John Cleese says he’s ‘glad he suffered a nervous breakdown’ after third divorce from Alyce Faye Eichelberger as he opens up on battle with depression

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John Cleese admitted he was ‘glad that he had a nervous breakdown’ following his third divorce. 

The 86-year-old entertainer shared that his 2008 divorce from Alyce Faye Eichelberger led to three months of depression, in footage from his upcoming documentary.

John Cleese’s new book, released on November 13th, shares many previously unseen personal stories and moments with his fans.

The actor openly shared his experience with depression, explaining that even though it was a difficult time, it helped him understand what truly mattered in life.

He shared that he went through a severe mental health crisis lasting roughly two to three months, during which he had thoughts of suicide.

John explained that mornings were difficult, saying he felt extremely down for the first few hours after waking up.

He added that he was actually grateful it happened to him. It helped him understand what truly mattered in life, as it’s easy to lose sight of what’s important.

John Cleese was married twice: first to Connie Booth, his co-star on Fawlty Towers, from 1968 to 1978, and later to American actress Barbara Trentham from 1981 to 1990.

He married Alyce, a psychotherapist and author, in 1992 and they divorced in 2008.

As a lifestyle expert, I’ve seen firsthand how financial settlements can be surprisingly complex. In this case, a woman received a $20 million settlement back in 2008. Interestingly, the other party involved, a comedian, has publicly stated he actually ended up in a worse financial position than she did after the deal. It really highlights how important it is to fully understand the long-term implications of any financial agreement.

John is currently married to Jennifer Wade, age 52, and she appears briefly in his funny 80-minute movie. The film follows John constantly, with cameras recording his life around the clock.

The film follows John Cleese on tour, showcasing his performances to packed audiences. It also gives a behind-the-scenes look at the dedicated team who make his shows possible, handling everything from travel to even satisfying his fondness for cheese.

The comedian titled his show ‘Last Chance to See Me Before I Die,’ playfully referencing his age and health problems. He openly discussed these ailments with fans, using humor to address his feelings about getting older.

The new feature follows Cleese as he visits 16 cities across five countries in just six weeks.

At a London screening on Tuesday, he quipped that audiences would finally see a different side of him – not just the charming and carefree persona he’s known for, but also the frail, confused, and unpleasant older man his publicists work hard to keep hidden.

You’ll witness the difficult reality of an 85-year-old performer battling through a 23-city European tour, hoping to entertain audiences who are unhappy with their expensive tickets.

This criticism is both brutal and unintentionally funny – people aren’t laughing with me, they’re laughing at me.

For confidential support, contact Samaritans on 116 123 or visit samaritans.org 

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2025-11-13 04:50