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Michael Palin

Actor

Michael Palin

Born May 5, 1943 in Broomhill, Sheffield, England, UK60 films

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".

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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.

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The best way into Michael Palin's work
Monty Python and the Holy Grail posterFirst watchMonty Python and the Holy Grail19757.8as 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!King Arthur, accompanied by his squire, recruits his Knights of the Round Table, including Sir Bedevere the Wise, Sir Lancelot the Brave, Sir Robin the Not-Quite-So-Brave-As-Sir-Lancelot…View film

Essential films

Ranked by acclaim and reach
Life of Brian poster7.8Life of Brian1979Brazil poster7.7Brazil1985A Fish Called Wanda poster7.2A Fish Called Wanda1988Monty Python's The Meaning of Life poster7.3Monty Python's The Meaning of Life1983The Death of Stalin poster7.0The Death of Stalin2017The Witches poster7.0The Witches1990Arthur Christmas poster6.8Arthur Christmas2011Time Bandits poster6.6Time Bandits1981

Filmography

60 films as actor
  1. TBAClose-Up Toothpaste Relaunchsalesman
  2. 2026The Magic Faraway TreeKnow All
  3. 2026Joke
  4. 2020Jeepers CreepersNewscaster (voice)
  5. 2017The Death of StalinVyacheslav Molotov
  6. 2015Absolutely AnythingKindly Alien (voice)
  7. 2014The New Incomplete And Utter History Of Everything
  8. 2013The Wipers TimesGeneral Mitford
  9. 2012A Liar's Autobiography: The Untrue Story of Monty Python's Graham ChapmanVarious (voice)
  10. 2011Arthur ChristmasErnie Clicker (voice)
  11. 2010Not The Messiah: The Road To Albert Hall
  12. 2010Not the Messiah (He's a Very Naughty Boy)Mrs. Betty Palin / Julius Caesar / Bevis
  13. 2008Life Of Brian ScreenplayWise Man #3, Mr. Big Nose, Francis, Mrs. A, Ex-Leper
  14. 2007Robbie the Reindeer in Close Encounters of the Herd KindGariiiiiii (voice)
  15. 2006Monty Python's Flying Circus—John Cleese's Personal BestVarious Characters
  16. 2006Monty Python's Flying Circus—Terry Gilliam's Personal BestVarious Characters
  17. 2006Monty Python's Flying Circus—Graham Chapman's Personal BestVarious Characters
  18. 2006Monty Python's Flying Circus—Eric Idle's Personal BestVarious Characters
  19. 2006Monty Python's Flying Circus—Graham Chapman's Personal BestVarious Characters
  20. 1997Fierce CreaturesAdrian "Bugsy" Malone
  21. 1996The Willows in WinterRat
  22. 1996The Wind in the WillowsThe Sun
  23. 1995The Wind in the WillowsRat (voice)
  24. 1993Tracey Ullman: A Class ActVarious
  25. 1991Rabbit Ears - Jack and the BeanstalkNarrator (voice)
  26. 1991American FriendsRev. Francis Ashby
  27. 1990The WitchesWitch at Meeting (uncredited)
  28. 1988A Fish Called WandaKen Pile
  29. 1985BrazilJack Lint
  30. 1984A Private FunctionGilbert Chilvers
  31. 1984The DressHoward
  32. 1983Monty Python's The Meaning of LifeVarious Roles
  33. 1983The Crimson Permanent AssuranceWorkman
  34. 1982The MissionaryThe Reverend Charles Fortescue
  35. 1982Monty Python Live at the Hollywood BowlVarious Roles
  36. 1981Time BanditsVincent
  37. 1981The Box(voice)
  38. 1979The Secret Policeman's BallVarious Roles
  39. 1979Roger of the RajRoger
  40. 1979Golden GordonGordon Ottershaw
  41. 1979Whinfrey's Last CaseGerald Whinfrey
  42. 1979Life of BrianWise Man #3 / Mr. Big Nose / Francis / Mrs. A / Ex-Leper / Announcer / Ben / Pontius Pilate / Boring Prophet / Eddie / Shoe Follower / Nisus Wettus
  43. 1978The Rutles: All You Need Is CashEric Manchester
  44. 1977The Curse of the ClawKevin Orr / Uncle Jack
  45. 1977Across the Andes by FrogCaptain Walter Snetterton
  46. 1977Murder at Moorstones ManorCharles Chiddingford
  47. 1977Escape from Stalag Luft 112BMajor Errol Phipps
  48. 1977The Testing of Eric OlthwaiteEric Olthwaite / Bank Manager
  49. 1977The Broken Bottle
  50. 1977JabberwockyDennis Cooper
  51. 1976Tomkinson's SchooldaysTomkinson / Headmaster / TV Introducer / Mr Craffitt
  52. 1975Three Men in a BoatHarris
  53. 1975Monty Python and the Holy GrailFirst 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!
  54. 1974Henry Cleans UpHenry
  55. 1973Monty Python In The NetherlandsPie Face 3
  56. 1972The Philosophers' Football MatchNietzsche
  57. 1971The Great Birds Eye Peas Relaunch 1971
  58. 1971Euroshow '71: May Day SpecialVarious (as Montypython Flyingcircus)
  59. 1970Monty Python: Who's There?Ken
  60. 1969How to Irritate PeopleVarious