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Michael Palin

Michael Palin

Known For Acting
Birthday May 05, 1943 (82)
Birthplace Broomhill, Sheffield, England, UK
Popularity 2 (history)
Updated Sep 30, 2025
Entry Date Apr 13, 2024
Links TMDb IMDb
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, t ... hey 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

Headshots

Profile
Profile
Profile
Profile
Filmography

Jeepers Creepers

Jeepers Creepers

2020

as Newscaster (voice)

The Death of Stalin

The Death of Stalin

2017

as Vyacheslav Molotov

Absolutely Anything

Absolutely Anything

2015

as Kindly Alien (voice)

The Wipers Times

The Wipers Times

2013

as General Mitford

Arthur Christmas

Arthur Christmas

2011

as Ernie Clicker (voice)

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

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

2010

as Mrs. Betty Palin / Julius Caesar / Bevis

The Last Day of World War One

The Last Day of World War One

2008

as Presenter

Hitler: The Comedy Years

Hitler: The Comedy Years

2007

as Heinrich Himmler (archive footage) (uncredited)

Fierce Creatures

Fierce Creatures

1997

as Adrian 'Bugsy' Malone

The Willows in Winter

The Willows in Winter

1996

as Rat

The Wind in the Willows

The Wind in the Willows

1996

as The Sun

Tracey Ullman: A Class Act

Tracey Ullman: A Class Act

1993

as Various

American Friends

American Friends

1991

as Rev. Francis Ashby

The Witches

The Witches

1990

as Witch at Meeting (uncredited)

A Fish Called Wanda

A Fish Called Wanda

1988

as Ken Pile

Brazil

Brazil

1985

as Jack Lint

The Dress

The Dress

1984

as Howard

A Private Function

A Private Function

1984

as Gilbert Chilvers

Monty Python's The Meaning of Life

Monty Python's The Meaning of Life

1983

as Various Roles

The Missionary

The Missionary

1982

as The Reverend Charles Fortescue

The Box

The Box

1981

as (voice)

Time Bandits

Time Bandits

1981

as Vincent

The Secret Policeman's Ball

The Secret Policeman's Ball

1979

as Various Roles

Life of Brian

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 Rutles: All You Need Is Cash

The Rutles: All You Need Is Cash

1978

as Eric Manchester

Jabberwocky

Jabberwocky

1977

as Dennis Cooper

Tomkinson's Schooldays

Tomkinson's Schooldays

1976

as Tomkinson

Three Men in a Boat

Three Men in a Boat

1975

as Harris

Monty Python and the Holy Grail

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!

Is This a Record?

Is This a Record?

1973

as Various

Euroshow '71: May Day Special

Euroshow '71: May Day Special

1971

as Various (as Montypython Flyingcircus)

How to Irritate People

How to Irritate People

1969

as Various

The Missionary

The Missionary

1982

Producer

Organization Category Movie
Television Credits

Clangers

as Narrator (voice)

Episodes: 104

First Aired: Nov 16, 1969

Monty Python's Flying Circus

as Various / "It's" man

Episodes: 45

First Aired: Oct 05, 1969

Do Not Adjust Your Set

as Various Characters

Episodes: 29

First Aired: Dec 26, 1967

G.B.H.

as Jim Nelson

Episodes: 7

First Aired: Jun 06, 1991

Vanity Fair

as William Makepeace Thackeray

Episodes: 7

First Aired: Sep 02, 2018

Worzel Gummidge

as The Green Man

Episodes: 5

First Aired: Dec 26, 2019

Remember Me

as Tom Parfitt

Episodes: 3

First Aired: Nov 23, 2014

Monty Python's Fliegender Zirkus

as Various Characters

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Jan 03, 1972

Staged

as Michael

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jun 10, 2020

Ripping Yarns

as Gerald Whinfrey

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jan 07, 1976

Ripping Yarns

as Roger

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jan 07, 1976

Ripping Yarns

as Kevin Orr / Uncle Jack

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jan 07, 1976

ZULU Comedy Galla

as Michael Palin

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 02, 2010

The Simpsons

as Springfield History Museum curator (voice)

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Dec 17, 1989

Travels with Palin

as Himself

Episodes: 52

First Aired: Nov 27, 1980

The Secret Policeman's Ball

as Self

Episodes: 15

First Aired: Apr 01, 1976

Full Circle with Michael Palin

as Himself

Episodes: 10

First Aired: Aug 31, 1997

Twice a Fortnight

Episodes: 10

First Aired: Oct 21, 1967

Ripping Yarns

Episodes: 9

First Aired: Jan 07, 1976

Pole to Pole

as Himself

Episodes: 8

First Aired: Oct 21, 1992

Michael Palin: Around the World in 80 Days

as Himself

Episodes: 7

First Aired: Oct 11, 1989

Michael Palin's New Europe

as Himself

Episodes: 7

First Aired: Sep 16, 2007

Himalaya with Michael Palin

as Self - Presenter

Episodes: 6

First Aired: Oct 03, 2004

The Complete and Utter History of Britain

Episodes: 6

First Aired: Jan 12, 1969

Monty Python's Personal Best

as Self / Various Characters

Episodes: 6

First Aired: Feb 22, 2006

Monty Python: Almost the Truth (The Lawyer's Cut)

as Self

Episodes: 6

First Aired: Oct 18, 2009

Monty Python's Best Bits (Mostly)

as Self (archive footage)

Episodes: 5

First Aired: Nov 03, 2014

Sahara with Michael Palin

as Self - Presenter

Episodes: 4

First Aired: Oct 13, 2002

Michael Palin's Hemingway Adventure

Episodes: 4

First Aired: Oct 17, 1999

Brazil with Michael Palin

as Self (Presenter)

Episodes: 4

First Aired: Oct 24, 2012

Saturday Night Live

as Self - Host

Episodes: 4

First Aired: Oct 11, 1975

Michael Palin: The Art of Travel

Episodes: 4

First Aired: Nov 07, 1989

Michael Palin: Travels of a Lifetime

as Self - Host

Episodes: 4

First Aired: Oct 04, 2020

The One Show

as Self - Guest

Episodes: 3

First Aired: Aug 14, 2006

Late Night with Conan O'Brien

as Self - Guest

Episodes: 3

First Aired: Sep 13, 1993

Michael Palin: Into Iraq

Episodes: 3

First Aired: Sep 20, 2022

Michael Palin in Nigeria

as Self

Episodes: 3

First Aired: Apr 16, 2024

The Graham Norton Show

as Self

Episodes: 3

First Aired: Feb 22, 2007

Parkinson

as Self

Episodes: 3

First Aired: Jan 09, 1998

Frost on Sunday

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Sep 08, 1968

A Series Of Bird's

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Oct 03, 1967

Saturday Night Live

as Self - Cameo (uncredited)

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Oct 11, 1975

Wogan

as Self

Episodes: 2

First Aired: May 04, 1982

Michael Palin in North Korea

as Himself - Host

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Sep 28, 2018

Great Railway Journeys

as Self - Presenter

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Oct 23, 1980

Pebble Mill at One

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 09, 1972

Going Live!

as Self

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 26, 1987

Omnibus Presents Comic Relief

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Apr 25, 1986

Movie Connections

as Self

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 10, 2007

The Alan Titchmarsh Show

as Self

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 03, 2007

Clive Anderson All Talk

as Self

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 06, 1996

The Frank Skinner Show

as Self

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 10, 1995

Daytime Live

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 21, 1987

Fantasy World Cup

as Self

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jun 09, 1998

Artsnight

as Self

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Mar 06, 2015

A Life on Screen

as Himself

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Dec 24, 2014

Les Rendez-vous du dimanche

as Self

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jan 12, 1975

The Jonathan Ross Show

as Self

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 03, 2011

Legends

as Self

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Nov 17, 2006

Popularity Metrics

Popularity History


Year Month Avg Max Min
2024 5 15 15 15
2024 6 14 24 9
2024 7 50 103 27
2024 8 21 46 11
2024 9 15 28 6
2024 10 12 21 8
2024 11 11 17 5
2024 12 13 20 8
2025 1 15 29 8
2025 2 6 11 1
2025 3 5 12 1
2025 4 1 1 1
2025 5 2 3 1
2025 6 1 2 1
2025 7 1 1 0
2025 8 3 13 0
2025 9 0 2 0
2025 10 1 2 0

Trending Rank


Year Month Avg Rank Max Rank
2024 5 953 953
2024 6 772 772
2025 9 740 356

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