Michael Palin

Sir Michael Edward Palin is an English actor, comedian, writer, and television presenter, best known for being a member of the comedy group Monty Python. He was born on May 5, 1943, in Ranmoor, Sheffield, England. Palin attended Shrewsbury School and the University of Oxford, where he studied history.

Before Monty Python, Palin worked with Terry Jones on various shows such as The Ken Dodd Show, The Frost Report, and Do Not Adjust Your Set. With Monty Python, he wrote most of his material with Jones and appeared in some of the most famous sketches, including "The Dead Parrot," "The Lumberjack Song," "The Spanish Inquisition," and "Spam." Palin and Jones also co-wrote Ripping Yarns, a series of comedy drama programmes that aired from 1976 to 1979.

After Monty Python, Palin began a new career as a travel writer, presenter, and documentary maker. His journeys have taken him to various parts of the world, including the North and South Poles, the Sahara Desert, the Himalayas, Eastern Europe, and Brazil. His travel documentaries have been highly acclaimed and have earned him several awards.

In addition to his travel documentaries, Palin has appeared in several films, including A Fish Called Wanda, for which he won the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role. He has also written several books, including accounts of his journeys, novels, and several volumes of diaries.

Palin was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2000 for his services to television. In 2001, he became a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (FRGS), and from 2009 to 2012, he served as the society's president. He received a BAFTA fellowship in 2013, and in 2019, he was knighted in the New Year Honours list for services to travel, culture, and geography.