado he was a giant and had good height over 6’3 Danny and 6’2” Kevin he looked over 6’5” even now he might stand tall in the 193-193.5 cm range

Tall In The Saddle said on 21/Jun/20
Side line. IMO, the comedy of MONTY PYTHON has aged well and it was ballsy too. Tackling some of the more impractical pontifications of the Catholic Church with all conquering humour. If you think the PYTHONS were nuts, listen to the GOONS, from who the PYTHONS drew inspiration. Well before my time but my Dad loved them and played some of their stuff. Spike Milligan was literally certifiable. LOL. "I told you I was ill" is literally written (in Celtic language I think) on his head stone as per Spike's wishes.

Chris Junior Hernandez 1990 said on 20/Jun/20
I'm thinking 196cm peak and 192.5cm now. Maybe..

movieguy12 said on 14/Jun/20
6'4'' Joe Bugner said that when he met Cleese in the 70s he had to look up to him and guessed him as 6'6''. On the other other hand, years ago Cleese was on Penn and Teller and Penn definitely looked taller than Cleese by an inch or two. I think prime Cleese was probably over 6'5'' not sure if he was 6'6''.

Andy5'91/2 said on 7/Jun/20
More 6’4 nowadays maybe 6’5.5 peak

Miss Sandy Cowell said on 14/May/20
@ Tall In The Saddle - You're not far wrong there in saying that John could have passed for 7' or nearly that height when standing with the two Ronnies! It didn't exactly help that, even if it was done inadvertently, people called Ronnie Barker 'The Tall Ronnie', but he wasn't tall at all, merely low average, but towered over tiny Ronnie Corbett. Then along came John Cleese to partake in a sketch, looking like an absolute GIANT!

Cheers Tall In The Saddle and keep well, Sandy XX 😂😆😁

Peak height - 6ft5.25
Today - 6ft4

Tall In The Saddle said on 18/Apr/20
@Sandy

Yes, I saw the skit many moons ago. Cleese might've passed for 7' standing next to the Two Ronnies. LOL. "So it's goodnight from me" (Corbett) - "And it's goodnight from him, goodnight" (Barker). Classic.
The Ronnie's sign off reminds me of Morecombe and Wise's signature exit, singing/dancing to the tune - BRING ME SUNSHINE.

Sandy A Cowell said on 6/Apr/20
@ Tall In The Saddle - Check out - if you haven’t already seen it, of course! - the sketch with Mr Cleese and The Two Ronnies. He’ll have been at his peak height then.

Peak - 6ft5.25
Now - 6ft4

Tall In The Saddle said on 26/Feb/20
Whatever Cleese has claimed or whatever claims have been attributed to Cleese, it really still comes down to how tall you see him for yourself.

However, it still makes you wonder as to why some celeb's might claim a height that your own eyes can't see. If you see them standing shorter than they claim, it's easy to attach a motive such as round up or exaggeration. However, if you see them standing taller than they claim, it's a bit more problematic to figure a motive. I mean, who claims shorter?
One motive that is commonly attached to apparently understated height is the avoidance of sounding too tall or freakishly tall. Makes sense. Another reason might be a simple but less common propensity to round down, e.g. Cleese stating an exact 6'4.75" but apparently also stating 6'4.5".
I've read Cleese directly quoted as stating 6'4.75" which always snagged me given I saw him as taller. It fits his character to be so EXACT and anyone else might've just gone with 6'5" but not Cleese. However, I reached back into this thread and it's claimed that Cleese was 6'4.75" when just 13 yo and when he started at Clifton School so I don't feel so snagged by Cleese's quote now. Certainly room for a bit more growth since the 6'4.75" measurement.
I think it's reasonable to estimate at least 6'5.25" peak. I suppose 6'5.5" is possible but perhaps it's a bit of stretch (excuse pun) but for whatever it's worth, a poster here ,James Murray, claimed that Cleese had an inch on Murray's 6'4.5" father and there is of course the comparison with 6'4.5" listed Stephen Fry over whom Cleese held a 1" advantage IMO.

Matt6'5'' said on 21/Feb/20
Editor Rob,

If you stood a peak Cleese and a peak Christopher Lee back to back, how much would you expect between them?

Chris Junior Hernandez 1990 said on 19/Feb/20
Hard to think John Cleese have drop below 6'4.

Canson said on 16/Feb/20
I wonder if his 6’4 1/2 billing was a bit of a downplay since being 6’5” was considered too tall back then

Nearly 180cm guy said on 28/Nov/19
Cleese really could have been a little over 6'5". In 1981 he looked at least two and a half inches taller than Graham Chapman: Click Here
And in 1967 he looked like a real giant next to Ronnie Barker and Ronnie Corbett: Click Here Click Here
In 1989, however, he looked easily over 6'5" alongside Lenny Henry and Dudley Moore: Click Here Click Here
Now someone you met in pesron, in 1997 Cleese met Malcolm McDowell and he looked good 9 inches taller than him, and Malcolm was probably still at least 5'8.25" at that time: Click Here Click Here Click Here Click Here Click Here
Their footwear was similar: Click Here Click Here
Looking at Cleese from the beginning of the 60s to the end of the 90s I really see him a little taller than 6'5". Rob, is there any chance you will give him 6'5.25" in his prime?

Unbewohnt6666 said on 6/Sep/19
@Junior Hernandez 1990

1 1/2 inch height loss while being a few weeks shy of 80 isn't at all unusual especially for a 6'5 guy. 6ft2 1/2 would be considered unusual for a man his age.

Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 3/Sep/19
Sandy, 6ft5 peak is undeniable in fact I’d argue even a little over that. But today it’s obvious he’s lost some height.

Miss Sandy Cowell said on 30/Jun/19
My favourite episode of Fawlty Towers? When he gets out of his mini and gives it a darn good beating - with the branch of a tree! It was a big branch, granted, but the car was unperturbed.
😂😂😂

Peak height 6ft5;
Now 6ft4.5.

Junior Hernandez 1990 said on 5/Jun/19
Can't believe what aging did to a big 6'5 guy. From 6'5 to 6'3.5" that is quite alot of height loss from a healthy looking old man.

Dream said on 11/Mar/19
@Tom Swift

John Cleese really did look 6’5.5” with Stephen Fry.

Even if Fry was only 6’4”, which is impossible, John Cleese looks 6’5.25” minimum.

Tom Swift said on 5/Mar/19
I recently watched a video filmed in 1987 with John Cleese & Steven Fry (6ft 4), and Cleese was looking down at him. Easily over an inch taller. Bearing in mind possible shoe heal differences I’d say John Cleese peak height was 6ft 5 1/2 at least. He could have claimed 6ft 6 and everyone would have turned a blind eye.

alabamafr said on 10/Feb/19
Rob, did you downgrade him recently?

Michael 5'10", 178 cm said on 12/Dec/18
He was definitely 6'5" in his peak, but under that mark today. He's like 6'3 1/2" since he is under 6'4" nowadays. John went through some noticeable height loss as he aged. At his youth though, he was one of the tallest looking 6'5" people listed at that on the site, he could pull off 6'6" in his younger days. Cleese was a more legit 6'5" than some others who are listed as 6'5" like Michael Strahan, Christopher Lee, or Vince Vaughn. I watched Silverado recently and John had a brief part in it and he looked 2 inches taller than Danny Glover who was known for being a tall guy at 6'3". John Cleese also looked very tall on Monty Python, he was 6'5 at peak and no shorter than that.

Dream(5'9.5") said on 18/Nov/18
Rob, who would you say had 'more of a chance' of 6'5.25", John Cleese or Bo Svenson?

I know Cleese claimed 6'4.5", but I feel that's more of a big round down. Svenson claimed 6'6", but that's likely an out of bed height.

Dream(5'9.5") said on 18/Nov/18
@Martin 6'2"

Apparently, there was a user (James Murray) here, who claimed to have met a prime John Cleese. He said Cleese was 'about' an inch taller (could be 0.75" of an inch) than his 6'4.5" father.

James Murray (the said user) said he eventually grew to 6'8.5" and didn't like being tall.

Martin 6'2" said on 17/Nov/18
Wow, I haven't commented since may 2017.
Watching Fawlty Towers as I type, and I can easily say, John Cleese in his prime was an easy 6'5."
Baring in mind he's walking through the 6'6" doorways, but if he was to just stand there, and stand up straight too, I think he could stretch to 6'5.5" so bare feet prime would be a strong 6'5." Nowadays I wouldn't have a clue.

Dream(5'9.5") said on 5/Nov/18
He looks near 6'5.5" with Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie.

I might hear some rebutts like 'OH BUT STEPHEN FRY'S EYE LEVEL IS NEARLY EQUAL WITH JOHN CLEESE!' FOOking ridiculous. John Cleese's eye level is actually slightly higher, and the top of his head is more than visibly higher than Stephen Fry. Oh and Stephen is closer to the camera, and John Cleese is slightly aging.

Dream(5'9.5") said on 29/Aug/18
Cleese looked at least the full 6'5", I meant.

Dream(5'9.5") said on 28/Aug/18
@Canson

At an absolute low, of course. I just think that his claim is more of a round down. He did look an easy taller than Stephen Fry.

I still would argue 6'5 1/8th" for John Cleese. It's not like Vince Vaughn who never looked a full 6'5" even in peak. He definitely looked the full 6'5" if not a hair over it.

Canson said on 26/Aug/18
@Dream: I think a peak Cleese would be around 6’5” at a low. It’s just unclear because he’s claimed 6’4.5 as well

Dream(5'9.5 said on 25/Aug/18
Rob, John Cleese definitely claims “six foot five” here. (The citation was from 1979).

Click Here

It’s up to you if it’s worth an add or not.

Junior Hernandez 1990 said on 18/Aug/18
@Gracian Posture and camera angle advantage wise making John Cleese look 6'5 1/2. I don't think Brosnan is really 4" shorter.

Gracian said on 8/Aug/18
Cleese next to Pierce Brosnan in 2004: Click Here
In Bond films from 1999 and 2002, John looked taller than Brosnan by about 4 inches. I'm sure his peak height was not lower than 6'5". Rob, can I still argue 6'5.25" for him?

Mister lennon said on 3/Aug/18
Lee could have been a weak 6'5 peak or very close.
Cleese was always a solid 6'5.

Dream(5'9.5") said on 31/Jul/18
Again, Cleese really did look a strong inch taller than 6'4.5" Stephen Fry. He was at an older age while Fry was extremely young. If we go by comparisons, John Cleese looked well taller than Jeremy Clarkson when comparing them with Stephen Fry.

Dream(5'9.5") said on 30/Jul/18
@Christian 6'5 3/8"

I definitely agree. Lee was never a full 6'5". John Cleese would be a full 6'5" if not the strong 6'5" I believe him to be. Honestly, I still think Cleese could measure 1/8ths over 6'5".

Tall In The Saddle said on 30/Jul/18
@Christian- you might be interested - On the VINCENT PRICE page I linked a THIS IS YOUR LIFE episode in honour of Christopher Lee - one of the guests is Vincent Price and both men come together for an excellent comparison. From the long shot I see Lee perhaps having 1" over Price but closer up Price appears to gain back - so the diff. might've been just .5" to .75". Curious as to how you see it. Other shots of Lee I have seen appear to suggest not quite 6'5" as you say - perhaps somewhere between 6'4.5" and 6'4.75"

Christian 6'5 3/8" said on 27/Jul/18
@Tall Sam

Lee was never a full 6'5".

Tall Sam said on 25/Jul/18
@Dream(5'9.5") I'm not as convinced of that at their respective peaks after seeing Christopher Lee near James Arness, there's a pretty good chance of a dead heat between Lee and Cleese and both probably held 6'5" at least for a good part of the day.

Dream(5'9.5") said on 24/Jul/18
It's possible Cleese was more of a strong 6'5". As I said, he was definitely taller than Stephen Fry even at a old age. Comparing Cleese and Jeremy Clarkson with Stephen Fry, John Cleese looks well taller than Jeremy Clarkson.

Dream(5'9.5") said on 23/Jul/18
John Cleese would easily be taller than Christopher Lee by a strong 2 cms.

Tall In The Saddle said on 19/Jul/18
I hadn't read the 6'4.5" claims for Cleese before. I had read that he faithfully reported himself at an exact 6'4.75" at some stage which I tended to believe given the exact nature of the man himself - other less pedantic individuals might've rounded to 6'5" without fuss - but they're not "Basil".
I see he did claim 6'5" later - maybe Cleese became more relaxed with himself by that stage and wasn't concerned about being exactly on point. I would say he was measured at 6'4.75" at some point - when how when - who knows? If he claims 6'5" its difficult to refute - he looks it. The Fry comparison is problematic. Cleese did appear to have a very solid 1" on Fry - if Fry was in fact 6'4.5" that would make Cleese an easy 6'5.5" IMO. I'm not sure if Fry was quite 6'4.5" I'd have to have a bit more of look at the man. Would've been interesting to see Cleese face up to fellow Englishmen Christopher Lee - I checked for any pics together but no such luck.

Dream(5'9.5") said on 13/Jul/18
Rob, I think Cleese is really a solid 6'5" kind of guy. Sure not like 6'5.5" in that sense, but he's definitely looked a little over it more than under it. Some would round down. Plus, that quote is from 2014, so he would have lost height by now. He did change his 6'4.5" claim to the full 6'5".

6'4.5" is certainly too low as that would put 6'4.5" Stephen Fry at 6'3.75"-6'4".

James B 171.5cm said on 12/Jul/18
James B 171.5cm said on 10/Jul/18
rob could he have just been 6ft4.5 peak?

Editor Rob

Well he seems to think he was. Maybe he did get measured once at that, like Tim Robbins and stuck with it...or didn't stand quite as tall for the measurement?


6ft4.75 could have been his peak height?

Dream(5'9.5") said on 11/Jul/18
We'd have to put Stephen Fry at 6'4" since Cleese was a big inch taller than him.

Also, that quote is from 2014. It's obvious that Cleese would had shrunk by now.

James B 171.5cm said on 10/Jul/18
rob could he have just been 6ft4.5 peak?

Editor Rob said on 8/Jul/18
I found another quote by Cleese added above, which matches up with that old spotlight listing he once had, 6ft 4.5.

Tall Sam said on 30/Jun/18
I don't question the 6'5" peak listing really but it is peculiar that he'd claim the 6'4.5" without having at least been once measured around it.

Dream(5'9.5") said on 6/Jun/18
John Cleese: 6'5 1/8"
Stephen Fry: 6'4 5/8"

I would say this is being slightly generous because Cleese (at an old age) did look a solid inch taller than Prime Stephen Fry. Of course, that doesn't mean he's literally a strong inch. It just shows that John Cleese has constantly looked a strong 6'5" like Howard Stern and Bo Burnham.

Dream(5'9.5 said on 18/May/18
Rob, what would you rate his 'posture?'

Libertariandude said on 7/May/18
In Life of Brian he looks gigantic as the "High Priest". He towers impressively over the mob that, hilariously, ends up lapidating him. Heh.
Several tall guys in Monty Python. Idle and Graham were both in the high 180s.

Dream(5'9.5 said on 22/Apr/18
Rob, from the people (in the comments) who met John Cleese, I think 6’5.25” seems more like a goer for Cleese. What do you think?

Dream(5'9.5") said on 22/Apr/18
@James Murray

What was your impression on John Cleese, personality wise?

James Murray said on 19/Apr/18
in 1976 my dad and John took a picture together i still have the picture till this day, my dad is 6ft 4 1/2 John Cleese is about 1 inch taller I wont be surprised if he was slightly over 6ft 5 mark. anyways I remember in 1976 John Cleese spoke to me with my dad I was 13 years old and 6ft 1. I remember John clearly saying to my dad that i will be taller than both of them when i got older and he was right am 6ft 8 1/2 barefeet. sometimes it sucks being really tall living in london and taking tube everyday is annoying and the same old question i get, "how tall are you" and stares ......

Tall Sam said on 16/Apr/18
Interesting clip with Fry and Laurie, Cleese was one of the few actors right around a solid 6'5".

Canson said on 15/Apr/18
@Dream: Cleese looks as if he would definitely he at minimum solid 6’5” peak. I thought maybe 195 before but now I think he looks it in old pics

Canson said on 15/Apr/18
@Dream; interesting!

Dream(5'9.5") said on 13/Apr/18
@Canson

6’5.125 would be guess in my opinion. Cleese can certainly look 6’5.25. I would dare say he could in a similar range to ‘peak’ Peyton Manning.

The 6’4.5 claim is weird because here’s Cleese with a young 6’4”-6’5” Stephen Fry.

Click Here

In most of the video, John Cleese is kinda aging, and he’s easily taller than Stephen Fry.

Canson said on 12/Apr/18
@Dream: yup! Doorways were lower back then but if he were say 6’5.25 he would prob hit 6’6.5 in some shoes and a 6’7” doorway I could see it. Peak I think he could’ve been a solid 6’5”. Not so sure he’s even as low as Rob has him today

Dream(5'9.5") said on 12/Apr/18
The fact that he had to duck under doorways in his regular shoes.

He has to be a strong 6’5” for ducking to happen.

Dream(5'9.5 said on 30/Mar/18
Also, he was definitely taller than Stephen Fry.

Dream(5'9.5 said on 20/Mar/18
Rob, what would you say about 6'5" 1/8ths for John Cleese?

jjj said on 8/Jan/18
@James B: I have to disagree. He seemed huge in Fawlty Towers, and defo appeared 6'5 if not a bit more.

Duffer 5ft 11 said on 25/Dec/17
Supposedly, he had grown to 6'5" by age 13, being an even 6" at 12..!! He has always looked very tall to me, every bit of the 6'5" claim gleaned from various sources, perhaps even a smidge over that in the AM. He may very well be down to a flat 6'4" these days at close to 80. Do taller guys (Like over 195 or 200 cms) tend to lose more as they get older Rob?)

Christian-6'5 3/8 said on 14/Dec/17
@Mister lennon

I agree, he was a solid genuine 6'5" maybe even 6'5.25" best case.

Mister lennon said on 13/Dec/17
Solid 6'5 peak.

Dreampuffe(5'9.5") said on 11/Dec/17
@Canson I think at his age, sub-6’4” is possible.

At peak, Cleese was really a solid 6’5” or 6’5.25”.

Canson said on 10/Dec/17
6’3.5 seems low. I’d say 6’4 flat from where he was

Rory said on 6/Dec/17
Odd set of claims from this guy. Not sure why if you are 6'5 you'd claim 6ft4.5 because that just makes it more of a mouthful to say. A 6ft5 guy claiming 6ft4 if they want to seem smaller I can understand but 6ft4.5 ?

Sam said on 26/Nov/17
Definitely a bit taller than John Lithgow who was near 6'4" when I met him almost a dozen years ago, about 0.75 inches under myself, Cleese could've been near peak still when he appeared with him.

EM said on 24/Nov/17
6'4.75" peak seems right. He's been mentioned at 6'4.5", 6'4.75", and 6'5". Just give him the middle. 6'3.5" going into 2018 I can agree with, as he already mentioned being 6'4" in 2006.

Dreampuffe(5'9.5 said on 23/Nov/17
Rob, this guy at peak (along with Bo Burnham, Kobe Bryant, and Christopher Lee) would beat out the 'Skarsgard' family! LOL!!

James B said on 15/Nov/17
Well I think you could defnintly argue he looked 6'4 in Fawlty Towers in my personal opinion. He even sood with good posture from what I remember


Clèese actually looked like your typical skinny 6'4 guy in the series.

Watched Fawlty Towers with my grandad many years ago and he remarked "he must be 6ft6". My brother guessed him at 6ft2 when we watched Fawlty Towers lol.

James B said on 9/Nov/17
Rob in Fawlty towers I think he looked more 6'4.5 than a proper 6'5 personally. Like around Christopher Lee's height.

Think about it he always stood with good posture and add too that his skinny build he could probably pull of looking taller than he was.

Dalziel said on 26/Oct/17
"Gladstone Screwer said on 21/Apr/17
He was often listed at 6'5" over the years, and looked it.
Maybe an inch shorter now. A ghastly man, he really is."

Why?

JEFFERS said on 23/Oct/17
Rob,In his latest autobiography which I had a quick glimpse at today, there's some interesting information, he wS an extremely tall child, he was 5ft 3in in Sept 1948 a month before his 9th birthday. At 12 he was already 6ft and amazingly he was at his full adult height of 6'4.75" at the age of 13 yrs.

Canson said on 23/Oct/17
@Rob: I notice there they also have Dolph Lundgren at 6’6”. That thing seems way off. I would agree with a peak maybe 6’5” for Cleese like you have him or maybe 6’4.75 is closer. That surprises me he’s only 6’3.5 today tho

Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 20/Oct/17
Good call...he does look more 6ft3 range these days. Closing in on 80 though, he hasn't done that bad. Peak though I think a very solid 6ft5er

Canson said on 19/Oct/17
@Rob: do you think he was a strong 6’5” peak or a guy who would dip to 6’4.75 at night? He looked very tall at his peak

jjj said on 17/Oct/17
I felt like he was even too tall to be 6'5 back on the Faulty towers days, this man was very tall!

Junior said on 14/Oct/17
I think John Cleese still clear 6'4 now maybe more like 6'4.25" than a flat 6'4 and fully 196cm peak even going to bed.

Deathstroke said on 22/Sep/17
6'5.25" Peak and 6'4" today is likely.

Mark(5'9.5 said on 10/Sep/17
Doubt it. He doesn't fall under 6'5".

Canson said on 1/Sep/17
6'4.75 peak

Mark(5'9.5 said on 31/Aug/17
His peak height can certainly be changed to 6'5.25".

Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 21/Jul/17
Rob, who do you think was taller at peak Cleese or Robbins?

Canson said on 16/Jul/17
Peak height 6'4.75 like mentioned
Today 6'4

Zach said on 14/Jul/17
Rob who would you say is taller John Cleese or Jeremy Clarkson they seem about the same to me strong 6"4 to weak 6"5?

Mark(5'9.5") said on 10/Jul/17
He's probably the only person back then who will measure taller than Peak Christopher Lee (who is 195 cm in my eyes).

even said on 7/Jul/17
his peak height was 6 foot 5 now question about it
but now he is 6 foot 4 at 78 years old

Adijos said on 22/Jun/17
John at the top could actually be a little above 6'5" flat. Rob, what do you say to him at 6'5.5" or at least 6'5.25"?

Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 20/Jun/17
It's possible he was a bit over 6ft5. In Fawlty Towers he had to duck slightly under the door frame (the standard ones are 6ft6). In dress shoes he was probably near 6ft7

berta said on 14/May/17
this guy looked atleast 6 foot 5 and with a big chanse of being 196,2 ore something on good days

Martin 6'2 said on 13/May/17
I have to admit, if Michael Gwynne was 6'4" then John Cleese could easily have been 6'5.5" during Fawlty Towers.
And again look at the door frames, he only walked under them, but if he was to stand there and stand tall, he'd be half an inch shorter, if that, so he was easily 6'5.5" at his peak.

Mark(5'9.25 said on 3/May/17
I can imagine a guy like 'Dwayne Johnson' is going to say 'I'm 6'5"' and suddenly Peak John Cleese looks down at him and just says 'you're not that tall, chap.'

Mark(5'9.25 said on 3/May/17
Rob, I've probably asked this, but how likely is 6'5.25" on a good day? I looked at a few photos in his youth and he was already towering everyone.

Mark(5'9.25 said on 1/May/17
Rob this is probably me, but Peak John Cleese gives a taller impression than Peak Vince Vaughn.

Charlie said on 10/Apr/17
John looks 6'3.5. I saw a YouTube video of himself showing his home. Now he was in shoes which gives 1 inch in height. He was opening doors all through the video. I would see with the shoes on he was 1.5 inches shorter than the top of the door. Now the Average door in the UK to my understanding is 6'6 inches while our doors in Canada are 6'8 3/4.If John was in flat feet he would be 2.5 inches shorter than the door which makes him 6'3.5. He would of lost a large amount of height by now being 77 years of age.

RichardSpain said on 4/Apr/17
young: 196 / 197 cm tall.

Now: 193/194 cm tall. NO less.

Canson said on 4/Apr/17
195-196 at his peak.

Today 193

Sandy Cowell said on 21/Mar/17
When I was 8 or 9, I did a take-off of John's 'Ministry of Silly Walks' to amuse the kids in my class. I could never master it properly though, and I think that might have had something to do with an excess of 2 feet height difference!
Other than that, I was bloody good!

Adijos said on 19/Mar/17
I think his peak height is 197 cm tall, and actual height is 195 cm. John's very tall man...

abe said on 5/Mar/17
196 cm tall

jessman said on 25/Jan/17
If I'm not mistaken, Cleese stated he was 6'4.75" when he was 13 years of age. I'm not sure if he grew a little more after this? I watched Fawlty Towers (The Germans) yesterday and he did not look more than 6'5 in it. He was not hugely taller than the German guests. Its worth remembering that the other regular cast members are short. Couple this with his thin build and he can appear taller than he is.

Danimal said on 23/Jan/17
He easily stood over 6'5" in his younger days. The man could have easily dipped below 6'4" today at his advanced age.

Jason said on 22/Jan/17
I would agree with 6'4" today and 6'4.75" peak. I think he has held his height very well.

Jason said on 22/Jan/17
Rob, John has stated many times that he was measured at 6'4.75" inches as a young man. Now this is a specific measurement and apparently this was taken by his doctor I believe, so even more chance for it to be 100% accurate. So why not list him as this?

Jason said on 22/Jan/17
Rob, John has stated many times that he was measured at 6'4.75" inches as a young man. Now this is a specific measurement and apparently this was taken by his doctor I believe, so even more chance for it to be 100% accurate. So why not list him as this?

Christian-196.2cm (6ft5.25) said on 27/Nov/16
"John Cleese's Height is 6ft 4.25in (193.7 cm)"
"Peak Height was 6ft 5.25in (196.2 cm)"

Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 26/Nov/16
Probably still a decent 6ft4 range guy today. Looking at older stuff from the 70's, he doesn't appear any less than 6ft5.

Aza said on 25/Nov/16
Think his peak was 6'5.5 and today 6'4.5 ....edges out Stephen fry.

Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 17/Sep/16
At least 1in taller than Stephen Fry?

Click Here
Click Here
Click Here

Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 2/Sep/16
6ft6 is extreme. No way was he just a hair shorter than Penn Jillette. More like 1in+.

Canson said on 12/Aug/16
@Jim you're 6'4.25 or 6'4.75?

Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 30/Jun/16
Looking at recent photos he can still look a decent 6ft4…

berta said on 3/Jun/16
This is hhow a 196 guy should look. Could have been 6 foot 5 and one quarter

Jim said on 26/May/16
I've seen John Cleese many times. We both used to attend an annual Philosophy conference. I first met him when I was 20 and he was about 58-59. Back then, he could have said he was 6'6" and no one would have questioned him. I'm 6'4.25" and he was a full inch taller. He once said, "you're a tall chap" to me. Very special man.

Flyin said on 18/May/16
Do they tend to lose more when they are so tall. Uncle who was 6"4 is more like 6"1 now. Bit of dowager hump. So he's done well just loosing the inch

Aravind said on 12/Apr/16
I think he is 6'3 due to old age.

James B said on 2/Apr/16
Well he looked 6'6 if brosnan is 186cm.

Skywalker said on 29/Mar/16
6'2''? He look like a solid 6'4''-6'5'' guy next to 6'4'' Conan O' Brien.

Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 21/Mar/16
He could be heading toward 6ft3½ these days but 6ft2 range? you can forget it!

amy said on 1/Mar/16
my boyfriend is 6'8 rob and he was like 6 inches taller when we met him in windsor last month, rob i doubt he is 6'4 now more like 6'2 he cannot ever have been 6'5

Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 28/Feb/16
Because Fawlty Towers had a significantly short cast Cleese could look gigantic at times like 6ft6-7! But a legit 6ft5 guy will be towering anywhere in the world.

Johno said on 24/Feb/16
A middle-aged John Cleese had an inch on a young Stephen Fry, must of been a very tall man in his youth, 6'5 seems believable.

Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 24/Feb/16
Rob, which is more likely, a little under or over 6ft5 at peak?

Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 15/Feb/16
He still looks 6ft4 today

Johno said on 31/Jan/16
Penn Gillette had an inch on John and yes, John was/is very a 6'4-ranged guy.

Danimal176 said on 9/Jan/16
Peak height definitely close to 6'6". He was barely shorter than just under 6'7" Penn of Penn and Teller and he had 2" on 6'4" John Lithgow in the late 90's. Could have lost close to 2" in height do to age, putting him at 6'4" today.

Lonestar said on 28/Nov/15
Why people don't came up a point he could be measure at 194.5cm so he was confuse whether to claim 6'4 or 6'5 so he just go by both on different time

Mathew Robinson (190 cm) said on 20/Oct/15
MrTBlack said on 15/Jul/15
Rob, he was once listed as 6'4 3/4". Do you think that was fan made? Although no one could tell the difference between 6'4"3/4-6'5".

---

Yeah I saw the same listing some years back, 6'4.75". It's possibly he was a shade shy of 6'5", I have no clue if he ever claimed it.

Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 17/Oct/15
Rob, do you think he still holds 6ft4 or might be dipping under it?

Ian C said on 3/Sep/15
I work with a man who is six foot seven, or would be if he didn't slouch. I am six foot four, and I usually stand tall. Late in the day I will stand next to my giant friend, and our eye lines seem to be level. So yes, really tall people have a certain height mutability: they can fold down a little. I could walk around at six foot two all day if I put my mind to it.

YoMan said on 11/Aug/15
There's a video on YouTube of cleese with penn and teller. Penn at 6 ft 6 looks about half an inch at most taller than cleese.

MrTBlack said on 15/Jul/15
Rob, he was once listed as 6'4 3/4". Do you think that was fan made? Although no one could tell the difference between 6'4"3/4-6'5".

alexandra said on 20/May/15
All most certainly 6ft 5 in prime but 6ft 4 now is right same height as peterson

andy said on 13/May/15
Cleese was at least 6ft5 in his peak but now I think 6ft 4 is a fair estimate

katrina said on 13/May/15
rob is it possible that john cleese aged 75 is 6ft 4, he does not look 6ft 5 any more now does he

leo said on 13/May/15
i met john in august 2014 i am 6'4 and he was exactly eye to eye with me, he is today no taller than 6'4 but in peak 6'5 or even 6'5.5

Russ said on 8/May/15
He always looks incredibly tall. I would say 6'5 is about right.

MrTBlack said on 4/May/15
He still in the 100th percentile in relation to men his age at 6'4"!

Martin said on 11/Apr/15
Click Here
O:50, he states his height as 6 and a half feet.