Michael Palin
Personal Info
Known for
Acting
Gender
Male
Birthday
1943-05-05 (82 years old)
Place of Birth
Broomhill, Sheffield, England, UK
Michael Palin
Biography
Michael Edward Palin, CBE FRGS 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
Acting
Close-Up Toothpaste Relaunch
as salesman
(2025)
(2025)
The Academy of Armando
as Self
(2025)
(2024)
(2024)
(2023)
(2022)
The Fringe, Fame and Me
as Self
(2021)
Monty Python's Best Bits Celebrated
as Self (archive footage)(uncredited)
(2020)
Jeepers Creepers
as Newscaster (voice)
(2020)
(2020)
(2019)
An Accidental Studio
as Self
(2019)
(2019)
Python at 50: Silly Talks and Holy Grails
as Self (archive footage)
(2018)
(2017)
The Death of Stalin
as Vyacheslav Molotov
(2016)
Attenborough at 90
as Self
(2016)
(2015)
Absolutely Anything
as Kindly Alien (voice)
(2015)
(2014)
Rik Mayall: Lord of Misrule
as Self
(2014)
Monty Python Live (Mostly)
as Self, others
(2014)
(2014)
(2014)
50 Years of BBC Two Comedy
as Self
(2014)
Spike Milligan: Love, Light and Peace
as Himself
(2014)
(2014)
(2014)
New Tales from Around the World in 80 Days
as Himself.
(2013)
The Wipers Times
as General Mitford
(2013)
The Meaning of Monty Python
as Self
(2013)
Michael Palin In Wyeth's World
as Himself
(2013)
Frost on Sketch Shows
as Self
(2012)
The Secret Policeman's Ball
as Self
(2012)
(2012)
Anatomy of a Liar
as Self
(2012)
Produced By George Martin
as Self
(2011)
Arthur Christmas
as Ernie Clicker (voice)
(2011)
Making Qi
as Self
(2011)
(2010)
Not the Messiah (He's a Very Naughty Boy)
as Mrs. Betty Palin / Julius Caesar / Bevis
(2010)
(2010)
(2009)
Fawlty Towers: Re-Opened
as Self
(2009)
Monty Python in Aberystwyth
as Self
(2008)
What Is Brazil?
as Self
(2008)
(2008)
The Seventh Python
as Self
(2008)
(2008)
(2008)
(2008)
Life Of Brian Screenplay
as Wise Man #3, Mr. Big Nose, Francis, Mrs. A, Ex-Leper
(2008)
Around the World in 20 Years
as Himself
(2008)
The Last Day of World War One
as Presenter
(2008)
(2007)
The Secret Life of Brian
as Self
(2007)
Hitler: The Comedy Years
as Heinrich Himmler (archive footage) (uncredited)
(2007)
Robbie the Reindeer in Close Encounters of the Herd Kind
as Gariiiiiii (voice)
(2007)
What the Pythons Did Next...
as Self (archive footage)
(2006)
Monty Python's Flying Circus—Terry Gilliam's Personal Best
as Various Characters
(2006)
Monty Python's Flying Circus—Terry Jones' Personal Best
as Various Characters
(2006)
(2006)
Monty Python's Flying Circus—John Cleese's Personal Best
as Various Characters
(2006)
Monty Python's Flying Circus—Eric Idle's Personal Best
as Various Characters
(2006)
(2006)
Monty Python's Flying Circus—Graham Chapman's Personal Best
as Various Characters
(2006)
Monty Python's Flying Circus—Graham Chapman's Personal Best
as Various Characters
(2006)
(2005)
The Roots of Monty Python
as Self (archive footage)
(2005)
John Peel's Record Box
as Self
(2005)
(2004)
The Best of Monty Python's Flying Circus Volume 1
as Self (archive footage)
(2004)
(2004)
(2004)
The Best of Monty Python's Flying Circus Volume 3
as Self (archive footage)
(2004)
The Best of Monty Python's Flying Circus Volume 2
as Self (archive footage)
(2003)
Concert for George
as Self
(2003)
(2003)
(2002)
Life on Air: David Attenborough's 50 Years in Television
as Himself - Presenter
(2002)
(2001)
(2000)
The Unknown Peter Sellers
as Himself
(1999)
(1999)
The Monty Python Story
as Self
(1999)
(1999)
(1998)
Monty Python: Live at Aspen
as Self
(1997)
Fierce Creatures
as Adrian 'Bugsy' Malone
(1997)
Palin on Redpath
as Himself / Presenter
(1996)
The Wind in the Willows
as The Sun
(1996)
The Willows in Winter
as Rat
(1995)
The Wind in the Willows
as Rat
(1993)
Tracey Ullman: A Class Act
as Various
(1993)
(1993)
The First Night of Meridian
as Self - Host
(1991)
American Friends
as Rev. Francis Ashby
(1991)
Rabbit Ears - Jack and the Beanstalk
as Narrator (voice)
(1991)
(1990)
The Witches
as Witch at Meeting (uncredited)
(1990)
Life of Python
as Self / Various Roles
(1990)
Viz: The Documentary
as Self
(1989)
(1989)
Parrot Sketch Not Included: Twenty Years of Monty Python
as Self / Various Characters
(1989)
The Movie Life of George
as Self
(1989)
(1988)
A Fish Called Wanda
as Ken Pile
(1988)
(1987)
(1986)
Comedians Do It On Stage
as Self
(1985)
Brazil
as Jack Lint
(1984)
A Private Function
as Gilbert Chilvers
(1984)
The Dress
as Howard
(1983)
Monty Python's The Meaning of Life
as Various Roles
(1983)
The Crimson Permanent Assurance
as Workman
(1983)
(1982)
Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl
as Various Roles
(1982)
The Missionary
as The Reverend Charles Fortescue
(1982)
The Secret Policeman's Other Ball
as Self - Various Roles
(1981)
Time Bandits
as Vincent
(1981)
The Box
as (voice)
(1979)
Life of Brian
as Wise Man #3 / Mr. Big Nose / Francis / Mrs. A / Ex-Leper / Announcer / Ben / Pontius Pilate / Boring Prophet / Eddie / Shoe Follower / Nisus Wettus
(1979)
Golden Gordon
as Gordon Ottershaw
(1979)
(1979)
Roger of the Raj
as Roger
(1979)
Whinfrey's Last Case
as Gerald Whinfrey
(1979)
The Secret Policeman's Ball
as Various Roles
(1978)
The Rutles: All You Need Is Cash
as Eric Manchester
(1977)
Jabberwocky
as Dennis Cooper
(1977)
Across the Andes by Frog
as Captain Walter Snetterton
(1977)
The Testing of Eric Olthwaite
as Eric Olthwaite / Bank Manager
(1977)
Escape from Stalag Luft 112B
as Major Errol Phipps
(1977)
(1977)
The Curse of the Claw
as Kevin Orr / Uncle Jack
(1977)
Murder at Moorstones Manor
as Charles Chiddingford
(1976)
Tomkinson's Schooldays
as Tomkinson / Headmaster / TV Introducer / Mr Craffitt
(1976)
Pleasure at Her Majesty's
as Self
(1975)
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
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!
(1975)
Three Men in a Boat
as Harris
(1974)
(1974)
Henry Cleans Up
as Henry
(1973)
Is This a Record?
as Various
(1973)
(1971)
And Now for Something Completely Different
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
(1971)
Euroshow '71: May Day Special
as Various (as Montypython Flyingcircus)
(1971)
(1970)
(1970)
(1969)
How to Irritate People
as Various
(1966)
Isadora Duncan, the Biggest Dancer in the World
as Jazz Band Undertaker (uncredited)
Crew
(2020)
(2014)
(2013)
(2008)
(2008)
Life Of Brian Screenplay
Screenplay
(1997)
Palin on Redpath
Writer
(1991)
American Friends
Writer
(1989)
(1988)
Number 27
Writer
(1988)
Consuming Passions
Theatre Play
(1987)
East of Ipswich
Writer
(1983)
Monty Python's The Meaning of Life
Screenplay
(1982)
The Missionary
Writer, Producer
(1982)
(1981)
Time Bandits
Writer
(1981)
The Box
Screenplay
(1979)
Life of Brian
Screenplay
(1979)
Golden Gordon
Writer
(1979)
Roger of the Raj
Writer
(1979)
Whinfrey's Last Case
Writer
(1977)
(1977)
Across the Andes by Frog
Writer
(1977)
(1977)
(1977)
The Curse of the Claw
Writer
(1976)
Tomkinson's Schooldays
Writer
(1975)
(1974)
Henry Cleans Up
Writer
(1973)
Secrets
Writer
(1973)
Is This a Record?
Additional Writing
(1971)
(1971)