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Michael Palin
Michael Palin

Michael Palin

ActingBorn May 5, 1943 (age 83)Broomhill, Sheffield, England, UK

Biography

Michael Edward Palin, CBE FRGS (born 5 May 1943) is an English comedian, actor, writer and television presenter best known for being one of the members of the comedy group Monty Python and for his travel documentaries. Palin wrote most of his comedic material with Terry Jones. Before Monty Python, they had worked on other shows such as The Ken Dodd Show, The Frost Report and Do Not Adjust Your Set. Palin appeared in some of the most famous Python sketches, including "Argument Clinic", "Dead Parrot", "The Lumberjack Song", and "The Spanish Inquisition". Palin continued to work with Jones after Python, co-writing Ripping Yarns. He has also appeared in several films directed by fellow Python Terry Gilliam and made notable appearances in other films such as A Fish Called Wanda, for which he won the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role. In a 2005 poll to find The Comedian's Comedian, he was voted the 30th favourite by fellow comedians and comedy insiders. After Python, he began a new career as a travel writer and travel documentarian. His journeys have taken him across the world, including the North and South Poles, the Sahara desert, the Himalayas and, most recently, Eastern Europe. In 2000 Palin was honoured as a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for his services to television.

Filmography

2026Movie
2026
Small Prophets

as Brian Sleep

TV
2026Movie
2025TV
2025
The Secret Life of Trees

as Self - Narrator

TV
2025Movie
2025TV
2022Movie
2021
Monty Python's Best Bits Celebrated

as Self (archive footage)(uncredited)

Movie
2020
Jeepers Creepers

as Newscaster (voice)

Movie
2020
Staged

as Michael

TV
2019
Worzel Gummidge

as The Green Man

TV
2019Movie
2019Movie
2018TV
2018
Vanity Fair

as William Makepeace Thackeray

TV
2017
The Death of Stalin

as Vyacheslav Molotov

Movie
2016Movie
2015
Clangers

as Narrator (voice)

TV
2015
Artsnight

as Self

TV
2015
Absolutely Anything

as Kindly Alien (voice)

Movie
2014TV
2014
Remember Me

as Tom Parfitt

TV
2014
Monty Python's Best Bits (Mostly)

as Self (archive footage)

TV
2014Movie
2013
The Wipers Times

as General Mitford

Movie
2013Movie
2012Movie
2012
Brazil with Michael Palin

as Self (Presenter)

TV
2011
Arthur Christmas

as Ernie Clicker (voice)

Movie
2011
Making Qi

as Self

Movie
2011TV
2010
ZULU Comedy Galla

as Michael Palin

TV
2010
Not the Messiah (He's a Very Naughty Boy)

as Mrs. Betty Palin / Julius Caesar / Bevis

Movie
2009Movie
2008Movie
2008Movie
2008
Life Of Brian Screenplay

as Wise Man #3, Mr. Big Nose, Francis, Mrs. A, Ex-Leper

Movie
2007TV
2007
Hitler: The Comedy Years

as Heinrich Himmler (archive footage) (uncredited)

Movie
2007
What the Pythons Did Next...

as Self (archive footage)

Movie
2007Movie
2006
Legends

as Self

TV
2006
The One Show

as Self - Guest

TV
2006
Monty Python's Personal Best

as Self / Various Characters

TV
2005
The Roots of Monty Python

as Self (archive footage)

Movie
2005Movie
2004
Himalaya with Michael Palin

as Self - Presenter

TV
2004Movie
2004Movie
2004Movie
2003Movie
2002
Sahara with Michael Palin

as Self - Presenter

TV
1999Movie
1998TV
1998
Parkinson

as Self

TV
1997
Palin on Redpath

as Self - Presenter

Movie
1997
Fierce Creatures

as Adrian "Bugsy" Malone

Movie
1996Movie
1996Movie
1993TV
1993Movie
1993Movie
1992TV
1991Movie
1991
G.B.H.

as Jim Nelson

TV
1991
American Friends

as Rev. Francis Ashby

Movie
1990
The Witches

as Witch at Meeting (uncredited)

Movie
1990Movie
1990
Life of Python

as Self / Various Roles

Movie
1989
The Simpsons

as Springfield History Museum curator (voice)

TV
1989Movie
1988Movie
1987TV
1986Movie
1985
Brazil

as Jack Lint

Movie
1984
A Private Function

as Gilbert Chilvers

Movie
1984
The Dress

as Howard

Movie
1983Movie
1982
The Missionary

as The Reverend Charles Fortescue

Movie
1982
Wogan

as Self

TV
1982
The Secret Policeman's Other Ball

as Self - Various Roles

Movie
1981
Time Bandits

as Vincent

Movie
1981
The Box

as (voice)

Movie
1980TV
1980
Great Railway Journeys

as Self - Presenter

TV
1979Movie
1979Movie
1979
Golden Gordon

as Gordon Ottershaw

Movie
1979
Whinfrey's Last Case

as Gerald Whinfrey

Movie
1979
Life of Brian

as Wise Man #3 / Mr. Big Nose / Francis / Mrs. A / Ex-Leper / Announcer / Ben / Pontius Pilate / Boring Prophet / Eddie / Shoe Follower / Nisus Wettus

Movie
1978Movie
1977
The Curse of the Claw

as Kevin Orr / Uncle Jack

Movie
1977
Across the Andes by Frog

as Captain Walter Snetterton

Movie
1977
Murder at Moorstones Manor

as Charles Chiddingford

Movie
1977
Escape from Stalag Luft 112B

as Major Errol Phipps

Movie
1977
The Testing of Eric Olthwaite

as Eric Olthwaite / Bank Manager

Movie
1977
Jabberwocky

as Dennis Cooper

Movie
1976
Tomkinson's Schooldays

as Tomkinson / Headmaster / TV Introducer / Mr Craffitt

Movie
1976
Ripping Yarns

as Gerald Whinfrey

TV
1976
Ripping Yarns

as Kevin Orr / Uncle Jack

TV
1976TV
1975Movie
1975
Saturday Night Live

as Self - Co-Host

TV
1975
Saturday Night Live

as Self - Special Guest

TV
1975
Saturday Night Live

as Dick Savage (uncredited)

TV
1975
Saturday Night Live

as Self - Host

TV
1975
Saturday Night Live

as Self / Various (uncredited)

TV
1975
Monty Python and the Holy Grail

as First Swallow-Savvy Guard / Dennis / Peasant 2 / Right Head / Sir Galahad the Pure / Narrator / King of Swamp Castle / Brother Maynard's Brother / Leader of The Knights Who Say NI!

Movie
1974Movie
1973Movie
1972
Full House

as Various

TV
1972TV
1971
Film '72

as Self

TV
1971
And Now for Something Completely Different

as Gumby / Man with tape recorder / Phrasebook Author / Arthur Pewtey / Second self - defence student / Second Tenant / Lost His Wallet / Shrill Petrol Announcer / Milkman / Ernest Scribbler / Pet shop employee / Lumberjack / Headwaiter Gilberto / Herbert Anchovy / Blackmail Presenter / Gervais Brookhamster / Town Guild Lady

Movie
1971
Euroshow '71: May Day Special

as Various (as Montypython Flyingcircus)

Movie
1970Movie
1969
Monty Python's Flying Circus

as Various / "It's" man

TV
1969Movie
1968
Frost on Sunday

as Self / Various Characters

TV
1967
Do Not Adjust Your Set

as Various Characters

TV
1966
Isadora Duncan, the Biggest Dancer in the World

as Jazz Band Undertaker (uncredited)

Movie
Movie

Personal Info

DepartmentActing
BirthdayMay 5, 1943
Place of BirthBroomhill, Sheffield, England, UK
Popularity1.5