Michael Palin KCMG CBE

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British actor, comedian, and writer. Member of the comedy group Monty Python.

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Biography

Michael Palin KCMG CBE is Notable.

Michael Edward Palin was born on 5 May 1943 in Broomhill, Sheffield, Yorkshire, England to Edward Palin and Mary (Ovey) Palin. ^[1]

Palin began acting at the age of five - as Martha Cratchit in a school production of A Christmas Carol, and was reading Shakespeare plays at the young age of ten. When he grew older, he read Modern History at Brasenose College, Oxford - which is where he met future fellow Python Terry Jones. Palin began writing comedy, sometimes with Jones, including writing in the Oxford Revue (a comedy and satire group featuring students from Oxford University such as Peter Cook & Dudley Moore, Rowan Atkinson, and Alan Bennett). ^[2] After completing his university studies in 1965, Palin teamed up with Jones to write comedy for The Ken Dodd Show, The Billy Cotton Bandshow, and The Illustrated Weekly Hudd. ^[3] Palin also began writing for The Frost Report, where he met future Pythons Graham Chapman, John Cleese, and Eric Idle. ^[4]

The Spanish Inquisition, 2014 reunion

The Monty Python's Flying Circus group came about because (it is said) Cleese wanted to work with Palin. Over the years, Palin played several roles, such as The Lumberjack, Mr Anchovy (game show host), the Dead Parrot vendor or the Cheese Shop proprietor. He acted as John Cleese's 'straight man', a Gumby (limited intelligence and vocabulary), and the Robinson Crusoe character who is part of the opening credits for the show, but only says "It's..." He wrote sketches, including the "Spanish Inquisition" (which included the catchphrase "Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!"), plus songs (The Lumberjack Song and Spam). The show came to a close in 1974, but is well-known worldwide; characters and individual sketches are frequently copied or referenced.

Palin has appeared many times in both serious drama and comedy, on film, stage and television. His television documentaries have rocketed him to stardom and made him a household name in such documentaries as Around the World in 80 days with Michael Palin, Pole to Pole, Full Circle, Hemingway Adventure, Sahara, Himalaya, Brazil, and Michael Palin in North Korea. He has written many books about his travels. Known as the "Palin Effect", many of these places have become popular tourist attractions, due to his visits and documentaries.

He received a CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in 2000, ^[5] and was appointed KCMG (Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George) in 2019. ^[6]

Michael Palin: Sheffield Legend

Sir Michael has received numerous awards, including BAFTAs, the James Joyce Award, the Livingstone Medal, and the Royal Canadian Geographical Society's gold medal. In 2018, he was named as the "Greatest Yorkshireman Ever" for 'Yorkshire Day', and he has been described as "Britain's Nicest Man". ^[7] He has also had several things named after him: an asteroid, two British trains, and a school house.

Palin married in 1966. The couple have three children and four grandchildren.

Bibliography

For complete bibliography, please see freespace page

• Around the World in 80 Days (1989)
• Pole to Pole (1992) ISBN 0-563-37065-3
• Full Circle (1997) ISBN 0-563-37121-8
• Michael Palin's Hemingway Adventure (1999) ISBN 0-297-82528-3
• Sahara (2002) ISBN 0-297-84303-6
• Himalaya (2004) ISBN 0-297-84371-0
• New Europe (2007) ISBN 0-297-84449-0
• Brazil (2012) ISBN 0-297-86626-5
• North Korea Journal (2019) ISBN 978-1786331908

All his travel books can also be read at no charge, complete and unabridged, on his Palin's Travels website

Filmography

For complete filmography, please see freespace page

Sources

1. ↑ England & Wales birth registration: Sheffield [district], Volume 9c, Page 517, June quarter 1943, mother's maiden name OVEY
2. ↑ Roy Plomley, Desert Island Discs BBC Radio 4, 1979
3. ↑ Pythonet
4. ↑ The Frost Report, BBC Comedy
5. ↑ CBE: London Gazette
6. ↑ KCMG: London Gazette
7. ↑ "He's not a Messiah, just a very nice man", Marc Lee, Telegraph.co.uk

See Also:

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Palin
• Chapman, Graham; Palin, Michael; Cleese, John; Gilliam, Terry; Idle, Eric; Jones, Terry; McCabe, Bob (2005). The Pythons Autobiography by The Pythons. New York City: Thomas Dunne Books. ISBN 978-0312311445