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 (69)
Arthur Christmas
Ernie Clicker (voice)
A Fish Called Wanda
Ken Pile
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
The Magic Faraway Tree
Know All
Monty Python's The Meaning of Life
Various Roles
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!
The Witches
Witch at Meeting (uncredited)
Time Bandits
Vincent
Brazil
Jack Lint
Absolutely Anything
Kindly Alien (voice)
Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl
Various Roles
Fierce Creatures
Adrian "Bugsy" Malone
Not the Messiah (He's a Very Naughty Boy)
Mrs. Betty Palin / Julius Caesar / Bevis
The Wind in the Willows
The Sun
Jabberwocky
Dennis Cooper
A Private Function
Gilbert Chilvers
The Wind in the Willows
Rat (voice)
Roger of the Raj
Roger
The Missionary
The Reverend Charles Fortescue
American Friends
Rev. Francis Ashby
The Rutles: All You Need Is Cash
Eric Manchester
Robbie the Reindeer in Close Encounters of the Herd Kind
Gariiiiiii (voice)
A Liar's Autobiography: The Untrue Story of Monty Python's Graham Chapman
Various (voice)
The Wipers Times
General Mitford
How to Irritate People
Various
The Crimson Permanent Assurance
Workman
Secrets of the Bayeux Tapestry: Inside the Museum
Narrator
Michael Palin: A Life on Screen
2018
Three Men in a Boat
Harris
Across the Andes by Frog
Captain Walter Snetterton
Monty Python's Flying Circus—Graham Chapman's Personal Best
Various Characters
Joke
2026
Euroshow '71: May Day Special
Various (as Montypython Flyingcircus)
Murder at Moorstones Manor
Charles Chiddingford
Monty Python's Flying Circus—John Cleese's Personal Best
Various Characters
The Curse of the Claw
Kevin Orr / Uncle Jack
Monty Python: Who's There?
Ken
Hitler: The Comedy Years
Heinrich Himmler (archive footage) (uncredited)
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 Willows in Winter
Rat
Golden Gordon
Gordon Ottershaw
Jeepers Creepers
Newscaster (voice)
Michael Palin & the Mystery of Hammershøi
Host
Escape from Stalag Luft 112B
Major Errol Phipps
Tracey Ullman: A Class Act
Various
Monty Python's Flying Circus — Michael Palin's Personal Best
Fish-Slapping Guide / Various Roles (archive footage)
Timewatch: The Last Day of World War One
Presenter
Is This a Record?
Various
Monty Python's Flying Circus—Eric Idle's Personal Best
Various Characters
The Secret Policeman's Ball
Various Roles
Not The Messiah: The Road To Albert Hall
2010
Monty Python In The Netherlands
Pie Face 3
The Testing of Eric Olthwaite
Eric Olthwaite / Bank Manager
Tomkinson's Schooldays
Tomkinson / Headmaster / TV Introducer / Mr Craffitt
Whinfrey's Last Case
Gerald Whinfrey
The Dress
Howard
Henry Cleans Up
Henry
The Great Birds Eye Peas Relaunch 1971
1971
Isadora Duncan, the Biggest Dancer in the World
Jazz Band Undertaker (uncredited)
The Philosophers' Football Match
Nietzsche
Generation '66
2016
The New Incomplete And Utter History Of Everything
2014
The Box
(voice)
Monty Python: Pythonland
1999
Rabbit Ears - Jack and the Beanstalk
Narrator (voice)
The Broken Bottle
1977
Ending It All
1970
TV Shows (25)
The Simpsons
Springfield History Museum curator (voice) · 1 eps
Saturday Night Live
Dick Savage (uncredited) · 1 eps
Small Prophets
Brian · 6 eps
TFI Friday
1 eps
Pebble Mill at One
1 eps
Monty Python's Flying Circus
Various / "It's" man · 45 eps
Remembers…
2 eps
Vanity Fair
William Makepeace Thackeray · 7 eps
Staged
Michael · 1 eps
Clangers
Narrator (voice) · 104 eps
ZULU Comedy Galla
Michael Palin · 1 eps
Friday Night, Saturday Morning
1 eps
G.B.H.
Jim Nelson · 7 eps
Remember Me
Tom Parfitt · 3 eps
Do Not Adjust Your Set
Various Characters · 29 eps
Ripping Yarns
9 eps
Ripping Yarns
Gerald Whinfrey · 1 eps
Ripping Yarns
Roger · 1 eps
Ripping Yarns
Kevin Orr / Uncle Jack · 1 eps
Worzel Gummidge
The Green Man · 5 eps
Omnibus Presents Comic Relief
1 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 (119)
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
The Graham Norton Show
Self · 3 eps
The One Show
Self - Guest · 2 eps
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
Self - Guest · 3 eps
Wogan
Self · 2 eps
Les Rendez-vous du dimanche
Self · 1 eps
The Jonathan Ross Show
Self · 1 eps
Parkinson
Self - Guest · 3 eps
Going Live!
Self · 1 eps
Parkinson
Self - Guest · 3 eps
The Frank Skinner Show
Self · 1 eps
Legends
Self · 1 eps
The Secret Policeman's Ball
Self · 15 eps
Perspectives
Self · 1 eps
A Life on Screen
Self · 1 eps
David Frost Vs
self · 1 eps
Monty Python: Almost the Truth (The Lawyer's Cut)
Self · 6 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
Pole to Pole
Self · 8 eps
Great Railway Journeys
Self - Presenter · 2 eps
Monty Python's Best Bits (Mostly)
Self (archive footage) · 5 eps
Movie Connections
Self · 1 eps
The Secret Life of Brian
Self
Travels with Palin
Self · 52 eps
David Attenborough's 100 Years on Planet Earth
Self
Michael Palin in the Philippines
Self - Presenter · 3 eps
Michael Palin in North Korea
Self - Presenter · 2 eps
An Accidental Studio
Self
Monty Python's Personal Best
Self / Various Characters · 6 eps
Monty Python in Aberystwyth
Self
Michael Palin: Around the World in 80 Days
Self · 7 eps
Michael Palin's New Europe
Self - Presenter · 7 eps
My National Gallery, London
Self
The Secret Policeman's Ball
Self
50 Films to See Before You Die
Self
Michael Palin: Travels of a Lifetime
Self - Host · 4 eps
Monty Python: And Now for Something Rather Similar
Self
The Meaning of Monty Python
Self
Monty Python Live (Mostly)
Self, others
Fawlty Towers: Re-Opened
Self
The Movie Life of George
Self
The Secret Life of Trees
Self - Narrator · 3 eps
Rik Mayall: Lord of Misrule
Self
Pleasure at Her Majesty's
Self
Full Circle with Michael Palin
Self · 10 eps
Attenborough at 90
Self
Sahara with Michael Palin
Self - Presenter · 4 eps
Himalaya with Michael Palin
Self - Presenter · 6 eps
Concert for George
Self
Monty Python: Live at Aspen
Self
Produced by George Martin
Self
Monty Python Conquers America
Self
50 Years of BBC Two Comedy
Self
Michael Palin in Nigeria
Self - Presenter · 3 eps
Monty Python: The Meaning of Live
Self
The Secret Policeman's Other Ball
Self - Various Roles
When Bruce Springsteen Came to Britain
Self
Innes Lloyd: The Producer
Self
The Roots of Monty Python
Self (archive footage)
Spike Milligan: Love, Light and Peace
Self
The Grand Knockout Tournament
Self
The Pythons: Somewhere in Tunisia, Circa A.D. 1979
Self
Marty Feldman: Six Degrees of Separation
Self
Monty Python: From Spam to Sperm
Self
Brazil with Michael Palin
Self - Presenter · 4 eps
The Seventh Python
Self
Best Sellers or: Peter Sellers and 'Dr. Strangelove'
Self
Monty Python: 30th Anniversary Sketches
Self
Anatomy of a Liar
Self
What Is Brazil?
Self
Python at 50: Silly Talks and Holy Grails
Self (archive footage)
Michael Palin: Into Iraq
Self - Presenter · 3 eps
Parrot Sketch Not Included: Twenty Years of Monty Python
Self / Various Characters
Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute
Self
30 Years of Monty Python, a Revelation
Self
Monty Python: Before the Flying Circus
Self
The Best of Monty Python's Flying Circus Volume 1
Self (archive footage)
Frost on Sketch Shows
Self
Dame Maggie Smith - A Celebration
Self
Making Qi
Self
Monty Python: Almost the Truth (The Lawyer's Cut) - Theatrical Release
Self
Monty Python's Best Bits Celebrated
Self (archive footage)(uncredited)
The Quest for the Holy Grail Locations
Self
Peter Sellers: A State of Comic Ecstasy
Self
Michael Palin in Venezuela
Self - Presenter · 3 eps
The Monty Python Story
Self
The Fringe, Fame and Me
Self
What the Pythons Did Next...
Self (archive footage)
Michael Palin In Wyeth's World
Self
The Academy of Armando
Self
Comic Roots: Michael Palin
Self / Jealous Reporter
The Meaning of Making 'The Meaning of Life'
Self
The Unknown Peter Sellers
Self
Comedians Do It On Stage
Self
Michael Palin's Quest for Artemisia
Self
Life on Air: David Attenborough's 50 Years in Television
Self - Presenter
Alexander Armstrong's Real Ripping Yarns
Self
Spike Milligan I told you I was ill... A live tribute
Self
Life of Python
Self / Various Roles
Remember the Secret Policeman's Ball?
Self
The Best of Monty Python's Flying Circus Volume 2
Self (archive footage)
The Secret Policeman’s Biggest Ball
Self
John Peel's Record Box
Self
Palin on Redpath
Self - Presenter
Inside Shabby Road: The Music of 'The Rutles'
Self
Get Up and Go: The Making of 'The Rutles'
Self
Final Ascent: The Legend of Hamish MacInnes
Self
Around the World in 20 Years
Self
The Best of Monty Python's Flying Circus Volume 3
Self (archive footage)
Fawlty Towers: 50 Years of Laughs
Self
Monty Python & the Holy Grail Location Report
Self
The Art Of Travel With Michael Palin
Self
Michael Palin and the Ladies Who Loved Matisse
Self - Presenter
Michael Palin’s Super 8mm - “Life of Brian”
Commentator / Self
Viz: The Documentary
Self
New Tales from Around the World in 80 Days
Self
Upcoming (5)
Directing (1)
Writing (47)
Screen Two
Writer
Time Bandits
Characters
Life of Brian
Screenplay
Monty Python's Flying Circus
Writer
Monty Python's The Meaning of Life
Screenplay
The Two Ronnies
Writer
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Writer
Time Bandits
Writer
Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl
Writer
Do Not Adjust Your Set
Writer
Ripping Yarns
Writer
And Now for Something Completely Different
Screenplay
Pole to Pole
Writer
Great Railway Journeys
Writer
Consuming Passions
Theatre Play
The Complete and Utter History of Britain
Writer
Michael Palin: Around the World in 80 Days
Writer
Michael Palin's New Europe
Writer
Roger of the Raj
Writer
The Missionary
Writer
American Friends
Writer
Monty Python Live (Mostly)
Writer
Full Circle with Michael Palin
Writer
Sahara with Michael Palin
Writer
Himalaya with Michael Palin
Writer
Across the Andes by Frog
Writer
Murder at Moorstones Manor
Writer
The Curse of the Claw
Writer
Brazil with Michael Palin
Writer
Parrot Sketch Not Included: Twenty Years of Monty Python
Writer
Python Legs!
Writer
Golden Gordon
Writer
East of Ipswich
Writer
Number 27
Writer
Escape from Stalag Luft 112B
Writer
Monty Python's Flying Circus — Michael Palin's Personal Best
Writer
Michael Palin In Wyeth's World
Writer
Comic Roots: Michael Palin
Writer
The Testing of Eric Olthwaite
Writer
Tomkinson's Schooldays
Writer
Secrets
Writer
Whinfrey's Last Case
Writer
Henry Cleans Up
Writer
The Great Birds Eye Peas Relaunch 1971
Writer
Palin on Redpath
Writer
Around the World in 20 Years
Writer
The Box
Screenplay