Michael Palin
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- May 5, 1943 (age 83)
- Birthplace
- Broomhill, Sheffield, England, UK
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
Photos
Filmography
Close-Up Toothpaste Relaunch
Movie · as salesman
Just Dandy
Movie · as Self
The Mystery of the Missing Morsel of Murder at Moorstones Manor
Movie · as Charles Chiddingfold
The Magic Faraway Tree
Movie · as Know All
Joke
Movie
David Attenborough's 100 Years on Planet Earth
Movie · as Self
Secrets of the Bayeux Tapestry: Inside the Museum
Movie · as Narrator
Small Prophets
TV · as Brian · 6 eps
Michael Palin in the Philippines
TV · as Self - Presenter · 3 eps
The Academy of Armando
Movie · as Self
When Bruce Springsteen Came to Britain
Movie · as Self
Innes Lloyd: The Producer
Movie · as Self
The Secret Life of Trees
TV · as Self - Narrator · 3 eps
Michael Palin in Venezuela
TV · as Self - Presenter · 3 eps
David Frost Vs
TV · as self · 1 ep
Dame Maggie Smith - A Celebration
Movie · as Self
My National Gallery, London
Movie · as Self
Michael Palin in Nigeria
TV · as Self - Presenter · 3 eps
Fawlty Towers: 50 Years of Laughs
Movie · as Self
The Fringe, Fame and Me
Movie · as Self
Michael Palin: Into Iraq
TV · as Self - Presenter · 3 eps
Remembers…
TV · 2 eps
Monty Python's Best Bits Celebrated
Movie · as Self (archive footage)(uncredited)
Peter Sellers: A State of Comic Ecstasy
Movie · as Self
Sir David Attenborough and Sir Michael Palin in Conversation
Movie · as Self
Jeepers Creepers
Movie · as Newscaster (voice)
Staged
TV · as Michael · 1 ep
Michael Palin: Travels of a Lifetime
TV · as Self - Host · 4 eps
An Accidental Studio
Movie · as Self
Final Ascent: The Legend of Hamish MacInnes
Movie · as Self
Python at 50: Silly Talks and Holy Grails
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
Worzel Gummidge
TV · as The Green Man · 5 eps
Michael Palin: A Life on Screen
Movie
Vanity Fair
TV · as William Makepeace Thackeray · 7 eps
Michael Palin in North Korea
TV · as Self - Presenter · 2 eps
The Death of Stalin
Movie · as Vyacheslav Molotov
Attenborough at 90
Movie · as Self
Generation '66
Movie
Absolutely Anything
Movie · as Kindly Alien (voice)
Michael Palin's Quest for Artemisia
Movie · as Self
Artsnight
TV · as Self · 1 ep
Clangers
TV · as Narrator (voice) · 104 eps
Rik Mayall: Lord of Misrule
Movie · as Self
Monty Python Live (Mostly)
Movie · as Self, others
50 Years of BBC Two Comedy
Movie · as Self
Monty Python: The Meaning of Live
Movie · as Self
Spike Milligan: Love, Light and Peace
Movie · as Self
The New Incomplete And Utter History Of Everything
Movie
Alexander Armstrong's Real Ripping Yarns
Movie · as Self
Monty Python: And Now for Something Rather Similar
Movie · as Self
New Tales from Around the World in 80 Days
Movie · as Self
Remember Me
TV · as Tom Parfitt · 3 eps
A Life on Screen
TV · as Self · 1 ep
Monty Python's Best Bits (Mostly)
TV · as Self (archive footage) · 5 eps
Frost on Sketch Shows
Movie · as Self
The Wipers Times
Movie · as General Mitford
The Meaning of Monty Python
Movie · as Self
Michael Palin In Wyeth's World
Movie · as Self
A Liar's Autobiography: The Untrue Story of Monty Python's Graham Chapman
Movie · as Various (voice)
Anatomy of a Liar
Movie · as Self
The Secret Policeman's Ball
Movie · as Self
Produced by George Martin
Movie · as Self
Brazil with Michael Palin
TV · as Self - Presenter · 4 eps
Arthur Christmas
Movie · as Ernie Clicker (voice)
Making Qi
Movie · as Self
The Phoenix: A Century of Cinema
Movie · as Self
The Jonathan Ross Show
TV · as Self · 1 ep
Perspectives
TV · as Self · 1 ep
Not the Messiah (He's a Very Naughty Boy)
Movie · as Mrs. Betty Palin / Julius Caesar / Bevis
Not The Messiah: The Road To Albert Hall
Movie
Monty Python: Almost the Truth (The Lawyer's Cut) - Theatrical Release
Movie · as Self
ZULU Comedy Galla
TV · as Michael Palin · 1 ep
Fawlty Towers: Re-Opened
Movie · as Self
Monty Python in Aberystwyth
Movie · as Self
Monty Python: Almost the Truth (The Lawyer's Cut)
TV · as Self · 6 eps
Life Of Brian Screenplay
Movie · as Wise Man #3, Mr. Big Nose, Francis, Mrs. A, Ex-Leper
Inside Shabby Road: The Music of 'The Rutles'
Movie · as Self
Get Up and Go: The Making of 'The Rutles'
Movie · as Self
Around the World in 20 Years
Movie · as Self
The Seventh Python
Movie · as Self
Marty Feldman: Six Degrees of Separation
Movie · as Self
Timewatch: The Last Day of World War One
Movie · as Presenter
Monty Python: Before the Flying Circus
Movie · as Self
What Is Brazil?
Movie · as Self
Monty Python Conquers America
Movie · as Self
Hitler: The Comedy Years
Movie · as Heinrich Himmler (archive footage) (uncredited)
Robbie the Reindeer in Close Encounters of the Herd Kind
Movie · as Gariiiiiii (voice)
What the Pythons Did Next...
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
The Secret Life of Brian
Movie · as Self
Michael Palin's New Europe
TV · as Self - Presenter · 7 eps
Movie Connections
TV · as Self · 1 ep
The Alan Titchmarsh Show
TV · as Self · 1 ep
The Graham Norton Show
TV · as Self · 3 eps
Monty Python's Flying Circus—Graham Chapman's Personal Best
Movie · as Various Characters
50 Films to See Before You Die
Movie · as Self
Monty Python's Flying Circus — Michael Palin's Personal Best
Movie · as Fish-Slapping Guide / Various Roles (archive footage)
Monty Python's Flying Circus—John Cleese's Personal Best
Movie · as Various Characters
Monty Python's Flying Circus—Eric Idle's Personal Best
Movie · as Various Characters
Monty Python's Flying Circus—Terry Gilliam's Personal Best
Movie · as Various Characters
Monty Python's Flying Circus—Graham Chapman's Personal Best
Movie · as Various Characters
The One Show
TV · as Self - Guest · 2 eps
Monty Python's Personal Best
TV · as Self / Various Characters · 6 eps
Legends
TV · as Self · 1 ep
Michael Palin & the Mystery of Hammershøi
Movie · as Host
The Roots of Monty Python
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
John Peel's Record Box
Movie · as Self
Remember the Secret Policeman's Ball?
Movie · as Self
Best Sellers or: Peter Sellers and 'Dr. Strangelove'
Movie · as Self
The Best of Monty Python's Flying Circus Volume 1
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
The Best of Monty Python's Flying Circus Volume 2
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
The Best of Monty Python's Flying Circus Volume 3
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
Himalaya with Michael Palin
TV · as Self - Presenter · 6 eps
Parkinson
TV · as Self - Guest · 3 eps
The Meaning of Making 'The Meaning of Life'
Movie · as Self
Michael Palin and the Ladies Who Loved Matisse
Movie · as Self - Presenter
Concert for George
Movie · as Self
Spike Milligan I told you I was ill... A live tribute
Movie · as Self
Life on Air: David Attenborough's 50 Years in Television
Movie · as Self - Presenter
Sahara with Michael Palin
TV · as Self - Presenter · 4 eps
The Quest for the Holy Grail Locations
Movie · as Self
The Unknown Peter Sellers
Movie · as Self
The Monty Python Story
Movie · as Self
Monty Python: From Spam to Sperm
Movie · as Self
Monty Python: 30th Anniversary Sketches
Movie · as Self
Monty Python: Pythonland
Movie
30 Years of Monty Python, a Revelation
Movie · as Self
Michael Palin's Hemingway Adventure
TV · 4 eps
Monty Python: Live at Aspen
Movie · as Self
Fantasy World Cup
TV · as Self · 1 ep
Parkinson
TV · as Self - Guest · 3 eps
Fierce Creatures
Movie · as Adrian "Bugsy" Malone
Palin on Redpath
Movie · as Self - Presenter
Full Circle with Michael Palin
TV · as Self · 10 eps
The Wind in the Willows
Movie · as The Sun
The Willows in Winter
Movie · as Rat
Clive Anderson All Talk
TV · as Self · 1 ep
TFI Friday
TV · 1 ep
The Wind in the Willows
Movie · as Rat (voice)
The Frank Skinner Show
TV · as Self · 1 ep
Tracey Ullman: A Class Act
Movie · as Various
Meridian: The First Ten Minutes
Movie · as Self
The First Night of Meridian
Movie · as Self - Host
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
TV · as Self - Guest · 3 eps
Pole to Pole
TV · as Self · 8 eps
American Friends
Movie · as Rev. Francis Ashby
Rabbit Ears - Jack and the Beanstalk
Movie · as Narrator (voice)
G.B.H.
TV · as Jim Nelson · 7 eps
Life of Python
Movie · as Self / Various Roles
Viz: The Documentary
Movie · as Self
The Witches
Movie · as Witch at Meeting (uncredited)
The Secret Policeman’s Biggest Ball
Movie · as Self
Parrot Sketch Not Included: Twenty Years of Monty Python
Movie · as Self / Various Characters
The Movie Life of George
Movie · as Self
The Art Of Travel With Michael Palin
Movie · as Self
Michael Palin: Around the World in 80 Days
TV · as Self · 7 eps
Michael Palin: The Art of Travel
TV · 4 eps
The Simpsons
TV · as Springfield History Museum curator (voice) · 1 ep
A Fish Called Wanda
Movie · as Ken Pile
Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute
Movie · as Self
The Grand Knockout Tournament
Movie · as Self
Going Live!
TV · as Self · 1 ep
Daytime Live
TV · 1 ep
Comedians Do It On Stage
Movie · as Self
Omnibus Presents Comic Relief
TV · 1 ep
Brazil
Movie · as Jack Lint
Friday People
TV · 1 ep
A Private Function
Movie · as Gilbert Chilvers
The Dress
Movie · as Howard
Monty Python's The Meaning of Life
Movie · as Various Roles
The Crimson Permanent Assurance
Movie · as Workman
Comic Roots: Michael Palin
Movie · as Self / Jealous Reporter
Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl
Movie · as Various Roles
The Missionary
Movie · as The Reverend Charles Fortescue
The Secret Policeman's Other Ball
Movie · as Self - Various Roles
Wogan
TV · as Self · 2 eps
Time Bandits
Movie · as Vincent
The Box
Movie · as (voice)
Travels with Palin
TV · as Self · 52 eps
Great Railway Journeys
TV · as Self - Presenter · 2 eps
Life of Brian
Movie · as Wise Man #3 / Mr. Big Nose / Francis / Mrs. A / Ex-Leper / Announcer / Ben / Pontius Pilate / Boring Prophet / Eddie / Shoe Follower / Nisus Wettus
The Secret Policeman's Ball
Movie · as Various Roles
The Pythons: Somewhere in Tunisia, Circa A.D. 1979
Movie · as Self
Whinfrey's Last Case
Movie · as Gerald Whinfrey
Golden Gordon
Movie · as Gordon Ottershaw
Roger of the Raj
Movie · as Roger
Friday Night, Saturday Morning
TV · 1 ep
The Rutles: All You Need Is Cash
Movie · as Eric Manchester
Michael Palin’s Super 8mm - “Life of Brian”
Movie · as Commentator / Self
Jabberwocky
Movie · as Dennis Cooper
The Testing of Eric Olthwaite
Movie · as Eric Olthwaite / Bank Manager
Escape from Stalag Luft 112B
Movie · as Major Errol Phipps
Murder at Moorstones Manor
Movie · as Charles Chiddingford
Across the Andes by Frog
Movie · as Captain Walter Snetterton
The Curse of the Claw
Movie · as Kevin Orr / Uncle Jack
The Broken Bottle
Movie
Pleasure at Her Majesty's
Movie · as Self
Tomkinson's Schooldays
Movie · as Tomkinson / Headmaster / TV Introducer / Mr Craffitt
Ripping Yarns
TV · as Gerald Whinfrey, Kevin Orr / Uncle Jack, Roger · 9 eps
The Secret Policeman's Ball
TV · as Self · 15 eps
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Movie · 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!
Three Men in a Boat
Movie · as Harris
Saturday Night Live
TV · as Self - Co-Host, Self - Special Guest, Dick Savage (uncredited), Self - Host, Self / Various (uncredited) · 1 ep
Les Rendez-vous du dimanche
TV · as Self · 1 ep
Monty Python & the Holy Grail Location Report
Movie · as Self
Henry Cleans Up
Movie · as Henry
Is This a Record?
Movie · as Various
Monty Python In The Netherlands
Movie · as Pie Face 3
The Philosophers' Football Match
Movie · as Nietzsche
Pebble Mill at One
TV · 1 ep
Monty Python's Fliegender Zirkus
TV · as Various Characters · 2 eps
Full House
TV · as Various · 22 eps
And Now for Something Completely Different
Movie · 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
Euroshow '71: May Day Special
Movie · as Various (as Montypython Flyingcircus)
The Great Birds Eye Peas Relaunch 1971
Movie
Film '72
TV · as Self · 4 eps
Ending It All
Movie
Monty Python: Who's There?
Movie · as Ken
How to Irritate People
Movie · as Various
Monty Python's Flying Circus
TV · as Various / "It's" man · 45 eps
The Complete and Utter History of Britain
TV · 6 eps
Frost on Sunday
TV · as Self / Various Characters · 1 ep
Do Not Adjust Your Set
TV · as Various Characters · 29 eps
Twice a Fortnight
TV · 10 eps
A Series of Bird's
TV · 2 eps
Isadora Duncan, the Biggest Dancer in the World
Movie · as Jazz Band Undertaker (uncredited)