Michael Palin
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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
Credits
Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)
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!
The Magic Faraway Tree (2026)
as Know All
Fierce Creatures (1997)
as Adrian "Bugsy" Malone
Arthur Christmas (2011)
as Ernie Clicker (voice)
The Death of Stalin (2017)
as Vyacheslav Molotov
Life of Brian (1979)
as Wise Man #3 / Mr. Big Nose / Francis / Mrs. A / Ex-Leper / Announcer / Ben / Pontius Pilate / Boring Prophet / Eddie / Shoe Follower / Nisus Wettus
Absolutely Anything (2015)
as Kindly Alien (voice)
A Fish Called Wanda (1988)
as Ken Pile
The Witches (1990)
as Witch at Meeting (uncredited)
Brazil (1985)
as Jack Lint
Monty Python's The Meaning of Life (1983)
as Various Roles
Time Bandits (1981)
as Vincent
David Attenborough's 100 Years on Planet Earth (2026)
as Self
Joke (2026)
Actor
Jabberwocky (1977)
as Dennis Cooper
The Wind in the Willows (1996)
as The Sun
The Wind in the Willows (1995)
as Rat
The Missionary (1982)
as The Reverend Charles Fortescue
Monty Python Live (Mostly) (2014)
as Self, others
A Private Function (1984)
as Gilbert Chilvers
Rik Mayall: Lord of Misrule (2014)
as Self
Innes Lloyd: The Producer (2025)
as Self
An Accidental Studio (2019)
as Self
And Now for Something Completely Different (1971)
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
The Secret Life of Brian (2007)
as Self
Produced by George Martin (2012)
as Self
Euroshow '71: May Day Special (1971)
as Various (as Montypython Flyingcircus)
The Secret Policeman's Ball (2012)
as Self
Concert for George (2003)
as Self
The Roots of Monty Python (2005)
as Self (archive footage)
A Liar's Autobiography: The Untrue Story of Monty Python's Graham Chapman (2012)
as Various (voice)
Roger of the Raj (1979)
as Roger
Pleasure at Her Majesty's (1976)
as Self
Monty Python: Live at Aspen (1998)
as Self
Hitler: The Comedy Years (2007)
as Heinrich Himmler (archive footage) (uncredited)
Murder at Moorstones Manor (1977)
as Charles Chiddingford
The Fringe, Fame and Me (2022)
as Self
How to Irritate People (1969)
as Various
Jeepers Creepers (2020)
as Newscaster (voice)
Henry Cleans Up (1974)
as Henry
Monty Python's Flying Circus—Terry Gilliam's Personal Best (2006)
as Various Characters
The Secret Policeman’s Biggest Ball (1989)
as Self
The Movie Life of George (1989)
as Self
The Wipers Times (2013)
as General Mitford
American Friends (1991)
as Rev. Francis Ashby
The Monty Python Story (1999)
as Self
Generation '66 (2016)
Actor
Attenborough at 90 (2016)
as Self
Tomkinson's Schooldays (1976)
as Tomkinson / Headmaster / TV Introducer / Mr Craffitt
50 Films to See Before You Die (2006)
as Self
My National Gallery, London (2024)
as Self
Viz: The Documentary (1990)
as Self
Robbie the Reindeer in Close Encounters of the Herd Kind (2007)
as Gariiiiiii (voice)
Not the Messiah (He's a Very Naughty Boy) (2010)
as Mrs. Betty Palin / Julius Caesar / Bevis
Life of Python (1990)
as Self / Various Roles
50 Years of BBC Two Comedy (2014)
as Self
Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute (1988)
as Self
The Willows in Winter (1996)
as Rat
Life Of Brian Screenplay (2008)
as Wise Man #3, Mr. Big Nose, Francis, Mrs. A, Ex-Leper
Anatomy of a Liar (2012)
as Self
Monty Python in Aberystwyth (2009)
as Self
What Is Brazil? (2008)
as Self
Dame Maggie Smith - A Celebration (2024)
as Self
Monty Python's Flying Circus—Terry Jones' Personal Best (2006)
as Various Characters
Fawlty Towers: Re-Opened (2009)
as Self
Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl (1982)
as Various Roles
The Secret Policeman's Other Ball (1982)
as Self - Various Roles
The Art Of Travel With Michael Palin (1989)
as Self
The Secret Policeman's Ball (1979)
as Various Roles
Monty Python's Flying Circus—John Cleese's Personal Best (2006)
as Various Characters
The Academy of Armando (2025)
as Self
The Rutles: All You Need Is Cash (1978)
as Eric Manchester
Meridian: The First Ten Minutes (1993)
as Self
Whinfrey's Last Case (1979)
as Gerald Whinfrey
The Grand Knockout Tournament (1987)
as Self
How To Make It In Comedy (2024)
Actor
Around the World in 20 Years (2008)
as Self
Remember the Secret Policeman's Ball? (2004)
as Self
Parrot Sketch Not Included: Twenty Years of Monty Python (1989)
as Self / Various Characters
Monty Python: The Meaning of Live (2014)
as Self
Monty Python's Flying Circus—Michael Palin's Personal Best (2006)
Actor
What the Pythons Did Next... (2007)
as Self (archive footage)
Spike Milligan I told you I was ill... A live tribute (2002)
as Self
Monty Python: And Now for Something Rather Similar (2014)
as Self
Life on Air: David Attenborough's 50 Years in Television (2002)
as Self - Presenter
Across the Andes by Frog (1977)
as Captain Walter Snetterton
The Crimson Permanent Assurance (1983)
as Workman
Palin on Redpath (1997)
as Self - Presenter
John Peel's Record Box (2005)
as Self
Monty Python's Flying Circus—Graham Chapman's Personal Best (2006)
as Various Characters
Monty Python Conquers America (2008)
as Self
John Cleese's First Farewell Performance (1988)
as Self
Frost on Sketch Shows (2013)
as Self
Peter Sellers: A State of Comic Ecstasy (2020)
as Self
The Curse of the Claw (1977)
as Kevin Orr / Uncle Jack
Comedians Do It On Stage (1986)
as Self
Monty Python's Flying Circus—Graham Chapman's Personal Best (2006)
as Various Characters
The Seventh Python (2008)
as Self
The Meaning of Monty Python (2013)
as Self
Monty Python In The Netherlands (1973)
Actor
The Best of Monty Python's Flying Circus Volume 1 (2004)
as Self (archive footage)
Escape from Stalag Luft 112B (1977)
as Major Errol Phipps
Not The Messiah: The Road To Albert Hall (2010)
Actor
Monty Python: Before the Flying Circus (2008)
as Self
Making Qi (2011)
as Self
The Unknown Peter Sellers (2000)
as Self
Golden Gordon (1979)
as Gordon Ottershaw
Marty Feldman: Six Degrees of Separation (2008)
as Self
Michael Palin & the Mystery of Hammershøi (2005)
as Host
The Testing of Eric Olthwaite (1977)
as Eric Olthwaite / Bank Manager
The Meaning of Making 'The Meaning of Life' (2003)
as Self
Monty Python: Who's There? (1970)
as Ken
Monty Python: 30th Anniversary Sketches (1999)
as Self
The Philosophers' Football Match (1972)
as Nietzsche
The Best of Monty Python's Flying Circus Volume 3 (2004)
as Self (archive footage)
Three Men in a Boat (1975)
as Harris
Monty Python: Almost the Truth (The Lawyer's Cut) - Theatrical Release (2010)
as Self
Michael Palin's Quest for Artemisia (2015)
as Self
The Broken Bottle (1977)
Actor
Michael Palin In Wyeth's World (2013)
as Self
The Best of Monty Python's Flying Circus Volume 2 (2004)
as Self (archive footage)
Tracey Ullman: A Class Act (1993)
as Various
Best Sellers or: Peter Sellers and 'Dr. Strangelove' (2004)
as Self
Monty Python's Flying Circus—Eric Idle's Personal Best (2006)
as Various Characters
Monty Python: From Spam to Sperm (1999)
as Self
The Pythons: Somewhere in Tunisia, Circa A.D. 1979 (1979)
as Self
When Bruce Springsteen Came to Britain (2025)
as Self
Is This a Record? (1973)
as Various
Monty Python's Best Bits Celebrated (2021)
as Self (archive footage)(uncredited)
Comic Roots: Michael Palin (1983)
Actor
Close-Up Toothpaste Relaunch (—)
as salesman
New Tales from Around the World in 80 Days (2014)
as Self
The Dress (1984)
as Howard
Python at 50: Silly Talks and Holy Grails (2019)
as Self (archive footage)
Monty Python & the Holy Grail Location Report (1974)
as Self
The New Incomplete And Utter History Of Everything (2014)
Actor
The First Night of Meridian (1993)
as Self - Host
The Great Birds Eye Peas Relaunch 1971 (1971)
Actor
The Box (1981)
as (voice)
Michael Palin and the Ladies Who Loved Matisse (2003)
as Narrator
Sir David Attenborough and Sir Michael Palin in Conversation (2020)
as Self
Alexander Armstrong's Real Ripping Yarns (2014)
as Self
Ending It All (1970)
Actor
The Phoenix: A Century of Cinema (2011)
as Self
Monty Python: Pythonland (1999)
Actor
Michael Palin: A Life on Screen (2018)
Actor
Isadora Duncan, the Biggest Dancer in the World (1966)
as Jazz Band Undertaker (uncredited)
Timewatch: The Last Day of World War One (2008)
as Presenter
Spike Milligan: Love, Light and Peace (2014)
as Self
Fawlty Towers: 50 Years of Laughs (2023)
as Self
Rabbit Ears - Jack and the Beanstalk (1991)
as Narrator (voice)
Final Ascent: The Legend of Hamish MacInnes (2019)
as Self
Get Up and Go: The Making of 'The Rutles' (2008)
as Self
The Quest for the Holy Grail Locations (2001)
as Self
Inside Shabby Road: The Music of 'The Rutles' (2008)
as Self