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
The Magic Faraway Tree (2026)
as Know All
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!
Brazil (1985)
as Jack Lint
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
Arthur Christmas (2011)
as Ernie Clicker (voice)
A Fish Called Wanda (1988)
as Ken Pile
Time Bandits (1981)
as Vincent
Absolutely Anything (2015)
as Kindly Alien (voice)
The Witches (1990)
as Witch at Meeting (uncredited)
Monty Python's The Meaning of Life (1983)
as Various Roles
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
Fierce Creatures (1997)
as Adrian "Bugsy" Malone
Jabberwocky (1977)
as Dennis Cooper
A Liar's Autobiography: The Untrue Story of Monty Python's Graham Chapman (2012)
as Various (voice)
The Wind in the Willows (1996)
as The Sun
Concert for George (2003)
as Self
David Attenborough's 100 Years on Planet Earth (2026)
as Self
The Wind in the Willows (1995)
as Rat (voice)
Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl (1982)
as Various Roles
Joke (2026)
Actor
Monty Python Live (Mostly) (2014)
as Self, others
50 Films to See Before You Die (2006)
as Self
Euroshow '71: May Day Special (1971)
as Various (as Montypython Flyingcircus)
The Rutles: All You Need Is Cash (1978)
as Eric Manchester
The Missionary (1982)
as The Reverend Charles Fortescue
The Willows in Winter (1996)
as Rat
Marty Feldman: Six Degrees of Separation (2008)
as Self
Hitler: The Comedy Years (2007)
as Heinrich Himmler (archive footage) (uncredited)
A Private Function (1984)
as Gilbert Chilvers
Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute (1988)
as Self
Jeepers Creepers (2020)
as Newscaster (voice)
The Grand Knockout Tournament (1987)
as Self
What Is Brazil? (2008)
as Self
The Wipers Times (2013)
as General Mitford
An Accidental Studio (2019)
as Self
The Secret Life of Brian (2007)
as Self
The Best of Monty Python's Flying Circus Volume 2 (2004)
as Self (archive footage)
How to Irritate People (1969)
as Various
The Secret Policeman's Ball (2012)
as Self
American Friends (1991)
as Rev. Francis Ashby
Michael Palin & the Mystery of Hammershøi (2005)
as Host
The Best of Monty Python's Flying Circus Volume 3 (2004)
as Self (archive footage)
Monty Python Conquers America (2008)
as Self
Fawlty Towers: Re-Opened (2009)
as Self
Best Sellers or: Peter Sellers and 'Dr. Strangelove' (2004)
as Self
What the Pythons Did Next... (2007)
as Self (archive footage)
Roger of the Raj (1979)
as Roger
Life of Python (1990)
as Self / Various Roles
Spike Milligan I told you I was ill... A live tribute (2002)
as Self
The Crimson Permanent Assurance (1983)
as Workman
Monty Python: Live at Aspen (1998)
as Self
Not the Messiah (He's a Very Naughty Boy) (2010)
as Mrs. Betty Palin / Julius Caesar / Bevis
Monty Python: The Meaning of Live (2014)
as Self
Monty Python in Aberystwyth (2009)
as Self
Monty Python: And Now for Something Rather Similar (2014)
as Self
Attenborough at 90 (2016)
as Self
Three Men in a Boat (1975)
as Harris
Monty Python's Best Bits Celebrated (2021)
as Self (archive footage)(uncredited)
The Pythons: Somewhere in Tunisia, Circa A.D. 1979 (1979)
as Self
Henry Cleans Up (1974)
as Henry
The Best of Monty Python's Flying Circus Volume 1 (2004)
as Self (archive footage)
The Secret Policeman's Other Ball (1982)
as Self - Various Roles
Murder at Moorstones Manor (1977)
as Charles Chiddingford
50 Years of BBC Two Comedy (2014)
as Self
Monty Python & the Holy Grail Location Report (1974)
as Self
The Academy of Armando (2025)
as Self
Pleasure at Her Majesty's (1976)
as Self
Monty Python: Before the Flying Circus (2008)
as Self
Dame Maggie Smith - A Celebration (2024)
as Self
Golden Gordon (1979)
as Gordon Ottershaw
Monty Python's Flying Circus—Terry Gilliam's Personal Best (2006)
as Various Characters
Is This a Record? (1973)
as Various
Remember the Secret Policeman's Ball? (2004)
as Self
Tracey Ullman: A Class Act (1993)
as Various
The Fringe, Fame and Me (2022)
as Self
The Roots of Monty Python (2005)
as Self (archive footage)
The Secret Policeman's Ball (1979)
as Various Roles
The Movie Life of George (1989)
as Self
Peter Sellers: A State of Comic Ecstasy (2020)
as Self
The Meaning of Making 'The Meaning of Life' (2003)
as Self
Robbie the Reindeer in Close Encounters of the Herd Kind (2007)
as Gariiiiiii (voice)
Isadora Duncan, the Biggest Dancer in the World (1966)
as Jazz Band Undertaker (uncredited)
Parrot Sketch Not Included: Twenty Years of Monty Python (1989)
as Self / Various Characters
Innes Lloyd: The Producer (2025)
as Self
Monty Python's Flying Circus—Graham Chapman's Personal Best (2006)
as Various Characters
Making Qi (2011)
as Self
Michael Palin In Wyeth's World (2013)
as Self
Anatomy of a Liar (2012)
as Self
The Secret Policeman’s Biggest Ball (1989)
as Self
When Bruce Springsteen Came to Britain (2025)
as Self
Monty Python's Flying Circus—Graham Chapman's Personal Best (2006)
as Various Characters
Tomkinson's Schooldays (1976)
as Tomkinson / Headmaster / TV Introducer / Mr Craffitt
The Testing of Eric Olthwaite (1977)
as Eric Olthwaite / Bank Manager
Rik Mayall: Lord of Misrule (2014)
as Self
Monty Python's Flying Circus—Michael Palin's Personal Best (2006)
Actor
The Monty Python Story (1999)
as Self
The Philosophers' Football Match (1972)
as Nietzsche
Comic Roots: Michael Palin (1983)
as Self / Jealous Reporter
Python at 50: Silly Talks and Holy Grails (2019)
as Self (archive footage)
Produced by George Martin (2012)
as Self
The Meaning of Monty Python (2013)
as Self
The Dress (1984)
as Howard
Monty Python's Flying Circus—John Cleese's Personal Best (2006)
as Various Characters
Michael Palin: A Life on Screen (2018)
Actor
Palin on Redpath (1997)
as Self - Presenter
Michael Palin's Quest for Artemisia (2015)
as Self
Life on Air: David Attenborough's 50 Years in Television (2002)
as Self - Presenter
Alexander Armstrong's Real Ripping Yarns (2014)
as Self
The Seventh Python (2008)
as Self
Monty Python: From Spam to Sperm (1999)
as Self
Across the Andes by Frog (1977)
as Captain Walter Snetterton
Around the World in 20 Years (2008)
as Self
New Tales from Around the World in 80 Days (2014)
as Self
Monty Python: 30th Anniversary Sketches (1999)
as Self
Life Of Brian Screenplay (2008)
as Wise Man #3, Mr. Big Nose, Francis, Mrs. A, Ex-Leper
Monty Python: Who's There? (1970)
as Ken
John Peel's Record Box (2005)
as Self
Whinfrey's Last Case (1979)
as Gerald Whinfrey
Not The Messiah: The Road To Albert Hall (2010)
Actor
The Great Birds Eye Peas Relaunch 1971 (1971)
Actor
The Unknown Peter Sellers (2000)
as Self
Meridian: The First Ten Minutes (1993)
as Self
Generation '66 (2016)
Actor
Monty Python In The Netherlands (1973)
as Pie Face 3
The Quest for the Holy Grail Locations (2001)
as Self
Timewatch: The Last Day of World War One (2008)
as Presenter
My National Gallery, London (2024)
as Self
Comedians Do It On Stage (1986)
as Self
Final Ascent: The Legend of Hamish MacInnes (2019)
as Self
Fawlty Towers: 50 Years of Laughs (2023)
as Self
The Curse of the Claw (1977)
as Kevin Orr / Uncle Jack
Close-Up Toothpaste Relaunch (—)
as salesman
Frost on Sketch Shows (2013)
as Self
Inside Shabby Road: The Music of 'The Rutles' (2008)
as Self
Monty Python's Flying Circus—Eric Idle's Personal Best (2006)
as Various Characters
The New Incomplete And Utter History Of Everything (2014)
Actor
Monty Python: Almost the Truth (The Lawyer's Cut) - Theatrical Release (2010)
as Self
Spike Milligan: Love, Light and Peace (2014)
as Self
Get Up and Go: The Making of 'The Rutles' (2008)
as Self
Viz: The Documentary (1990)
as Self
The Broken Bottle (1977)
Actor
Sir David Attenborough and Sir Michael Palin in Conversation (2020)
as Self
Monty Python: Pythonland (1999)
Actor
Rabbit Ears - Jack and the Beanstalk (1991)
as Narrator (voice)
Ending It All (1970)
Actor
The Phoenix: A Century of Cinema (2011)
as Self
Michael Palin and the Ladies Who Loved Matisse (2003)
as Self - Presenter
The Box (1981)
as (voice)
The First Night of Meridian (1993)
as Self - Host
Escape from Stalag Luft 112B (1977)
as Major Errol Phipps
The Art Of Travel With Michael Palin (1989)
as Self
Michael Palin’s Super 8mm - “Life of Brian” (1978)
as Commentator / Self