Michael Palin

Michael Palin Biography

by John Cleese

MICHAEL PALIN is not just one of Britain's foremost comedy character actors, whose inventive genius and astonishing versatility were vividly demonstrated in his widely acclaimed 'Ripping Yarns' series, he also talks a lot. Yap yap yap he goes, all day long and through the night, twenty three to the dozen, the ground littered with the hind legs of donkeys, till you believe it is not possible, simply not possible for him to go on any longer, but he does. He must be the worst man in the world to take on a commando raid. You might as well take a large radiogram with the volume turned up. On and on, hour after hour, tiring the sun with talking and sending him down the sky. Michael chats. quips, fantasises. reminisces, commiserates, encourages, plans. discusses, and elaborates. then, some nights, when everyone else has gone to bed, he goes home and writes up a diary. However, in 'Life of Brian' Michael brings to the screen a series of brilliant comic creations. Asked about his controversial portrayal of the Roman procurator. Pontius Pilate, Michael. typically relaxed and friendly, but with his eyes twinkling with effervescent irony, says 'hell it's funny you should ask me that because when I was up at Brasenose, well actually it happened before that in fact, It was at school at Shrewsbury in Shropshire, there's a Norman Church there called St. Chad's, no actually, se. Chad's dated from Norman times but in 1788 the tower fell down so it was rebuilt but the real Norman church is St. Mary's, anyway there was a fellow there called Paul Scott. I was reminded of him because I was reading the Raj Quartet last night, actually I finished it this morning, it is absolutely marvellous, bit like Hardy in a way, there's one scene where the British Commissioner is questioning an Indian spy, well he doesn't know he's a spy, and the point is��.

Taken from PythOnline.

Spouse
Helen Gibbins (1966 - present)

Trivia

He is a graduate of Oxford with a degree in History.

Member of the comedy group "Monty Python"

1. You've Got Mail (1998) ... aka You Have Mail (1997) (USA)
2. Ex-S (1997) (TV) .... Presenter
3. "Full Circle with Michael Palin" (1997) TV Series .... Himself
4. Fierce Creatures (1997) .... Adrian "Bugsy" Malone ... aka Death Fish II (1996) (USA)
5. Wind in the Willows, The (1996) .... The Sun ... aka Mr. Toad's Wild Ride (1997) (USA)
6. Monty Python & the Quest for the Holy Grail (1996) (VG)
7. "Palin's Column" (1994) TV Series .... Himself
8. "Pole to Pole" (1992) TV Series .... Himself
9. "GBH" (1991) (mini) TV Series .... Jim Nelson
10. American Friends (1991) .... Reverend Francis Ashby
11. "Around the World in 80 Days" (1989/II) TV Series .... Himself
12. Fish Called Wanda, A (1988) .... Ken
13. Brazil (1985) .... Jack Lint
14. Private Function, A (1985) .... Gilbert Chilvers
15. Secret Policeman's Private Parts, The (1984)
16. Monty Python's The Meaning of Life (1983) .... Various
17. Missionary, The (1982) .... The Reverend Charles Fortescue
18. Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl (1982) .... Various roles
19. Secret Policeman's Other Ball, The (1982) .... Himself/Various Roles
20. Secret Policeman's Ball, The (1981) .... Himself/Various Roles
21. Time Bandits (1980) .... Vincent
22. Life of Brian (1979) .... Francis, Pontius Pilate, Ben, Ex-Leper, Second Wise Man, Mr. Big Nose, Nisus
23. Wettus, Boring Prophet ... aka Monty Python's Life of Brian (1979)
24. All You Need Is Cash (1978) (TV) .... Eric Manchester ... aka Rutles, The (1978) (TV)
25. "Ripping Yarns" (1977) TV Series
26. Jabberwocky (1977) .... Dennis Cooper
27. Monty Python Meets Beyond the Fringe (1977) ... aka Pleasure at Her Majesty's (1977)
28. Red Dress (1977) (TV)
29. Three Men in a Boat (1975) (TV) .... Harris
30. Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1974) .... Sir Galahad, + minor roles
31. And Now for Something Completely Different (1971) .... Various roles
32. "Monty Python's Flying Circus" (1969) TV Series .... Various roles ... aka "Monty Python" (1969)
33. "Complete and Utter History of Britain" (1969) TV Series .... Various
34. How to Irritate People (1968) (TV) .... Various ... aka John Cleese on How to Irritate People (1968) (TV)
35. "Do Not Adjust Your Set" (1967) TV Series .... Various
36. "Twice a Fortnight" (1967) TV Series .... Writer/Performer

1. Monty Python & the Quest for the Holy Grail (1996) (VG) (screenplay Monty Python and the Holy Grail)
2. American Friends (1991)
3. Consuming Passions (1988) (play Secrets)
4. Number 27 (1988)
5. East of Ipswich (1987) (TV)
6. Monty Python's The Meaning of Life (1983)
7. Missionary, The (1982)
8. Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl (1982)
9. Time Bandits (1980)
10. Life of Brian (1979) ... aka Monty Python's Life of Brian (1979)
11. Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1974)
12. And Now for Something Completely Different (1971)
13. It's Marty (1969) (TV)

1. "Ripping Yarns" (1977) TV Series (creator)
2. "Monty Python's Flying Circus" (1969) TV Series (series creator) ... aka "Monty Python" (1969)
3. "Twice a Fortnight" (1967) TV Series (series creator)

1. Monty Python's The Meaning of Life (1983) (songs)
2. "Monty Python's Flying Circus" (1969) TV Series ... aka "Monty Python" (1969)

1. Missionary, The (1982)

1. "Home and Away" (1988) playing "surfer" 1997
2. "Saturday Night Live" (1975) playing "Host"(episode # 9.10) 1/21/1984
3. "Innes Book of Records, The" (1979) playing "policeman"(episode # 3.1) 9/28/1979
4. "Saturday Night Live" (1975) playing "Host"(episode # 4.18) 5/12/1979
5. "Saturday Night Live" (1975) playing "Host"(episode # 4.10) 1/27/1979
6. "Saturday Night Live" (1975) playing "Host"(episode # 3.16) 4/8/1978
7. "Broaden Your Mind" (1968)