Not travelling so light! John Cleese cuts a more portly figure as he steps off a plane at JFK airport
He has recently said that he is the happiest he's even been in his life.
But John Cleese, who was once known as the 'wafer thin' eccentric hotel manager Basil Fawlty, appeared to be carrying a little extra baggage when he stepped off a flight out of Miami on Monday.
The adored Fawlty Towers actor, 75, showed off a more rotund stomach in a polo shirt and open coat at JFK airport having taken an American Airlines flight into New York.
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Cutting a new silhouette: John Cleese showed off a more round stomach when he stepped off a plane at New York's JFK airport
The 6ft 5in actor, a grand father of two, bore more of a resemblance with one of his Monty Python characters Mr Creosote, who he classically portrayed in the 1983 musical comedy.
A moustached Cleese looked tired as he waited for his plane, hauling his own baggage through customs ahead of the US Thanksgiving celebrations on Thursday.
John's 30-year-old daughter Camilla, a stand up comic, recently made loving jibes at her father's eating habits in a recent interview with The Times, saying he had a tendency to finish people's food.
Back in the day: During his time as Basil Fawlty on Fawlty Towers, John's 6ft 5in body would have been described as 'lanky'
Drawing comparisons: John once joked about being overweight during his glory days in Monty Python, as Mr Creosote
She said: ‘He has just met the people and he will start eating off their plate without asking.
'I realise he is going to pick up the cheque at the end of the meal but that doesn't really entitle you to help yourself.’
Another sticking point for Camilla is how the veteran comedian uses a wet finger to pick up breadcrumbs left on the table.
She said: ‘I was grossed out. He was: “How large must a breadcrumb be for it to constitute being a piece of bread?” Really?’
Table manners: John's comedienne daughter Camilla Cleese recently poked fun at her father's eating habits
But the blonde beauty appeared to be laughing off her father's bad table manners after claiming that he argues that eating with an open mouth ‘aerates the food and makes it taste better.’
Having recently settled with his wife in London, revered British comic John has reflected on the importance of having laughter in his life.
Cleese recently wrote a book entitled So Anyway... in which he explains how being an only child helped him appreciate the having comedy value.
The comedian told Reuters that writing the book was 'the most fun I have had in 10 years' and that he is now 'the happiest I have ever been in my life', living in London with his wife and three cats.
Loves to laugh: The actor was in town to talk to Bill Maher on Real Time, but naturally didn't take himself too seriously
Life of laughter: He has recently written a book entitled So Anyway... in which he explains the importance of laughter throughout his life
John has been married to his fourth wife, 43-year-old Jennifer Wade, since 2012 and despite his dramatically different appearance says he's more content than ever.
Having rocketed to fame at the age of 30 with the explosion of Monty Python, the 70-something also explained how comedy had become stronger throughout his life.
He said: 'Making people happy for an evening is a rather useful thing to do in this world,' he said. 'I think I rather downplayed it in the past.'
John was in town for business after jetting into NYC to appear on Real Time With Bill Maher.
Happiest ever: The actor recently opened up, saying he was the happiest he'd ever been with fourth wife Jennifer Wade (pictured left)
All smiles: Having said he's in a very good place, John was spotted smiling widely outside London's BBC Radio 2 studios on Friday
Back in London: John stuck his hands in his pockets, covering up his tummy with a navy blue overcoat
Always a smile: The adored comedian shared a cheeky smile with the cameras as he left the morning appearance
Taking the time: John stopped while fans waited outside in the cold to catch a glimpse of the star
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