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Wikipedia / Carol Cleveland

Carol Cleveland (born Carol Gillian Frances on 13 January 1942) is an American-English actor, comedian, dancer, and model. She is 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, Carol Cleveland appeared in the UK premiere of Henze's Boulevard Solitude at Sadler's Wells Theatre in June 1962. On screen she was in The Persuaders!, in The Saint as a secretary, as a lover of Peter Wyngarde's character in The Avengers TV series episode "A Touch of Brimstone" (1966), and in other TV shows and films. She was in BBC comedy productions, including The Two Ronnies, Morecambe and Wise, and various Spike Milligan programmes.

Monty Python

Her comedy acting skills brought her to the attention of the production team of Monty Python's Flying Circus. She appeared in 32 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 documentaries about the group's history, including Monty Python: Almost the Truth (Lawyers Cut).

Other work

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

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

Filmography

Film

Year

Title

Role

Notes

1963

The Cracksman

Pirate

uncredited

1963

Strictly for the Birds

Sandra

1964

The Americanization of Emily

Army Driver

uncredited

1965

The Pleasure Girls

Ella

1967

A Countess from Hong Kong

Nurse

1967

Mister Ten Per Cent

Hat Check Girl

1967

In Saigon Some May Live

Girl

1968

Salt and Pepper

Club Hostess

1968

The Bliss of Mrs. Blossom

Bra Model

1969

If It's Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium

Travel Agent

1969

The Adding Machine

Judy

1969

Moon Zero Two

Hostess

1970

Every Home Should Have One

Suzy

1971

And Now for Something Completely Different

Various

1974

Vampira

Jane

1974

All I Want Is You... and You... and You...

Eli Hartford

1975

Monty Python and the Holy Grail

Zoot / Dingo

1975

The Return of the Pink Panther

Swimming Pool Diver

1977

The Brute

Diane's Agent

1979

Monty Python's Life of Brian

Mrs. Gregory

1982

Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl

Various

1983

Monty Python's The Meaning of Life

Various

1983

Funny Money

Delphine

1986

Half Moon Street

American Wife

1995

Annie: A Royal Adventure!

Miss Hannigan

2007

Too Much Too Young

June

2010

Not the Messiah (He's a Very Naughty Boy)

Various

2012

A Liar's Autobiography: The Untrue Story of Monty Python's Graham Chapman

Various

2013

The Sweeter Side of Life

Edna

2013

The Search for Simon

Irene Jones

2019

The Rizen: Possession

The Ancient One

2021

Alice, Through the Looking

Queen Elizabeth II

Television

Year

Title

Role

Notes

1961

Dixon of Dock Green

Sandra

Episode: "A Quiet, Ordinary Woman"

1963

ITV Play of the Week

Marion

Episode: "The Touch of a Dead Hand"

1963

The Sentimental Agent

Shelah

Episode: "May the Saints Preserve Us"

1963

The Saint

Marion Kent

Episode: "The Sporting Chance"

1964

No Hiding Place

Samantha Kay

Episode: "The Things Money Can Buy"

1964

ITV Play of the Week

Helen Carver

Episode: "Design for Living"

1964

ITV Play of the Week

Celia

Episode: "The Other Man"

1964

ITV Play of the Week

Katie

Episode: "A Really Good Jazz Piano"

1965

The Ambassadors

Mamie Pocock

TV film

1965

The Saint

Gloria Mancini

Episode: "The Crime of the Century"

1965

The Man in Room 17

Marya Ference

Episode: "A Minor Operation"

1966

The Avengers

Sara

Episode: "A Touch of Brimstone"

1966

BBC Play of the Month

Barbara Davies

Episode: "Lee Oswald: Assassin"

1967

The Reluctant Romeo

Natalie

Episode: "A Tale of Two Secretaries"

1967

Man in a Suitcase

Miss Dinsdale

Episode: "The Sitting Pigeon"

1968

Love Story

Waitress

Episode: "The Egg on the Face of the Tiger"

1968

Journey to the Unknown

Lisa

Episode: "Do Me a Favor and Kill Me"

1969

Father, Dear Father

Bunny Mother

Episode: "We Can't Afford a Carriage"

1969–1974

Monty Python's Flying Circus

Various

32 episodes

1969

Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased)

Laura Slade

Episode: "For the Girl Who Has Everything"

1970

Foreign Exchange

Girl

TV film

1971

The Liver Birds

Fiancée

Episode: "The New Neighbour"

1971

The Persuaders!

Girl at Airport

Episode: "Element of Risk"

1972

The Lotus Eaters

Leigh Mervish

5 episodes

1973

Now Look Here

Nina

Episode: #2.1

1973

Doctor in Charge

Nurse Dobbs

Episode: "Men Without Women"

1973

Crime of Passion

Suzy

Episode: "Chantal"

1974

The Last Turkey in the Shop Show

Various

TV film

1978

Mike Yarwood in Persons

Sadie

Episode: #2.5

1985

Are You Being Served?

Lady Customer

Episode: "Friends and Neighbours"

1986

Hilary

Victoria Sands

Episode: "Over the Hill?"

1986

Only Fools and Horses

Sandra Potts

Episode: "The Miracle of Peckham"

1991

About Face

Mrs. Rodgers

Episode: "Tourist Attraction"

1992

Land of Hope and Gloria

Loretta

Episode: "The Authentic Taste of England"

1995

Fist of Fun

Mrs. Neil

Episode: #1.3

2013

Toast of London

Brooke Hooberman

Episode: "The End"

2022

First Dates

Herself

Episode: #18.2

References

Further reading