Michael Palin
Known for: Acting
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.
Filmography
Series
The Simpsons
Springfield History Museum curator (voice)
1989
Series
Saturday Night Live
Self - Co-Host
1975
Series
Saturday Night Live
Self - Special Guest
1975
Series
Saturday Night Live
Dick Savage (uncredited)
1975
Series
Saturday Night Live
Self - Host
1975
Series
Saturday Night Live
Self / Various (uncredited)
1975
Series
The Graham Norton Show
Self
2007
Series
The One Show
Self - Guest
2006
Series
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
Self - Guest
1993
Series
Wogan
Self
1982
Series
Parkinson
Self
1998
Film '72
Self
1971
Series
Going Live!
Self
1987
Series
Les Rendez-vous du dimanche
Self
1975
Series
The Jonathan Ross Show
Self
2011
Series
TFI Friday
1996
Series
Monty Python's Flying Circus
Various / "It's" man
1969
Series
Remembers…
2022
Film
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
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!
1975
Film
Brazil
Jack Lint
1985
The Alan Titchmarsh Show
Self
2007
Film
The Magic Faraway Tree
Know All
2026
Film
Life of Brian
Wise Man #3 / Mr. Big Nose / Francis / Mrs. A / Ex-Leper / Announcer / Ben / Pontius Pilate / Boring Prophet / Eddie / Shoe Follower / Nisus Wettus
1979
Series
Staged
Michael
2020
Series
Pebble Mill at One
1972
Series
The Frank Skinner Show
Self
1995
Film
Arthur Christmas
Ernie Clicker (voice)
2011
Film
The Death of Stalin
Vyacheslav Molotov
2017
Film
The Witches
Witch at Meeting (uncredited)
1990
Film
A Fish Called Wanda
Ken Pile
1988
Series
Legends
Self
2006
Series
Small Prophets
Brian Sleep
2026
Film
Monty Python's The Meaning of Life
Various Roles
1983
Film
Time Bandits
Vincent
1981
Daytime Live
1987
Series
ZULU Comedy Galla
Michael Palin
2010
Series
Vanity Fair
William Makepeace Thackeray
2018
Film
Absolutely Anything
Kindly Alien (voice)
2015
Series
Perspectives
Self
2011
Series
The Secret Policeman's Ball
Self
1976
Clive Anderson All Talk
Self
1996
Series
Worzel Gummidge
The Green Man
2019
Series
Friday Night, Saturday Morning
1979
Series
G.B.H.
Jim Nelson
1991
Series
Great Railway Journeys
Self - Presenter
1980
Series
Remember Me
Tom Parfitt
2014
Film
And Now for Something Completely Different
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
Film
Jabberwocky
Dennis Cooper
1977
Fantasy World Cup
Self
1998
Series
Ripping Yarns
1976
Series
Ripping Yarns
Gerald Whinfrey
1976
Series
Ripping Yarns
Kevin Orr / Uncle Jack
1976
Series
Ripping Yarns
Roger
1976
Series
Full Circle with Michael Palin
Self
1997
Series
Do Not Adjust Your Set
Various Characters
1967
Film
The Wind in the Willows
The Sun
1996
Frost on Sunday
Self / Various Characters
1968
Series
Travels with Palin
Self
1980
Full House
Various
1972
Film
Euroshow '71: May Day Special
Various (as Montypython Flyingcircus)
1971
Film
Fierce Creatures
Adrian "Bugsy" Malone
1997
Series
Michael Palin: Around the World in 80 Days
Self
1989
Series
Monty Python: Almost the Truth (The Lawyer's Cut)
Self
2009
Series
A Life on Screen
Self
2014
Film
The Missionary
The Reverend Charles Fortescue
1982
Series
Pole to Pole
Self
1992
Series
Clangers
Narrator (voice)
2015
Series
Monty Python's Best Bits (Mostly)
Self (archive footage)
2014
Friday People
1985
Film
50 Films to See Before You Die
Self
2006
Series
David Frost Vs
self
2025
Film
The Secret Policeman's Ball
Self
2012
Film
David Attenborough's 100 Years on Planet Earth
Self
2026
Film
Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl
Various Roles
1982
Series
Movie Connections
Self
2007
Series
Monty Python's Personal Best
Self / Various Characters
2006
Film
The Rutles: All You Need Is Cash
Eric Manchester
1978
Film
Monty Python's Best Bits Celebrated
Self (archive footage)(uncredited)
2021
Series
Michael Palin: Travels of a Lifetime
Self - Host
2020
Series
Himalaya with Michael Palin
Self - Presenter
2004
Film
Joke
2026
Film
A Private Function
Gilbert Chilvers
1984
Series
Michael Palin's New Europe
Self
2007
Series
Omnibus Presents Comic Relief
1986
Artsnight
Self
2015
Film
An Accidental Studio
Self
2019
Film
Jeepers Creepers
Newscaster (voice)
2020
Film
Monty Python's Flying Circus—Terry Gilliam's Personal Best
Various Characters
2006
Film
The Movie Life of George
Self
1989
Series
Sahara with Michael Palin
Self - Presenter
2002
Film
Concert for George
Self
2003
Film
The Grand Knockout Tournament
Self
1987
Series
The Complete and Utter History of Britain
1969
Film
The Crimson Permanent Assurance
Workman
1983
Film
Monty Python: The Meaning of Live
Self
2014
Film
Dame Maggie Smith - A Celebration
Self
2024
Film
The Secret Life of Brian
Self
2007
Film
Monty Python Live (Mostly)
Self, others
2014
Film
Monty Python Conquers America
Self
2008
Film
50 Years of BBC Two Comedy
Self
2014
A Series of Bird's
1967
Film
Henry Cleans Up
Henry
1974
Film
The Wind in the Willows
Rat (voice)
1995
Film
Fawlty Towers: Re-Opened
Self
2009
Film
Rik Mayall: Lord of Misrule
Self
2014
Series
Michael Palin in North Korea
Self - Host
2018
Film
Roger of the Raj
Roger
1979
Twice a Fortnight
1967
Film
What the Pythons Did Next...
Self (archive footage)
2007
Film
Not the Messiah (He's a Very Naughty Boy)
Mrs. Betty Palin / Julius Caesar / Bevis
2010
Film
Attenborough at 90
Self
2016
Film
Michael Palin & the Mystery of Hammershøi
Host
2005
Film
The Secret Policeman's Other Ball
Self - Various Roles
1982
Film
Murder at Moorstones Manor
Charles Chiddingford
1977
Film
Golden Gordon
Gordon Ottershaw
1979
Film
Spike Milligan I told you I was ill... A live tribute
Self
2002
Film
The Willows in Winter
Rat
1996
Series
Monty Python's Fliegender Zirkus
Various Characters
1972
Film
Michael Palin In Wyeth's World
Self
2013
Film
Monty Python's Flying Circus—Terry Jones' Personal Best
Various Characters
2006
Film
Close-Up Toothpaste Relaunch
salesman
Series
Michael Palin: Into Iraq
2022
Film
Monty Python: Live at Aspen
Self
1998
Film
The Testing of Eric Olthwaite
Eric Olthwaite / Bank Manager
1977
Film
The Fringe, Fame and Me
Self
2022
Film
Monty Python's Flying Circus—Graham Chapman's Personal Best
Various Characters
2006
Film
Hitler: The Comedy Years
Heinrich Himmler (archive footage) (uncredited)
2007
Film
Generation '66
2016
Film
Innes Lloyd: The Producer
Self
2025
Film
Pleasure at Her Majesty's
Self
1976
Film
Anatomy of a Liar
Self
2012
Film
Monty Python in Aberystwyth
Self
2009
Film
Monty Python: And Now for Something Rather Similar
Self
2014
Film
The Secret Policeman's Ball
Various Roles
1979
Film
My National Gallery, London
Self
2024
Film
Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute
Self
1988
Film
Monty Python's Flying Circus—John Cleese's Personal Best
Various Characters
2006
How To Make It In Comedy
2024
Film
A Liar's Autobiography: The Untrue Story of Monty Python's Graham Chapman
Various (voice)
2012
Film
The Unknown Peter Sellers
Self
2000
Film
The Meaning of Monty Python
Self
2013
Film
The Secret Policeman’s Biggest Ball
Self
1989
Film
The Wipers Times
General Mitford
2013
Film
Monty Python: Before the Flying Circus
Self
2008
Film
Monty Python: From Spam to Sperm
Self
1999
Series
Michael Palin's Hemingway Adventure
1999
Film
How to Irritate People
Various
1969
Series
Michael Palin in Nigeria
Self
2024
Film
The Pythons: Somewhere in Tunisia, Circa A.D. 1979
Self
1979
Film
Remember the Secret Policeman's Ball?
Self
2004
Film
Comedians Do It On Stage
Self
1986
Meridian: The First Ten Minutes
Self
1993
Series
Michael Palin: The Art of Travel
1989
Life Of Brian Screenplay
Wise Man #3, Mr. Big Nose, Francis, Mrs. A, Ex-Leper
2008
Film
American Friends
Rev. Francis Ashby
1991
Film
Monty Python In The Netherlands
1973
Film
Tracey Ullman: A Class Act
Various
1993
Film
Escape from Stalag Luft 112B
Major Errol Phipps
1977
Film
Tomkinson's Schooldays
Tomkinson / Headmaster / TV Introducer / Mr Craffitt
1976
Film
Michael Palin: A Life on Screen
2018
Series
The Secret Life of Trees
Self - Narrator
2025
Film
Life of Python
Self / Various Roles
1990
Film
Monty Python's Flying Circus—Michael Palin's Personal Best
2006
Film
Produced by George Martin
Self
2012
Film
Three Men in a Boat
Harris
1975
Film
The Roots of Monty Python
Self (archive footage)
2005
Series
Brazil with Michael Palin
Self (Presenter)
2012
Film
Peter Sellers: A State of Comic Ecstasy
Self
2020
Film
The Academy of Armando
Self
2025
Film
Marty Feldman: Six Degrees of Separation
Self
2008
Film
The Best of Monty Python's Flying Circus Volume 1
Self (archive footage)
2004
Film
Robbie the Reindeer in Close Encounters of the Herd Kind
Gariiiiiii (voice)
2007
Film
Around the World in 20 Years
Self
2008
Film
Comic Roots: Michael Palin
1983
Film
The Best of Monty Python's Flying Circus Volume 2
Self (archive footage)
2004
Film
The Art Of Travel With Michael Palin
Self
1989
Film
Best Sellers or: Peter Sellers and 'Dr. Strangelove'
Self
2004
Film
Parrot Sketch Not Included: Twenty Years of Monty Python
Self / Various Characters
1989
John Cleese's First Farewell Performance
Self
1988
Film
Viz: The Documentary
Self
1990
Film
What Is Brazil?
Self
2008
Film
The Seventh Python
Self
2008
Film
The Monty Python Story
Self
1999
Film
Monty Python & the Holy Grail Location Report
Self
1974
Film
Not The Messiah: The Road To Albert Hall
2010
Film
The Curse of the Claw
Kevin Orr / Uncle Jack
1977
Film
Across the Andes by Frog
Captain Walter Snetterton
1977
Film
Michael Palin's Quest for Artemisia
Self
2015
Sir David Attenborough and Sir Michael Palin in Conversation
Self
2020
Film
The Philosophers' Football Match
Nietzsche
1972
Film
Making Qi
Self
2011
Film
The Meaning of Making 'The Meaning of Life'
Self
2003
Film
Monty Python: Almost the Truth (The Lawyer's Cut) - Theatrical Release
Self
2010
Film
Python at 50: Silly Talks and Holy Grails
Self (archive footage)
2019
Film
The Quest for the Holy Grail Locations
Self
2001
Film
Monty Python's Flying Circus—Graham Chapman's Personal Best
Various Characters
2006
Film
Isadora Duncan, the Biggest Dancer in the World
Jazz Band Undertaker (uncredited)
1966
Series
Michael Palin in Venezuela
Self - Host
2025
Film
The Great Birds Eye Peas Relaunch 1971
1971
Film
Palin on Redpath
Self - Presenter
1997
Film
Final Ascent: The Legend of Hamish MacInnes
Self
2019
Film
The Best of Monty Python's Flying Circus Volume 3
Self (archive footage)
2004
Film
Monty Python: 30th Anniversary Sketches
Self
1999
Film
Whinfrey's Last Case
Gerald Whinfrey
1979
Film
The Broken Bottle
1977
The Phoenix: A Century of Cinema
Self
2011
Film
Fawlty Towers: 50 Years of Laughs
Self
2023
Film
Monty Python's Flying Circus—Eric Idle's Personal Best
Various Characters
2006
Film
John Peel's Record Box
Self
2005
Film
When Bruce Springsteen Came to Britain
Self
2025
Film
Monty Python: Who's There?
Ken
1970
Film
Spike Milligan: Love, Light and Peace
Self
2014
Film
Life on Air: David Attenborough's 50 Years in Television
Self - Presenter
2002
Film
Alexander Armstrong's Real Ripping Yarns
Self
2014
Film
Frost on Sketch Shows
Self
2013
Film
New Tales from Around the World in 80 Days
Self
2014
Film
Get Up and Go: The Making of 'The Rutles'
Self
2008
Film
The Dress
Howard
1984
Film
The New Incomplete And Utter History Of Everything
2014
Film
Is This a Record?
Various
1973
Film
The Box
(voice)
1981
Film
Inside Shabby Road: The Music of 'The Rutles'
Self
2008
The First Night of Meridian
Self - Host
1993
Film
Timewatch: The Last Day of World War One
Presenter
2008
Film
Monty Python: Pythonland
1999
Film
Ending It All
1970
Film
Rabbit Ears - Jack and the Beanstalk
Narrator (voice)
1991
Film
Michael Palin and the Ladies Who Loved Matisse
Narrator
2003