Monty Python icon John Cleese recently admitted he “never expected to last this long” in a poignant end-of-life admission. The 86-year-old comedian announced back in June that he is taking the Holy Grail on tour to mark more than half a century after its release in 1975, but with the positive news came a sad confession.
John shared: “I’m delighted to be celebrating more than 50 years of Holy Grail with these incredible live events around the country… mainly because I genuinely never expected either the film or myself to last this long.”
A litany of medical woes
John opened up about the physical toll of ageing in a brutally honest new documentary last year – John Cleese Packs It In, released November 13. He shared a long list of medical woes while touring sold-out venues across Europe.
Citing a long list of ailments, John shared that he had undergone two hip replacements, a rebuilt right knee, three hair transplants, no natural teeth whatsoever, two artificial eye lenses and, as if that weren’t enough, a recently fitted pacemaker.
He was also diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, vertigo and partial deafness and even joked that he’s “considering a penis enlargement.”
Painful procedures and costly therapies
The film also shows John discussing a botched operation on his big toe, which left him in so much pain that he had to be pushed around a zoo in a wheelchair during the tour.
In 2024 he admitted to spending £17,000 on stem cell therapies to “prolong” his life, visiting a Swiss clinic every 12 to 18 months for the treatment.
Speaking in 2025 about his tour Not Dead Yet, he told MailOnline: “I'm 85 years old. I've got two replacement hips, a replacement knee, I'm deaf in one ear, I've got a pacemaker – and I've had three hair transplants.
“I'm hoping not to die while I'm on tour. It's exhausting, it's ridiculous – and frankly, it might kill me.”
He joked: “If this is the last time. It's not a bad way to go.”
Looking forward to being dead
In 2014 John admitted that he looked forward to being dead. He said: “I have only got five or six years left and I will be gone – I won’t have to worry about ISIS or Ebola, I am looking forward to it.
“Most of the best people are dead – I will be in excellent company having a wonderful time.”
