Portrait of Michael Palin

Michael Palin

Acting

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.

Born: May 5, 1943

Place of Birth: Broomhill, Sheffield, England, UK

Filmography

2025
2025
The Secret Life of Trees

as Self - Narrator

2021
Monty Python's Best Bits Celebrated

as Self (archive footage)(uncredited)

2020
Jeepers Creepers

as Newscaster (voice)

2020
Staged

as Michael

2019
Worzel Gummidge

as The Green Man

2019
2018
Vanity Fair

as William Makepeace Thackeray

2017
The Death of Stalin

as Vyacheslav Molotov

2015
Absolutely Anything

as Kindly Alien (voice)

2014
2014
Remember Me

as Tom Parfitt

2014
Monty Python's Best Bits (Mostly)

as Self (archive footage)

2014
2013
The Wipers Times

as General Mitford

2012
Brazil with Michael Palin

as Self (Presenter)

2011
Arthur Christmas

as Ernie Clicker (voice)

2011
Making Qi

as Self

2011
2010
ZULU Comedy Galla

as Michael Palin

2010
Not the Messiah (He's a Very Naughty Boy)

as Mrs. Betty Palin / Julius Caesar / Bevis

2008
2008
Life Of Brian Screenplay

as Wise Man #3, Mr. Big Nose, Francis, Mrs. A, Ex-Leper

2007
Hitler: The Comedy Years

as Heinrich Himmler (archive footage) (uncredited)

2007
What the Pythons Did Next...

as Self (archive footage)

2006
Legends

as Self

2006
The One Show

as Self - Guest

2006
Monty Python's Personal Best

as Self / Various Characters

2005
The Roots of Monty Python

as Self (archive footage)

2004
Himalaya with Michael Palin

as Self - Presenter

2002
Sahara with Michael Palin

as Self - Presenter

1998
Parkinson

as Self

1997
Palin on Redpath

as Self - Presenter

1997
Fierce Creatures

as Adrian 'Bugsy' Malone

1992
1991
G.B.H.

as Jim Nelson

1991
American Friends

as Rev. Francis Ashby

1990
The Witches

as Witch at Meeting (uncredited)

1990
Life of Python

as Self / Various Roles

1989
The Simpsons

as Springfield History Museum curator (voice)

1988
1987
1985
Brazil

as Jack Lint

1984
A Private Function

as Gilbert Chilvers

1984
The Dress

as Howard

1982
The Missionary

as The Reverend Charles Fortescue

1982
Wogan

as Self

1982
The Secret Policeman's Other Ball

as Self - Various Roles

1981
Time Bandits

as Vincent

1981
The Box

as (voice)

1980
Great Railway Journeys

as Self - Presenter

1979
1979
1979
Golden Gordon

as Gordon Ottershaw

1979
Whinfrey's Last Case

as Gerald Whinfrey

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

1978
1977
The Curse of the Claw

as Kevin Orr / Uncle Jack

1977
Across the Andes by Frog

as Captain Walter Snetterton

1977
Murder at Moorstones Manor

as Charles Chiddingford

1977
Escape from Stalag Luft 112B

as Major Errol Phipps

1977
The Testing of Eric Olthwaite

as Eric Olthwaite / Bank Manager

1977
Jabberwocky

as Dennis Cooper

1976
Tomkinson's Schooldays

as Tomkinson / Headmaster / TV Introducer / Mr Craffitt

1976
Ripping Yarns

as Gerald Whinfrey

1976
1976
Ripping Yarns

as Kevin Orr / Uncle Jack

1975
1975
Saturday Night Live

as Self - Host

1975
Saturday Night Live

as Self - Cameo (uncredited)

1975
Saturday Night Live

as Dick Savage (uncredited)

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!

1974
1973
1972
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)

1969
Clangers

as Narrator (voice)

1969
Monty Python's Flying Circus

as Various / "It's" man

1967
Do Not Adjust Your Set

as Various Characters

1966
Isadora Duncan, the Biggest Dancer in the World

as Jazz Band Undertaker (uncredited)