Michael Palin
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.
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Acted in
Michael Palin in Nigeria
2024
as Self
Fawlty Towers: 50 Years of Laughs
2023
as Self
Michael Palin: Into Iraq
2022
The Fringe, Fame and Me
2022
as Self
Monty Python's Best Bits Celebrated
2021
as Self (archive footage)(uncredited)
Jeepers Creepers
2020
as Newscaster (voice)
Michael Palin: Travels of a Lifetime
2020
as Self - Host
Sir David Attenborough and Sir Michael Palin in Conversation
2020
as Self
Staged
2020
as Michael
Peter Sellers: A State of Comic Ecstasy
2020
as Self
Worzel Gummidge
2019
as The Green Man
Python at 50: Silly Talks and Holy Grails
2019
as Self (archive footage)
An Accidental Studio
2019
as Self
Final Ascent: The Legend of Hamish MacInnes
2019
as Himself
Michael Palin in North Korea
2018
as Himself - Host
Vanity Fair
2018
as William Makepeace Thackeray
Michael Palin: A Life on Screen
2018
The Death of Stalin
2017
as Vyacheslav Molotov
Generation '66
2016
Attenborough at 90
2016
as Self
Michael Palin's Quest for Artemisia
2015
as Himself
Absolutely Anything
2015
as Kindly Alien (voice)
Artsnight
2015
as Self
A Life on Screen
2014
as Himself
Rik Mayall: Lord of Misrule
2014
as Self
Spike Milligan: Love, Light and Peace
2014
as Himself
Remember Me
2014
as Tom Parfitt
Monty Python: The Meaning of Live
2014
as Self
Monty Python's Best Bits (Mostly)
2014
as Self (archive footage)
Monty Python Live (Mostly)
2014
as Self, others
Monty Python: And Now for Something Rather Similar
2014
as Self
50 Years of BBC Two Comedy
2014
as Self
Alexander Armstrong's Real Ripping Yarns
2014
The New Incomplete And Utter History Of Everything
2014
Alexander Armstrong's Real Ripping Yarns
2014
as Self
Michael Palin In Wyeth's World
2013
as Himself
The Meaning of Monty Python
2013
as Self
The Wipers Times
2013
as General Mitford
Frost on Sketch Shows
2013
as Self
Anatomy of a Liar
2012
as Self
Brazil with Michael Palin
2012
as Self (Presenter)
Produced By George Martin
2012
A Liar's Autobiography: The Untrue Story of Monty Python's Graham Chapman
2012
as Various (voice)
The Secret Policeman's Ball
2012
as Self
Arthur Christmas
2011
as Ernie Clicker (voice)
Making Qi
2011
as Self
ZULU Comedy Galla
2010
as Michael Palin
Not The Messiah: The Road To Albert Hall
2010
Not the Messiah (He's a Very Naughty Boy)
2010
as Mrs. Betty Palin / Julius Caesar / Bevis
Monty Python: Almost the Truth (The Lawyer's Cut)
2009
as Self
Monty Python in Aberystwyth
2009
as Self
Fawlty Towers: Re-Opened
2009
as Self
Around the World in 20 Years
2008
as Himself
The Last Day of World War One
2008
as Presenter
Inside Shabby Road: The Music of 'The Rutles'
2008
as Self
Get Up and Go: The Making of 'The Rutles'
2008
as Self
Monty Python: Before the Flying Circus
2008
as Self
The Seventh Python
2008
as Self
What Is Brazil?
2008
as Self
Marty Feldman: Six Degrees of Separation
2008
as Self
Life Of Brian Screenplay
2008
as Wise Man #3, Mr. Big Nose, Francis, Mrs. A, Ex-Leper
Monty Python Conquers America
2008
as Self
Robbie the Reindeer in Close Encounters of the Herd Kind
2007
as Gariiiiiii (voice)
Michael Palin's New Europe
2007
as Himself
Movie Connections
2007
as Self
Hitler: The Comedy Years
2007
as Heinrich Himmler (archive footage) (uncredited)
The Secret Life of Brian
2007
as Self
What the Pythons Did Next...
2007
as Self (archive footage)
Legends
2006
as Self
The South Bank Show: Spamalot
2006
50 Films to See Before You Die
2006
as Self
Monty Python's Flying Circus - Michael Palin's Personal Best
2006
Monty Python's Flying Circus - Graham Chapman's Personal Best
2006
as Various Characters
Monty Python's Personal Best
2006
as Self / Various Characters
The Roots of Monty Python
2005
as Self (archive footage)
John Peel's Record Box
2005
as Self
Michael Palin & the Mystery of Hammershøi
2005
as Host
Remember the Secret Policeman's Ball?
2004
as Self
Best Sellers or: Peter Sellers and 'Dr. Strangelove'
2004
as Self
Himalaya with Michael Palin
2004
as Self - Presenter
The Best of Monty Python's Flying Circus Volume 1
2004
as Self (archive footage)
The Best of Monty Python's Flying Circus Volume 2
2004
as Self (archive footage)
The Best of Monty Python's Flying Circus Volume 3
2004
as Self (archive footage)
Concert for George
2003
as Self
The Meaning of Making 'The Meaning of Life'
2003
as Self
Michael Palin and the Ladies Who Loved Matisse
2003
as Narrator
Life on Air: David Attenborough's 50 Years in Television
2002
as Himself - Presenter
Sahara with Michael Palin
2002
as Self - Presenter
Spike Milligan I told you I was ill... A live tribute
2002
as Self
The Quest for the Holy Grail Locations
2001
as Self
The Unknown Peter Sellers
2000
as Himself
Michael Palin's Hemingway Adventure
1999
The Monty Python Story
1999
as Self
Monty Python: From Spam to Sperm
1999
as Self
Monty Python: 30th Anniversary Sketches
1999
as Self
Monty Python: Pythonland
1999
Monty Python: Live at Aspen
1998
as Self
Palin on Redpath
1997
as Himself / Presenter
Full Circle with Michael Palin
1997
as Himself
Fierce Creatures
1997
as Adrian 'Bugsy' Malone
The Willows in Winter
1996
as Rat
The Wind in the Willows
1996
as The Sun
The Wind in the Willows
1995
as Rat
Michael Palin's Greatest Railway Journey: Derry To Kerry
1994
as Self
Great Railway Journeys - Derry to Kerry
1994
as Himself
Tracey Ullman: A Class Act
1993
as Various
Pole to Pole
1992
as Himself
The South Bank Show: Terry Gilliam
1991
G.B.H.
1991
as Jim Nelson
American Friends
1991
as Rev. Francis Ashby
The Witches
1990
as Witch at Meeting
Viz: The Documentary
1990
as Self
Life of Python
1990
as Self / Various Roles
The Simpsons
1989
as Springfield History Museum curator (voice)
Parrot Sketch Not Included: Twenty Years of Monty Python
1989
as Self / Various Characters
The Art Of Travel With Michael Palin
1989
as Self
Michael Palin: The Art of Travel
1989
Michael Palin: Around the World in 80 Days
1989
as Himself
The Movie Life of George
1989
as Self
The Secret Policeman’s Biggest Ball
1989
as Himself
A Fish Called Wanda
1988
as Ken Pile
John Cleese's First Farewell Performance
1988
as Self
Daytime Live
1987
Going Live!
1987
as Self
The Grand Knockout Tournament
1987
as Self
Omnibus Presents Comic Relief
1986
Comedians Do It On Stage
1986
as Self
Brazil
1985
as Jack Lint
A Private Function
1984
as Gilbert Chilvers
The Dress
1984
as Howard
Comic Roots: Michael Palin
1983
Monty Python's The Meaning of Life
1983
as Various Roles
The Crimson Permanent Assurance
1983
as Workman
The Missionary
1982
as The Reverend Charles Fortescue
Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl
1982
as Various Roles
The Secret Policeman's Other Ball
1982
as Self - Various Roles
Time Bandits
1981
as Vincent
The Box
1981
as (voice)
Great Railway Journeys - Confessions of a Train Spotter
1980
as Himself
Travels with Palin
1980
as Himself
Great Railway Journeys
1980
as Self - Presenter
The Secret Policeman's Ball
1979
as Various Roles
Roger of the Raj
1979
as Roger
Golden Gordon
1979
as Gordon Ottershaw
Whinfrey's Last Case
1979
as Gerald Whinfrey
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
The Pythons: Somewhere in Tunisia, Circa A.D. 1979
1979
as Self
The Rutles: All You Need Is Cash
1978
as Eric Manchester
The Curse of the Claw
1977
as Kevin Orr
Murder at Moorstones Manor
1977
as Charles Chiddingford
Escape from Stalag Luft 112B
1977
as Major Errol Phipps
The Testing of Eric Olthwaite
1977
as Eric Olthwaite
The Broken Bottle
1977
Jabberwocky
1977
as Dennis Cooper
Pleasure at Her Majesty's
1976
as Himself
The Secret Policeman's Ball
1976
as Self
Tomkinson's Schooldays
1976
as Tomkinson
Ripping Yarns
1976
Ripping Yarns
1976
as Gerald Whinfrey
Ripping Yarns
1976
as Kevin Orr / Uncle Jack
Ripping Yarns
1976
as Roger
Three Men in a Boat
1975
as Harris
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!
Monty Python & the Holy Grail Location Report
1974
as Self
Henry Cleans Up
1974
as Henry
Is This a Record?
1973
as Various
Monty Python In The Netherlands
1973
Pebble Mill at One
1972
Monty Python's Fliegender Zirkus
1972
as Various Characters
The Great Birds Eye Peas Relaunch 1971
1971
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
Euroshow '71: May Day Special
1971
as Various (as Montypython Flyingcircus)
Monty Python: Who's There?
1970
as Ken
Ending It All
1970
Clangers
1969
as Narrator (voice)
Monty Python's Flying Circus
1969
as Various / "It's" man
How to Irritate People
1969
as Various
The Complete and Utter History of Britain
1969
Frost on Sunday
1968
Do Not Adjust Your Set
1967
as Various Characters
Twice a Fortnight
1967
A Series Of Bird's
1967
Isadora Duncan, the Biggest Dancer in the World
1966
as Jazz Band Undertaker (uncredited)
Close-Up Toothpaste Relaunch
as salesman
The Magic Faraway Tree
Across the Andes by Frog
as Captain Walter Snetterton