John Cleese was bullied at school because of his original surname Cheese.
John Cleese was bullied at school because his surname was cheese.
The 72-year-old actor was born with a different moniker to his stage name which resulted in him being mercilessly teased during his time in private education in the UK.
He said: ''I went to a private school, my parents didn't have much money and they spent what they did on giving me a private education.
''I can still remember walking up the stairs to the matron's room upstairs where I had to have a sort of basic medical examination and I can still remember the boys shouting, 'Cheese, cheese, cheese,' after me.''
His surname was not the only thing John - who is famous for roles in 'A Fish Called Wanda' and 'Monty Python' - was mocked for; bullies were also interested in the state of his manhood.
He added to Australia's Daily Telegraph newspaper: ''I remember on the stairs down to the changing room the boys asking me whether I was a Cavalier or a Roundhead and I had no idea what they were talking about, because I had never heard of the civil war, and then I realised they were asking me if I was circumcised or not.''
Almost pathologically buoyant, this brightly colourful animated comedy is so cheeky that it's impossible to...
The comedians behind Monty Python have turned into household names and The Holy Grail is...
Simon Pegg continues his rollercoaster career, alternating between superior blockbuster franchises (Mission: Impossible and Star...
If you could change absolutely anything in the world, what would it be? This is...
Disney takes over Pixar's "World of Cars" with this spin-off that no-one really asked for...
Dusty is a super swift cropduster whose horsepower would be a force to be reckoned...
Dusty may be a super speedy cropdusting aircraft but there's a reason why he spends...
Subtitled "The Untrue Story of Monty Python's Graham Chapman", this outrageously colourful animated movie certainly...
The 'Monty Python' group are returning to our screens once more with 'A Liar's Autobiography:...
Brad Harris is having what he calls a 'no-life crisis'. He is stuck in a...
Hundred Acre Wood is home to a very special group of friends, Pooh, Piglet, Eeyore,...
When Prince Charming (Rupert Everett) pulls off his helmet to reveal a hairnet in the...
Until director Lee Tamahori blasts right past a perfectly good ending, only to burn a...