John Cleese admitted he was ‘glad that he had a nervous breakdown’ following his third divorce.
The veteran entertainer, 86, recalled his split from his ex-wife Alyce Faye Eichelberger in 2008 that sent him into three months of depression while speaking in scenes from his forthcoming documentary feature.
John Cleese Packs It In, which was released on November 13, includes many personal moments that fans haven’t previously seen.
In a candid discussion about his mental health struggle, the actor admitted that, despite suffering with depression, it gave him a ‘grasp on what was important in life.’
He admitted he experienced ‘two and a half, three months of a nervous breakdown with suicidal thoughts.’
John added: ‘It was very unpleasant waking up in the morning, because you feel very, very depressed for the first couple of hours.’
John Cleese admitted he was ‘glad that he had a nervous breakdown’ following his third divorce (pictured last week)
The veteran entertainer, 86, recalled his split from his ex-wife Alyce Faye Eichelberger in 2008 that sent him into three months of depression in his documentary (pictured in 2002)
He continued: ‘And I think I’m glad it happened to me, because it gave me a much more realistic grasp of what was important in life, because we can certainly get distracted.’
John was married to Fawlty Towers co-star Connie Booth from 1968 to 1978 and then married American actress Barbara Trentham from 1981 to 1990.
He married Alyce, a psychotherapist and author, in 1992 and they divorced in 2008.
She was awarded $20 million (£15.5 million) in a settlement in 2008, and the comic has previously complained that the deal left him worse off than her.
John is currently married to his fourth wife Jennifer Wade, 52, who makes several cameos in the hilarious 80 minute movie, where the star lets cameras follow his every move 24/7.
The film shows Cleese performing in front of sold-out crowds as he’s transported to and from various venues by his intimate touring team, who cater for his every need – including his cheese addiction.
The funnyman named the show Last Chance to See Me Before I Die, one of various nods to his old age and his many health ailments, which he listed off in full to shock fans while discussing his feelings on getting older.
The new feature follows Cleese as he visits 16 cities across five countries in just six weeks.
In a candid discussion about his mental health struggle, the actor admitted that, despite suffering with depression, it gave him a ‘grasp on what was important in life’
Cleese is currently married to his fourth wife Jennifer Wade (pictured last week) who makes several cameos in the hilarious 80 minute movie
Attending a screening in London on Tuesday, he joked: ‘For the first time, audiences will see a different side to me – not just the dashing, devil-may-care, devastatingly handsome bon viveur, but also the decrepit, addled, nasty old geriatric that my PR team work day and night to hide from the public.
‘You will see with your own eyes what it’s really like for a moribund 85 year old to struggle through a 23-city European tour, desperately trying to squeeze a few laughs from audiences who are clearly disappointed that they’ve wasted their hard-earned cash on over-priced tickets.
‘This hatchet job is not just shocking, it’s also hilarious, as audiences everywhere laugh, not with me, but at me.’
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