Michael Palin
Acting
Born: May 5, 1943 (age 83) · Broomhill, Sheffield, England, UK
Highest Rated
Best Movie
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
1975 · 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!
Best TV Show
Monty Python's Flying Circus
1969 · Various / "It's" man · 45 eps
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.
Known for
The Simpsons
1989
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
1975
Life of Brian
1979
Brazil
1985
A Fish Called Wanda
1988
The Death of Stalin
2017
Monty Python's The Meaning of Life
1983
Arthur Christmas
2011
Absolutely Anything
2015
The Witches
1990
Time Bandits
1981
Monty Python's Flying Circus
1969
Photos (5)
Movies (68)
The Magic Faraway Tree
Know All
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
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!
Brazil
Jack Lint
Life of Brian
Wise Man #3 / Mr. Big Nose / Francis / Mrs. A / Ex-Leper / Announcer / Ben / Pontius Pilate / Boring Prophet / Eddie / Shoe Follower / Nisus Wettus
The Death of Stalin
Vyacheslav Molotov
Arthur Christmas
Ernie Clicker (voice)
A Fish Called Wanda
Ken Pile
The Witches
Witch at Meeting (uncredited)
Time Bandits
Vincent
Absolutely Anything
Kindly Alien (voice)
Monty Python's The Meaning of Life
Various Roles
Jabberwocky
Dennis Cooper
The Wind in the Willows
Rat (voice)
Fierce Creatures
Adrian "Bugsy" Malone
Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl
Various Roles
The Wind in the Willows
The Sun
A Liar's Autobiography: The Untrue Story of Monty Python's Graham Chapman
Various (voice)
Euroshow '71: May Day Special
Various (as Montypython Flyingcircus)
Joke
2026
Roger of the Raj
Roger
The Missionary
The Reverend Charles Fortescue
A Private Function
Gilbert Chilvers
Not the Messiah (He's a Very Naughty Boy)
Mrs. Betty Palin / Julius Caesar / Bevis
Michael Palin & the Mystery of Hammershøi
Host
The Rutles: All You Need Is Cash
Eric Manchester
Jeepers Creepers
Newscaster (voice)
The Willows in Winter
Rat
The Wipers Times
General Mitford
Three Men in a Boat
Harris
Isadora Duncan, the Biggest Dancer in the World
Jazz Band Undertaker (uncredited)
Hitler: The Comedy Years
Heinrich Himmler (archive footage) (uncredited)
American Friends
Rev. Francis Ashby
Henry Cleans Up
Henry
How to Irritate People
Various
Tracey Ullman: A Class Act
Various
Murder at Moorstones Manor
Charles Chiddingford
The Secret Policeman's Ball
Various Roles
The Crimson Permanent Assurance
Workman
The Great Birds Eye Peas Relaunch 1971
1971
Robbie the Reindeer in Close Encounters of the Herd Kind
Gariiiiiii (voice)
Monty Python's Flying Circus—Graham Chapman's Personal Best
Various Characters
Monty Python's Flying Circus—Terry Gilliam's Personal Best
Various Characters
The Dress
Howard
The Testing of Eric Olthwaite
Eric Olthwaite / Bank Manager
Is This a Record?
Various
Escape from Stalag Luft 112B
Major Errol Phipps
Golden Gordon
Gordon Ottershaw
Monty Python's Flying Circus—Eric Idle's Personal Best
Various Characters
Tomkinson's Schooldays
Tomkinson / Headmaster / TV Introducer / Mr Craffitt
The Philosophers' Football Match
Nietzsche
Monty Python's Flying Circus—Graham Chapman's Personal Best
Various Characters
Monty Python: Who's There?
Ken
Not The Messiah: The Road To Albert Hall
2010
Across the Andes by Frog
Captain Walter Snetterton
Monty Python's Flying Circus—John Cleese's Personal Best
Various Characters
Monty Python's Flying Circus—Michael Palin's Personal Best
2006
The New Incomplete And Utter History Of Everything
2014
Whinfrey's Last Case
Gerald Whinfrey
Generation '66
2016
Michael Palin: A Life on Screen
2018
The Curse of the Claw
Kevin Orr / Uncle Jack
Monty Python In The Netherlands
Pie Face 3
Monty Python: Pythonland
1999
The Broken Bottle
1977
The Box
(voice)
Ending It All
1970
Timewatch: The Last Day of World War One
Presenter
Rabbit Ears - Jack and the Beanstalk
Narrator (voice)
TV Shows (25)
The Simpsons
Springfield History Museum curator (voice) · 1 eps
Saturday Night Live
Dick Savage (uncredited) · 1 eps
Pebble Mill at One
1 eps
Monty Python's Flying Circus
Various / "It's" man · 45 eps
TFI Friday
1 eps
Remembers…
2 eps
Staged
Michael · 1 eps
Small Prophets
Brian Sleep · 6 eps
Vanity Fair
William Makepeace Thackeray · 7 eps
Friday Night, Saturday Morning
1 eps
Ripping Yarns
9 eps
Ripping Yarns
Gerald Whinfrey · 1 eps
Ripping Yarns
Kevin Orr / Uncle Jack · 1 eps
Ripping Yarns
Roger · 1 eps
ZULU Comedy Galla
Michael Palin · 1 eps
Clangers
Narrator (voice) · 104 eps
Remember Me
Tom Parfitt · 3 eps
G.B.H.
Jim Nelson · 7 eps
Do Not Adjust Your Set
Various Characters · 29 eps
Omnibus Presents Comic Relief
1 eps
Worzel Gummidge
The Green Man · 5 eps
Monty Python's Fliegender Zirkus
Various Characters · 2 eps
The Complete and Utter History of Britain
6 eps
Michael Palin's Hemingway Adventure
4 eps
Michael Palin: The Art of Travel
4 eps
Self / Appearances (116)
The Graham Norton Show
Self · 3 eps
Saturday Night Live
Self - Co-Host · 1 eps
Saturday Night Live
Self - Special Guest · 1 eps
Saturday Night Live
Self - Host · 3 eps
Saturday Night Live
Self / Various (uncredited) · 1 eps
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
Self - Guest · 3 eps
Wogan
Self · 2 eps
The One Show
Self - Guest · 2 eps
The Jonathan Ross Show
Self · 1 eps
Parkinson
Self · 3 eps
Les Rendez-vous du dimanche
Self · 1 eps
Going Live!
Self · 1 eps
The Frank Skinner Show
Self · 1 eps
Legends
Self · 1 eps
Perspectives
Self · 1 eps
The Secret Policeman's Ball
Self · 15 eps
David Frost Vs
self · 1 eps
Travels with Palin
Self · 52 eps
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 Anchovy / Blackmail Presenter / Gervais Brookhamster / Town Guild Lady
Monty Python: Almost the Truth (The Lawyer's Cut)
Self · 6 eps
Monty Python's Best Bits (Mostly)
Self (archive footage) · 5 eps
A Life on Screen
Self · 1 eps
Great Railway Journeys
Self - Presenter · 2 eps
Michael Palin: Around the World in 80 Days
Self · 7 eps
Pole to Pole
Self · 8 eps
Concert for George
Self
Movie Connections
Self · 1 eps
David Attenborough's 100 Years on Planet Earth
Self
Michael Palin's New Europe
Self · 7 eps
Michael Palin in North Korea
Self - Presenter · 2 eps
Full Circle with Michael Palin
Self · 10 eps
Sahara with Michael Palin
Self - Presenter · 4 eps
Monty Python's Personal Best
Self / Various Characters · 6 eps
Monty Python: And Now for Something Rather Similar
Self
Monty Python Live (Mostly)
Self, others
Michael Palin: Travels of a Lifetime
Self - Host · 4 eps
Himalaya with Michael Palin
Self - Presenter · 6 eps
50 Films to See Before You Die
Self
The Secret Life of Brian
Self
The Grand Knockout Tournament
Self
The Secret Policeman's Other Ball
Self - Various Roles
Brazil with Michael Palin
Self - Presenter · 4 eps
What Is Brazil?
Self
The Best of Monty Python's Flying Circus Volume 2
Self (archive footage)
Michael Palin in Nigeria
Self - Presenter · 3 eps
Life of Python
Self / Various Roles
Monty Python: Live at Aspen
Self
Monty Python Conquers America
Self
What the Pythons Did Next...
Self (archive footage)
Pleasure at Her Majesty's
Self
Dame Maggie Smith - A Celebration
Self
Spike Milligan I told you I was ill... A live tribute
Self
Monty Python: The Meaning of Live
Self
Attenborough at 90
Self
The Pythons: Somewhere in Tunisia, Circa A.D. 1979
Self
Making Qi
Self
The Best of Monty Python's Flying Circus Volume 3
Self (archive footage)
The Secret Policeman's Ball
Self
Marty Feldman: Six Degrees of Separation
Self
The Movie Life of George
Self
Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute
Self
An Accidental Studio
Self
Michael Palin: Into Iraq
Self - Presenter · 3 eps
Parrot Sketch Not Included: Twenty Years of Monty Python
Self / Various Characters
Monty Python in Aberystwyth
Self
The Roots of Monty Python
Self (archive footage)
Monty Python: Before the Flying Circus
Self
The Best of Monty Python's Flying Circus Volume 1
Self (archive footage)
Remember the Secret Policeman's Ball?
Self
Fawlty Towers: Re-Opened
Self
Best Sellers or: Peter Sellers and 'Dr. Strangelove'
Self
The Academy of Armando
Self
50 Years of BBC Two Comedy
Self
My National Gallery, London
Self
Rik Mayall: Lord of Misrule
Self
The Secret Life of Trees
Self - Narrator · 3 eps
The Meaning of Making 'The Meaning of Life'
Self
Innes Lloyd: The Producer
Self
Monty Python's Best Bits Celebrated
Self (archive footage)(uncredited)
Monty Python & the Holy Grail Location Report
Self
Produced by George Martin
Self
The Monty Python Story
Self
The Fringe, Fame and Me
Self
Michael Palin In Wyeth's World
Self
Monty Python: From Spam to Sperm
Self
When Bruce Springsteen Came to Britain
Self
Comedians Do It On Stage
Self
Peter Sellers: A State of Comic Ecstasy
Self
Comic Roots: Michael Palin
Self / Jealous Reporter
The Meaning of Monty Python
Self
Life on Air: David Attenborough's 50 Years in Television
Self - Presenter
Python at 50: Silly Talks and Holy Grails
Self (archive footage)
The Quest for the Holy Grail Locations
Self
The Seventh Python
Self
Michael Palin in Venezuela
Self - Presenter · 3 eps
Fawlty Towers: 50 Years of Laughs
Self
John Peel's Record Box
Self
Frost on Sketch Shows
Self
Anatomy of a Liar
Self
Around the World in 20 Years
Self
Monty Python: Almost the Truth (The Lawyer's Cut) - Theatrical Release
Self
Alexander Armstrong's Real Ripping Yarns
Self
The Secret Policeman’s Biggest Ball
Self
Spike Milligan: Love, Light and Peace
Self
The Unknown Peter Sellers
Self
New Tales from Around the World in 80 Days
Self
Monty Python: 30th Anniversary Sketches
Self
Final Ascent: The Legend of Hamish MacInnes
Self
Michael Palin's Quest for Artemisia
Self
Michael Palin’s Super 8mm - “Life of Brian”
Commentator / Self
Inside Shabby Road: The Music of 'The Rutles'
Self
Viz: The Documentary
Self
Palin on Redpath
Self - Presenter
Michael Palin and the Ladies Who Loved Matisse
Self - Presenter
Get Up and Go: The Making of 'The Rutles'
Self
The Art Of Travel With Michael Palin
Self
Upcoming (4)
Directing (1)
Writing (46)
Screen Two
Writer
Monty Python's Flying Circus
Writer
Time Bandits
Characters
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Writer
Life of Brian
Screenplay
The Two Ronnies
Writer
Time Bandits
Writer
Monty Python's The Meaning of Life
Screenplay
Ripping Yarns
Writer
And Now for Something Completely Different
Screenplay
Do Not Adjust Your Set
Writer
Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl
Writer
Great Railway Journeys
Writer
Michael Palin: Around the World in 80 Days
Writer
Pole to Pole
Writer
Consuming Passions
Theatre Play
Michael Palin's New Europe
Writer
Roger of the Raj
Writer
Full Circle with Michael Palin
Writer
Sahara with Michael Palin
Writer
Monty Python Live (Mostly)
Writer
Python Legs!
Writer
Himalaya with Michael Palin
Writer
The Missionary
Writer
The Complete and Utter History of Britain
Writer
Brazil with Michael Palin
Writer
American Friends
Writer
Henry Cleans Up
Writer
Murder at Moorstones Manor
Writer
Parrot Sketch Not Included: Twenty Years of Monty Python
Writer
Number 27
Writer
The Great Birds Eye Peas Relaunch 1971
Writer
East of Ipswich
Writer
Michael Palin In Wyeth's World
Writer
The Testing of Eric Olthwaite
Writer
Escape from Stalag Luft 112B
Writer
Golden Gordon
Writer
Tomkinson's Schooldays
Writer
Comic Roots: Michael Palin
Writer
Secrets
Writer
Across the Andes by Frog
Writer
Around the World in 20 Years
Writer
Whinfrey's Last Case
Writer
The Curse of the Claw
Writer
Palin on Redpath
Writer
The Box
Screenplay