Michael Palin

Considered by fans as the "nice" member of England's legendary comedy group Monty Python, Michael Palin was an actor, writer and documentarian whose genial nature provided a cover for a hidden reserve of absurd brilliance. With fellow Oxford alum Terry Jones, he was a regular contributor to some of the best British TV comedies of the late '60s before joining forces with John Cleese, Graham Chapman, Eric Idle and Terry Gilliam for "Monty Python's Flying Circus" (BBC, 1969-1974). His boundless energy and versatility made him one of the group's most popular members; after Python, he was able to explore a wide variety of projects, ranging from films like "The Missionary" (1982) and "A Fish Called Wanda" (1988), to several highly praised travel books and documentaries for the BBC. His contributions to entertainment - always graced by a gentle off-kilter wit - made him a favorite among moviegoers and television audiences around the world.