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M I C H A E L P A L I N

Michael Edward Palin, CBE (born May 5, 1943 in Broomhill, Sheffield, Yorkshire, England) is an English comedian, actor and television presenter best known for being one of the members of the comedy group Monty Python, as well as for his travel documentaries.

In a 2005 poll to find The Comedian's Comedian, he was voted the 30th favourite by fellow comedians and comedy insiders.

Michael Palin was educated at Birkdale School, Sheffield, and Shrewsbury School. He went on to read History at Brasenose College at The University of Oxford.

While performing onstage at the ETC in Oxford, Palin met Terry Jones, and together they wrote sketches for various BBC comedy shows. He married his wife, Helen Gibbins, in 1966, and they remain together to this day.

He worked with future Pythons and other Oxbridge comedians on projects such as How to Irritate People with John Cleese and Tim Brooke-Taylor, and Do Not Adjust Your Set with Eric Idle, Terry Jones and David Jason, and Twice a Fortnight with Terry Jones, Graeme Garden, Bill Oddie and Jonathan Lynn. It was during this time that John Cleese called up Michael Palin and wondered whether he was interested in doing a show with him, which would become Monty Python's Flying Circus.

In Monty Python, Palin played various roles, showing the range of his acting abilities. Roles go from manic enthusiasm, (such as the lumberjack of the Lumberjack Song), or unflappable calmness (such as the Dead Parrot vendor or Cheese Shop proprietor). As the latter, he was often a foil to the rising ire of characters portrayed by John Cleese.

Palin frequently wrote with Terry Jones for the sketches, some of the most memorable being the Lumberjack Song and Spam. But some sketches Palin wrote by himself, (or began the sketch by himself) such as the Spanish Inquisition, in which a fairly widespread catchphrase was created- "Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!"

After Python ended, Palin collaborated with Python writing partner Terry Jones on the television comedy series Ripping Yarns and the play Secrets. He also appeared in All You Need Is Cash as the lawyer and press agent for The Rutles.

In 1982, Palin wrote and starred in his first solo project after Python, The Missionary. In it, he plays the Reverend Charles Fortesque who is recalled back from Africa to England to aid prostitutes. This also starred Maggie Smith.

He frequently appeared in Terry Gilliam's films, such as Time Bandits, Jabberwocky, and Brazil. His biggest international role in a movie besides Python was Ken Pile in A Fish Called Wanda. The movie was such a success that John Cleese reunited the main cast of A Fish Called Wanda to make Fierce Creatures.

Palin plays a torturer in Brazil (1985)As Bugsy Malone, Michael once commented that Cleese had thought it amusing to give him a character that wouldn't shut up, when his character in A Fish Called Wanda hardly talked at all. Five days after, Michael went on another travel journey and returned a year later, only to find that the end of Fierce Creatures had been unsatisfactory and that the ending had to be reshot.

Although this role in Fierce Creatures was his official last big role on screen, Palin had a small part in Wind in the Willows, or Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, a film directed and starring Pythonite Terry Jones. Palin also appeared with John Cleese in his documentary, The Human Face.

He assisted Transport 2000 and others with campaigns on transport policy issues, particularly those relating to urban areas, and has now become president of Transport 2000.

Palin has also appeared as a "straight" actor in serious drama. In 1991 Palin worked as producer and actor in the film American Friends based upon a real event in the life of his great grandfather, a fellow at St John's College, Oxford. In that same year he also played the part of a headmaster in Alan Bleasdale's Channel 4 drama series G.B.H..

In May 2006, he has embarked on a new project, currently called "Palin's New Europe", which includes visits to several countries in Eastern Europe. The travels are planned to produce 6 one-hour programmes for BBC-1.