Michael Palin
Acting
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.
Born: May 5, 1943
Place of Birth: Broomhill, Sheffield, England, UK
Known For
Monty Python's Flying Circus—Graham Chapman's Personal Best
Monty Python's Personal Best is a miniseries of six one-hour specials, each showcasing the contributions of a particular Monty Python member. The five surviving Pythons pay homage to the late, great Graham Chapman in this retrospective of his best work with the legendary comedy troupe.
ZULU Comedy Galla
Fawlty Towers: 50 Years of Laughs
A celebration of John Cleese and Connie Booth's acclaimed sitcom following the misadventures of Torquay hotel owner Basil Fawlty. The programme explores its phenomenal success, with a selection of its finest moments, and contributions from fans, experts and supporting cast members.
Tomkinson's Schooldays
New boarder Tomkinson is thoroughly miserable at Graybridge public school where he has to fight the grizzly bear,get nailed to the wall on St Tadger's Day and do the bidding of Grayson,also known as School Bully. When his mother refuses to let him come home he makes several attempts to escape,all unsuccessful,but after winning the Thirty Mile Hop against a rival (Buddhist) public school he is promoted to School Bully when Grayson leaves for Eton.
Escape from Stalag Luft 112B
During World War I Major Errol Phipps is determined to escape from Stalag Luft 112B but his attempts all fail. However all the other prisoners and the guards succeed, leaving him alone in the camp to make elaborate plans - including a tunnel system so extensive it becomes the Munich Underground. He is so obsessed with his escape plans he fails to realize that the war has ended and dies a disappointed man. He does however manage to escape from his grave after he has been buried though.
Whinfrey's Last Case
In 1913 the British government, hearing that the Germans are planning World War I, ask top agent Whinfrey to intervene, but instead he decides to go on holiday to Cornish fishing village Torpoint. Here he believes he has stumbled upon a smuggling ring, but in fact they are Germans who are masquerading as locals in an advance invasion party. The British arrive and arrest them, believing that Whinfrey deliberately planned everything - though it is apparent that he did not.
The Best of Monty Python's Flying Circus Volume 1
Compilation of the best Sketches of the first series of Monty Python's Flying Circus, which ran from 5 October 1969 to 11 January 1970. Memorable moments include: 'The 127th Upperclass Twit of the Year Competition from Hurlingham Park'; 'Bicycle Repair Man'; 'Vicious Gangs of Old Ladies - the Layabouts in Lace'; 'The Man with Three Buttocks'; 'The Lumberjack Song'; 'Vocational Guidance Councillor'; and 'The Joke That Kills People'. Oh, and a sketch about a dead parrot.
The Best of Monty Python's Flying Circus Volume 2
All the best sketches from the second series of the ground-breaking comedy. Memorable moments include: 'It's in the Mind'; 'The New Cooker Sketch'; 'Nobody Expects the Spanish Inquisition'; and 'The Ministry for Silly Walks'. Originally Broadcast from 15 September to 22 December 1970
Python at 50: Silly Talks and Holy Grails
From ‘something completely different’ to icons of comedy and national treasures, this is a collection of rarely-seen Monty Python moments from the BBC archives, following the group’s encounters with ‘Auntie’ over the past 50 years.
Travels with Palin
"From what I gather, people feel they are doing a journey with me. They like following someone who is relatively inexpert, who likes to travel but is by no means an authority."
Filmography
as Brian
as Self - Host
as Self - Narrator
as Self
as Self
as Self
as Self
as Self (archive footage)(uncredited)
as Newscaster (voice)
as Self - Host
as Michael
as The Green Man
as Self (archive footage)
as Self
as Self - Host
as William Makepeace Thackeray
as Vyacheslav Molotov
as Self
as Kindly Alien (voice)
as Self
as Self
as Tom Parfitt
as Self (archive footage)
as Self, others
as Self
as Self
as General Mitford
as Self
as Self
as Self (Presenter)
as Self
as Self
as Ernie Clicker (voice)
as Self
as Self
as Self
as Michael Palin
as Mrs. Betty Palin / Julius Caesar / Bevis
as Self
as Self
as Self
as Presenter
as Self
as Self
as Wise Man #3, Mr. Big Nose, Francis, Mrs. A, Ex-Leper
as Gariiiiiii (voice)
as Self
as Self
as Heinrich Himmler (archive footage) (uncredited)
as Self
as Self
as Self (archive footage)
as Self
as Self - Guest
as Various Characters
as Various Characters
as Various Characters
as Various Characters
as Various Characters
as Self / Various Characters
as Various Characters
as Self (archive footage)
as Self
as Self - Presenter
as Self (archive footage)
as Self (archive footage)
as Self (archive footage)
as Self
as Self - Presenter
as Self - Presenter
as Self
as Self
as Self
as Self
as Self - Presenter
as Adrian 'Bugsy' Malone
as Rat
as The Sun
as Rat
as Self
as Self - Guest
as Various
as Self
as Narrator (voice)
as Jim Nelson
as Rev. Francis Ashby
as Witch at Meeting (uncredited)
as Self
as Self / Various Roles
as Springfield History Museum curator (voice)
as Self / Various Characters
as Self
as Ken Pile
as Self
as Self
as Jack Lint
as Gilbert Chilvers
as Howard
as Various Roles
as Workman
as The Reverend Charles Fortescue
as Various Roles
as Self
as Self - Various Roles
as Vincent
as (voice)
as Self
as Self - Presenter
as Various Roles
as Roger
as Gordon Ottershaw
as Gerald Whinfrey
as Wise Man #3 / Mr. Big Nose / Francis / Mrs. A / Ex-Leper / Announcer / Ben / Pontius Pilate / Boring Prophet / Eddie / Shoe Follower / Nisus Wettus
as Eric Manchester
as Kevin Orr / Uncle Jack
as Captain Walter Snetterton
as Charles Chiddingford
as Major Errol Phipps
as Eric Olthwaite / Bank Manager
as Dennis Cooper
as Self
as Self
as Tomkinson / Headmaster / TV Introducer / Mr Craffitt
as Gerald Whinfrey
as Kevin Orr / Uncle Jack
as Roger
as Harris
as Self - Co-Host
as Self - Special Guest
as Dick Savage (uncredited)
as Self - Host
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!
as Self
as Henry
as Various
as Various Characters
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
as Various (as Montypython Flyingcircus)
as Narrator (voice)
as Various / "It's" man
as Various
as Various Characters
as Jazz Band Undertaker (uncredited)
as salesman