Carol Cleveland Biography

British-American actress and comedian (born 1942)

Carol Cleveland (born 13 January 1942) is a British-American actress and comedian, particularly known for her work with Monty Python.

Early life

Born in East Sheen, London, she moved to the United States with her mother and U.S. Air Force stepfather at an early age. She was brought up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Lubbock, Texas; and later Pasadena, California, where she attended John Marshall Junior High School and Pasadena High School. She is a former Miss California Navy and appeared as Miss Teen Queen in MAD Magazine at age 15. Cleveland was Miss Teen in the August 1958 issue of Dig magazine.

Cleveland returned with her family to London in 1960, and studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.

Career

A stage actress and model who had appeared in The Persuaders!, a secretary in The Saint, a lover of Peter Wyngarde's character in The Avengers TV series episode "A Touch of Brimstone" (1966) and other TV shows and films, she started to appear in BBC comedy productions, including The Two Ronnies, Morecambe and Wise and various vehicles for Spike Milligan.

Monty Python

Her comedy acting skills brought her to the attention of the production team of Monty Python's Flying Circus. She appeared in 30 of the 45 episodes in the series, plus all four Monty Python movies. Cleveland has contributed to many post-Python projects including the Concert for George and Not the Messiah (He's a Very Naughty Boy). She has also appeared in many do*entaries about the group's history, including Monty Python: Almost the Truth (Lawyers Cut).

Other work

Cleveland was voted number three in Splendor magazine's "100 Most Beautiful Entertainers" list in 1972.

In 1986, Cleveland played an American television journalist in Only Fools and Horses, in the episode "The Miracle of Peckham"; then in 1995, Cleveland had a small cameo in a sketch within Fist of Fun, a BBC comedy show featuring Stewart Lee and Richard Herring. In 2022, Cleveland appeared in an episode of First Dates.

Filmography

Film

Television

References

    External links

    • Official website
    • Carol Cleveland at IMDb
    • April 2012 interview Monty Python and the Holy Grail Blu-ray
    • June 2014 interview Monty Python Reunion
    • Carol Cleveland - Getty Images
    Carol Cleveland