

Michael Palin
Actor · Writer · ProducerMichael 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.
More details at TMDB
KNOWN FOR
FILMOGRAPHY
ACTOR155

The Magic Faraway Tree
2026
Know All

Joke
2026

David Attenborough's 100 Years on Planet Earth
2026
Self

The Academy of Armando
2025
Self

When Bruce Springsteen Came to Britain
2025
Self

Innes Lloyd: The Producer
2025
Self
- How To Make It In Comedy
How To Make It In Comedy
2024

Dame Maggie Smith - A Celebration
2024
Self

My National Gallery, London
2024
Self

Fawlty Towers: 50 Years of Laughs
2023
Self

The Fringe, Fame and Me
2022
Self

Monty Python's Best Bits Celebrated
2021
Self (archive footage)(uncredited)

Peter Sellers: A State of Comic Ecstasy
2020
Self
- Sir David Attenborough and Sir Michael Palin in Conversation
Sir David Attenborough and Sir Michael Palin in Conversation
2020
Self

Jeepers Creepers
2020
Newscaster (voice)

An Accidental Studio
2019
Self

Final Ascent: The Legend of Hamish MacInnes
2019
Self

Python at 50: Silly Talks and Holy Grails
2019
Self (archive footage)

Michael Palin: A Life on Screen
2018

The Death of Stalin
2017
Vyacheslav Molotov

Attenborough at 90
2016
Self

Generation '66
2016

Absolutely Anything
2015
Kindly Alien (voice)

Michael Palin's Quest for Artemisia
2015
Self

Rik Mayall: Lord of Misrule
2014
Self

Monty Python Live (Mostly)
2014
Self, others

50 Years of BBC Two Comedy
2014
Self

Monty Python: The Meaning of Live
2014
Self

Spike Milligan: Love, Light and Peace
2014
Self

The New Incomplete And Utter History Of Everything
2014

Alexander Armstrong's Real Ripping Yarns
2014
Self

Monty Python: And Now for Something Rather Similar
2014
Self

New Tales from Around the World in 80 Days
2014
Self

Frost on Sketch Shows
2013
Self

The Wipers Times
2013
General Mitford

The Meaning of Monty Python
2013
Self

Michael Palin In Wyeth's World
2013
Self

A Liar's Autobiography: The Untrue Story of Monty Python's Graham Chapman
2012
Various (voice)

Anatomy of a Liar
2012
Self

The Secret Policeman's Ball
2012
Self

Produced by George Martin
2012
Self

Arthur Christmas
2011
Ernie Clicker (voice)

Making Qi
2011
Self
- The Phoenix: A Century of Cinema
The Phoenix: A Century of Cinema
2011
Self

Not the Messiah (He's a Very Naughty Boy)
2010
Mrs. Betty Palin / Julius Caesar / Bevis

Not The Messiah: The Road To Albert Hall
2010

Monty Python: Almost the Truth (The Lawyer's Cut) - Theatrical Release
2010
Self

Fawlty Towers: Re-Opened
2009
Self

Monty Python in Aberystwyth
2009
Self
- Life Of Brian Screenplay
Life Of Brian Screenplay
2008
Wise Man #3, Mr. Big Nose, Francis, Mrs. A, Ex-Leper

Inside Shabby Road: The Music of 'The Rutles'
2008
Self

Get Up and Go: The Making of 'The Rutles'
2008
Self

Around the World in 20 Years
2008
Self

The Seventh Python
2008
Self

Marty Feldman: Six Degrees of Separation
2008
Self

Timewatch: The Last Day of World War One
2008
Presenter

Monty Python: Before the Flying Circus
2008
Self

What Is Brazil?
2008
Self

Monty Python Conquers America
2008
Self

Hitler: The Comedy Years
2007
Heinrich Himmler (archive footage) (uncredited)

Robbie the Reindeer in Close Encounters of the Herd Kind
2007
Gariiiiiii (voice)

What the Pythons Did Next...
2007
Self (archive footage)

The Secret Life of Brian
2007
Self

Monty Python's Flying Circus—Graham Chapman's Personal Best
2006
Various Characters

50 Films to See Before You Die
2006
Self

Monty Python's Flying Circus—Michael Palin's Personal Best
2006

Monty Python's Flying Circus—John Cleese's Personal Best
2006
Various Characters

Monty Python's Flying Circus—Eric Idle's Personal Best
2006
Various Characters

Monty Python's Flying Circus—Terry Gilliam's Personal Best
2006
Various Characters

Monty Python's Flying Circus—Terry Jones' Personal Best
2006
Various Characters

Monty Python's Flying Circus—Graham Chapman's Personal Best
2006
Various Characters

Michael Palin & the Mystery of Hammershøi
2005
Host

The Roots of Monty Python
2005
Self (archive footage)

John Peel's Record Box
2005
Self

Remember the Secret Policeman's Ball?
2004
Self

Best Sellers or: Peter Sellers and 'Dr. Strangelove'
2004
Self

The Best of Monty Python's Flying Circus Volume 2
2004
Self (archive footage)

The Best of Monty Python's Flying Circus Volume 1
2004
Self (archive footage)

The Best of Monty Python's Flying Circus Volume 3
2004
Self (archive footage)

The Meaning of Making 'The Meaning of Life'
2003
Self

Michael Palin and the Ladies Who Loved Matisse
2003
Narrator

Concert for George
2003
Self

Spike Milligan I told you I was ill... A live tribute
2002
Self

Life on Air: David Attenborough's 50 Years in Television
2002
Self - Presenter

The Quest for the Holy Grail Locations
2001
Self

The Unknown Peter Sellers
2000
Self

Monty Python: 30th Anniversary Sketches
1999
Self

Monty Python: Pythonland
1999

The Monty Python Story
1999
Self

Monty Python: From Spam to Sperm
1999
Self

Monty Python: Live at Aspen
1998
Self

Fierce Creatures
1997
Adrian "Bugsy" Malone

Palin on Redpath
1997
Self - Presenter

The Wind in the Willows
1996
The Sun

The Willows in Winter
1996
Rat

The Wind in the Willows
1995
Rat

Tracey Ullman: A Class Act
1993
Various
- Meridian: The First Ten Minutes
Meridian: The First Ten Minutes
1993
Self
- The First Night of Meridian
The First Night of Meridian
1993
Self - Host

American Friends
1991
Rev. Francis Ashby

Rabbit Ears - Jack and the Beanstalk
1991
Narrator (voice)

Life of Python
1990
Self / Various Roles

Viz: The Documentary
1990
Self

The Witches
1990
Witch at Meeting (uncredited)

The Secret Policeman’s Biggest Ball
1989
Self

Parrot Sketch Not Included: Twenty Years of Monty Python
1989
Self / Various Characters

The Movie Life of George
1989
Self

The Art Of Travel With Michael Palin
1989
Self

A Fish Called Wanda
1988
Ken Pile
- John Cleese's First Farewell Performance
John Cleese's First Farewell Performance
1988
Self

Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute
1988
Self

The Grand Knockout Tournament
1987
Self

Comedians Do It On Stage
1986
Self

Brazil
1985
Jack Lint

A Private Function
1984
Gilbert Chilvers

The Dress
1984
Howard

Monty Python's The Meaning of Life
1983
Various Roles

The Crimson Permanent Assurance
1983
Workman

Comic Roots: Michael Palin
1983

Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl
1982
Various Roles

The Missionary
1982
The Reverend Charles Fortescue

The Secret Policeman's Other Ball
1982
Self - Various Roles

Time Bandits
1981
Vincent

The Box
1981
(voice)

Life of Brian
1979
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
1979
Various Roles

The Pythons: Somewhere in Tunisia, Circa A.D. 1979
1979
Self

Whinfrey's Last Case
1979
Gerald Whinfrey

Roger of the Raj
1979
Roger

Golden Gordon
1979
Gordon Ottershaw

The Rutles: All You Need Is Cash
1978
Eric Manchester

Jabberwocky
1977
Dennis Cooper

The Testing of Eric Olthwaite
1977
Eric Olthwaite / Bank Manager

Murder at Moorstones Manor
1977
Charles Chiddingford

Across the Andes by Frog
1977
Captain Walter Snetterton

Escape from Stalag Luft 112B
1977
Major Errol Phipps

The Curse of the Claw
1977
Kevin Orr / Uncle Jack

The Broken Bottle
1977

Pleasure at Her Majesty's
1976
Self

Tomkinson's Schooldays
1976
Tomkinson / Headmaster / TV Introducer / Mr Craffitt

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!

Three Men in a Boat
1975
Harris

Monty Python & the Holy Grail Location Report
1974
Self

Henry Cleans Up
1974
Henry

Is This a Record?
1973
Various

Monty Python In The Netherlands
1973

The Philosophers' Football Match
1972
Nietzsche

And Now for Something Completely Different
1971
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
1971
Various (as Montypython Flyingcircus)

The Great Birds Eye Peas Relaunch 1971
1971

Ending It All
1970

Monty Python: Who's There?
1970
Ken

How to Irritate People
1969
Various

Isadora Duncan, the Biggest Dancer in the World
1966
Jazz Band Undertaker (uncredited)

Close-Up Toothpaste Relaunch
salesman
WRITER32

Monty Python Live (Mostly)
2014
Writer

Michael Palin In Wyeth's World
2013
Writer

Python Legs!
2012
Writer

Around the World in 20 Years
2008
Writer
- Life Of Brian Screenplay
Life Of Brian Screenplay
2008
Screenplay

Palin on Redpath
1997
Writer

American Friends
1991
Writer

Parrot Sketch Not Included: Twenty Years of Monty Python
1989
Writer

Number 27
1988
Writer

Consuming Passions
1988
Theatre Play

East of Ipswich
1987
Writer

Monty Python's The Meaning of Life
1983
Screenplay

The Missionary
1982
Writer

Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl
1982
Writer

Time Bandits
1981
Writer

The Box
1981
Screenplay

Life of Brian
1979
Screenplay

Golden Gordon
1979
Writer

Roger of the Raj
1979
Writer

Whinfrey's Last Case
1979
Writer

The Testing of Eric Olthwaite
1977
Writer

Across the Andes by Frog
1977
Writer

Murder at Moorstones Manor
1977
Writer

Escape from Stalag Luft 112B
1977
Writer

The Curse of the Claw
1977
Writer

Tomkinson's Schooldays
1976
Writer

Monty Python and the Holy Grail
1975
Writer

Henry Cleans Up
1974
Writer

Secrets
1973
Writer

And Now for Something Completely Different
1971
Screenplay

The Great Birds Eye Peas Relaunch 1971
1971
Writer

Eric Idle Exploits Monty Python
Writer





