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Michael Palin
Sir Michael Edward Palin KCMG, CBE, FRGS, FRSGS, FRSL (/ˈpeɪlɪn/; born 5 May 1943) is an English actor, comedian, writer, and television presenter. He was a member of the Monty Python comedy group. Though he started in television working on programs including the Ken Dodd Show, The Frost Report, and Do Not Adjust Your Set, he became best known for joining Monty Python's Flying Circus (1969–1974) alongside John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones, and Graham Chapman, acting in many of the most famous Python sketches. He continued to work with Jones after Python, co-writing Ripping Yarns.
In addition to the Python repertoire, he co-wrote and starred in Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975), Life of Brian (1979) and The Meaning of Life (1983). He won the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for A Fish Called Wanda (1988). Other notable films include Jabberwocky (1977), Time Bandits (1981), The Missionary (1982), A Private Function (1984), Fierce Creatures (1997), and The Death of Stalin (2017). Since 1980, he has made numerous television travel documentaries as a writer and presenter. His travels took him across the world, including the North and South Poles, the Sahara, the Himalayas, Eastern Europe, Brazil, and North Korea among others.
Biography, Career & Filmography
Learn more about Michael Palin, including a detailed biography, career timeline, personal life insights, and complete filmography. Discover how Michael Palin rose to fame, their major roles, industry impact, and personal milestones in the world of film.
Given Name: Michael Edward Palin
Born: Sheffield, West Riding of Yorkshire, England
Citizenship: British
Birthday: May 5, 1943
Occupations: Actor, comedian, writer, television presenter
Years Active: 1965-present
Children: 3
Spouses: Helen Gibbins
External Links and Streaming Options
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Awards and Nominations Received by Michael Palin
Explore the awards, honors, and nominations Michael Palin has earned across their acting career. From prestigious wins to critical acclaim, see how their talent has been recognized by the film industry and major award bodies.
Movies Featuring Michael Palin
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Monty Python's Life of Brian
The Meaning of Life
The Death of Stalin
Time Bandits
Jabberwocky (re-release)
Produced By George Martin
Making Qi
The Wipers Times
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Not the Messiah (He’s a Very Naughty Boy)
Brazil with Michael Palin
The Meaning of Monty Python
Michael Palin In Wyeth’s World
Monty Python: And Now for Something Rather Similar
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Monty Python Live (Mostly)
Anatomy of a Liar
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Monty Python’s Best Bits (Mostly)
The Secret Policeman’s Ball
50 Years of BBC Two Comedy
Monty Python: The Meaning of Live
Spike Milligan: Love, Light and Peace
Rik Mayall: Lord of Misrule
Michael Palin: A Life on Screen
Vanity Fair
Michael Palin in North Korea
Attenborough at 90
An Accidental Studio
Python at 50: Silly Talks and Holy Grails
Worzel Gummidge: The Green Man
The Unknown Peter Sellers
Sahara with Michael Palin
The Quest for the Holy Grail Locations
The Meaning of Making ‘The Meaning of Life’
Himalaya with Michael Palin
Best Sellers or: Peter Sellers and ‘Dr. Strangelove’
Remember the Secret Policeman’s Ball?
The Roots of Monty Python
50 Films to See Before You Die
Life on Air: David Attenborough’s 50 Years in Television
Michael Palin & the Mystery of Hammershøi
Monty Python’s Flying Circus—Terry Gilliam’s Personal Best
Monty Python’s Flying Circus—Michael Palin’s Personal Best
Monty Python’s Flying Circus—Terry Jones’ Personal Best
Michael Palin’s New Europe
Life of Python
Monty Python’s Flying Circus—Eric Idle’s Personal Best
Monty Python’s Personal Best
G.B.H.
The Box
Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl
Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life
The Crimson Permanent Assurance
A Private Function
What Is Brazil?
John Cleese’s First Farewell Performance
The Secret Policeman’s Biggest Ball
Michael Palin: Around the World in 80 Days
Peter Sellers: A State of Comic Ecstasy
American Friends
Great Railway Journeys - Confessions of a Train Spotter
Parrot Sketch Not Included: Twenty Years of Monty Python
John Peel’s Record Box
The Secret Policeman’s Other Ball
The Grand Knockout Tournament
The Fringe, Fame and Me
Michael Palin: Into Iraq
Fawlty Towers: 50 Years of Laughs
Parrot Sketch Not Included: Twenty Years of Monty Python
Euroshow ’71: May Day Special
Monty Python’s Fliegender Zirkus
Murder at Moorstones Manor
The Testing of Eric Olthwaite
The Pythons: Somewhere in Tunisia, Circa A.D. 1979
The Curse of the Claw
Jabberwocky
The Rutles: All You Need Is Cash
Three Men in a Boat
Is This a Record?
Across the Andes by Frog
Monty Python: Who’s There?
Monty Python: Live at Aspen
Isadora Duncan, the Biggest Dancer in the World
Monty Python: Before the Flying Circus
Fawlty Towers: Re-Opened
Roger of the Raj
Monty Python & the Holy Grail Location Report
The Seventh Python
Monty Python In The Netherlands
Escape from Stalag Luft 112B
The Secret Policeman’s Ball
Pole to Pole
Ending It All
The Great Birds Eye Peas Relaunch 1971
The Wind in the Willows
The Wind in the Willows
Henry Cleans Up
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Monty Python: Almost the Truth (The Lawyer’s Cut)
Marty Feldman: Six Degrees of Separation
Pleasure at Her Majesty’s
And Now for Something Completely Different
When Bruce Springsteen Came to Britain
Monty Python Conquers America
The Willows in Winter
Tomkinson’s Schooldays
The Academy of Armando
Michael Palin in Nigeria
Golden Gordon
Career Timeline
Track the complete movie timeline of Michael Palin, including all film releases, career breakthroughs, and notable roles. Follow their journey from early performances to recent blockbusters and upcoming projects.
2014
Monty Python: And Now for Something Rather Similar
Self
Monty Python Live (Mostly)
Self, others
50 Years of BBC Two Comedy
Self
Monty Python: The Meaning of Live
Self
Spike Milligan: Love, Light and Peace
Himself
Rik Mayall: Lord of Misrule
Self
2013
The Wipers Times
General Mitford
The Meaning of Monty Python
Self
Michael Palin In Wyeth’s World
Himself
2008
Monty Python: Before the Flying Circus
Self
The Seventh Python
Self
Marty Feldman: Six Degrees of Separation
Self
Monty Python Conquers America
Self
2006
50 Films to See Before You Die
Self
Monty Python’s Flying Circus—Terry Gilliam’s Personal Best
Various Characters
Monty Python’s Flying Circus—Michael Palin’s Personal Best
Monty Python’s Flying Circus—Terry Jones’ Personal Best
Various Characters
Monty Python’s Flying Circus—Eric Idle’s Personal Best
Various Characters
2005
The Roots of Monty Python
Self (archive footage)
Michael Palin & the Mystery of Hammershøi
Host
John Peel’s Record Box
Self
2004
Best Sellers or: Peter Sellers and ‘Dr. Strangelove’
Self
Remember the Secret Policeman’s Ball?
Self
1989
The Secret Policeman’s Biggest Ball
Self
Parrot Sketch Not Included: Twenty Years of Monty Python
Self / Various Characters
Parrot Sketch Not Included: Twenty Years of Monty Python
Self / Various Characters
1983
The Meaning of Life
Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life
Various Roles
The Crimson Permanent Assurance
Workman
1982
Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl
Various Roles
The Secret Policeman’s Other Ball
Self - Various Roles
1979
Monty Python's Life of Brian
The Pythons: Somewhere in Tunisia, Circa A.D. 1979
Self
Roger of the Raj
Roger
The Secret Policeman’s Ball
Various Roles
Golden Gordon
Gordon Ottershaw
1977
Murder at Moorstones Manor
Charles Chiddingford
The Testing of Eric Olthwaite
Eric Olthwaite / Bank Manager
The Curse of the Claw
Kevin Orr / Uncle Jack
Jabberwocky
Dennis Cooper
Across the Andes by Frog
Captain Walter Snetterton
Escape from Stalag Luft 112B
Major Errol Phipps
1976
Pleasure at Her Majesty’s
Self
Tomkinson’s Schooldays
Tomkinson / Headmaster / TV Introducer / Mr Craffitt
1971
Euroshow ’71: May Day Special
Various (as Montypython Flyingcircus)
The Great Birds Eye Peas Relaunch 1971
And Now for Something Completely Different
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 A…
1000
Brazil with Michael Palin
Self (Presenter)
Monty Python’s Best Bits (Mostly)
Self (archive footage)
Vanity Fair
William Makepeace Thackeray
Michael Palin in North Korea
Himself - Host
Worzel Gummidge: The Green Man
The Green Man
Sahara with Michael Palin
Self - Presenter
Himalaya with Michael Palin
Self - Presenter
Michael Palin’s New Europe
Himself
Monty Python’s Personal Best
Self / Various Characters
G.B.H.
Jim Nelson
Michael Palin: Around the World in 80 Days
Himself
Michael Palin: Into Iraq
Monty Python’s Fliegender Zirkus
Various Characters
Pole to Pole
Himself
Monty Python: Almost the Truth (The Lawyer’s Cut)
Self
Michael Palin in Nigeria
Self
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