Sir Michael Edward Palin (b.1943) is an English comedian, actor, film star, screenwriter, playwright, novelist, and television traveler. He is renowned as one of the members of the comedy group Monty Python, and as a presenter of travel documentaries.
Born in Sheffield, Palin was educated at Shrewsbury School and Brasenose College, Oxford. He wrote comic sketches with his Oxford contemporary Terry Jones for television shows such as The Frost Report (1966–67,) Do Not Adjust Your Set (1967–69,) and Marty (1968–69.)
Palin and Jones later joined forces with John Cleese, Graham Chapman, Eric Idle, and Terry Gilliam to develop the innovative surrealist comedy series Monty Python’s Flying Circus (1969–74.) Monty Python made such iconic films as Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975) and Monty Python’s Life of Brian (1977–79.)
Palin’s later successful solo ventures include the comedy show Ripping Yarns (1976–80,) children’s novels such as Small Harry and the Toothache Pills (1981) and The Cyril Stories (1986,) film scripts for Time Bandits (1981) and The Missionary (1982,) and plays including East of Ipswich (1987) and The Weekend (1994.)
Palin’s globetrotting BBC television documentary series include Around the World in 80 Days (1989,) Pole to Pole (1992,) Full Circle (1997,) Hemingway Adventure (1999,) Sahara (2002,) Himalaya (2004,) New Europe (2007,) and Brazil (2012.)
As well as bestselling spin-off travelogues, Palin has published an adult novel, Hemingway’s Chair (1995.) His film appearances include A Private Function (1984,) A Fish Called Wanda (1988, with Cleese,) American Friends (1991,) and Fierce Creatures (1996.)
Palin’s memoirs are Diaries 1969–79: Python Years (2006,) Diaries 1980–88: Halfway to Hollywood (2009,) and Diaries 1988–98: Travelling to Work (2014.)
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Michael Palin
It was a strange feeling going into a church I did not know for a service that I did not really believe in, but once inside I couldn’t help a feeling of warmth and security. Outside there were wars and road accidents and murders, striptease clubs and battered babies and frayed tempers and unhappy marriages and people contemplating suicide and bad jokes, but once in St. Martin’s there was peace. Surely people go to church not to involve themselves in the world’s problems but to escape from them.
—Michael Palin
The Buddhist version of poverty is a situation where you have nothing to contribute.
—Michael Palin
I am very cautious of people who are absolutely right, especially when they are vehemently so.
—Michael Palin
One of the difficult things of so much travelling is to say goodbye.
—Michael Palin
Topics: Travel
Once the travel bug bites there is no known antidote, and I know that I shall be happily infected until the end of my life.
—Michael Palin
Topics: Travel
Contrary to what the politicians and religious leaders would like us to believe, the world won’t be made safer by creating barriers between people. Cries of “They’re evil, let’s get ’em” or “The infidels must die” sound frightening, but they’re desperately empty of argument and understanding. They’re the rallying cries of prejudice, the call to arms of those who find it easier to hate than admit they might be not be right about everything. Armageddon is not around the corner. This is only what the people of violence want us to believe. The complexity and diversity of the world is the hope for the future.
—Michael Palin
Wondering Whom to Read Next?
Daniel Day-Lewis English Actor
Stephen Fry English Actor, Writer
Patrick Stewart British Actor
John Cleese British Comic Actor, Writer
Richard Eyre British Director
Roger Moore English Actor
Alec Guinness English Actor
Peter Ustinov British Actor, Playwright
Harry Lloyd British Actor
John Gielgud British Actor, Director