From left, Graham Chapman, Eric Idle, Michael Palin, Terry Jones, John Cleese and Terry Gilliam (foreground) in 1975's "Monty Python and the Holy Grail."
From left, Graham Chapman, Eric Idle, Michael Palin, Terry Jones, John Cleese and Terry Gilliam (foreground) in 1975's "Monty Python and the Holy Grail."
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John Cleese, now 74, created and starred in the immortal TV show "Fawlty Towers" in the 1970s and co-founded Video Arts, a company that makes training films. Younger viewers may know him best for his roles in the "Shrek" films (as King Harold), a pair of James Bond films (as Q) and the Harry Potter series (as Nearly Headless Nick). He's due to appear in "Absolutely Anything," a film directed by Python cohort Terry Jones, which also features Robin Williams in his last role.
John Cleese, now 74, created and starred in the immortal TV show "Fawlty Towers" in the 1970s and co-founded Video Arts, a company that makes training films. Younger viewers may know him best for his roles in the "Shrek" films (as King Harold), a pair of James Bond films (as Q) and the Harry Potter series (as Nearly Headless Nick). He's due to appear in "Absolutely Anything," a film directed by Python cohort Terry Jones, which also features Robin Williams in his last role.
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Terry Gilliam, 73, became a noted film director, best known for 1985's "Brazil," 1991's "The Fisher King" and "Twelve Monkeys" in 1995. J.K. Rowling wanted him to direct the first Harry Potter film, but the studio didn't want the famously independent Gilliam. Like the other Pythons, he appeared in "Monty Python Live (mostly)" last year, and has several other projects in the works.
Terry Gilliam, 73, became a noted film director, best known for 1985's "Brazil," 1991's "The Fisher King" and "Twelve Monkeys" in 1995. J.K. Rowling wanted him to direct the first Harry Potter film, but the studio didn't want the famously independent Gilliam. Like the other Pythons, he appeared in "Monty Python Live (mostly)" last year, and has several other projects in the works.
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Michael Palin, 71, has probably spent as much time traveling in the past 25 years as he has acting. Among his projects: "Pole to Pole," "Full Circle" and "Michael Palin's New Europe." He was made a BAFTA fellow in 2013 and joined the gang for the 2014 reunion shows.
Michael Palin, 71, has probably spent as much time traveling in the past 25 years as he has acting. Among his projects: "Pole to Pole," "Full Circle" and "Michael Palin's New Europe." He was made a BAFTA fellow in 2013 and joined the gang for the 2014 reunion shows.
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Terry Jones, 72, has created TV shows about the Middle Ages, an era on which he's an expert. (He's written two books about Geoffrey Chaucer.) He's also written several children's books and was a regular contributor to UK newspapers during the Iraq War,<a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2F2005%2FSHOWBIZ%2Fbooks%2F04%2F12%2Fterry.jones%2F"> which he opposed</a>. With songwriter Jim Steinman, he's been working on a rock version of "The Nutcracker," "NUTZ," and his film "Absolutely Anything" is due out this year.
Terry Jones, 72, has created TV shows about the Middle Ages, an era on which he's an expert. (He's written two books about Geoffrey Chaucer.) He's also written several children's books and was a regular contributor to UK newspapers during the Iraq War, which he opposed. With songwriter Jim Steinman, he's been working on a rock version of "The Nutcracker," "NUTZ," and his film "Absolutely Anything" is due out this year.
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Eric Idle, 71, has probably done the most to maintain the Python tradition. He engaged in "The Greedy Bastard Tour" in 2003, which included performances of Python material, and turned "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" into "Spamalot," which won the Tony for best musical in 2005. He also helped create the Rutles, perhaps the sharpest Beatles parody. And he sang his song "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" at the 2012 Olympics closing ceremony.
Eric Idle, 71, has probably done the most to maintain the Python tradition. He engaged in "The Greedy Bastard Tour" in 2003, which included performances of Python material, and turned "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" into "Spamalot," which won the Tony for best musical in 2005. He also helped create the Rutles, perhaps the sharpest Beatles parody. And he sang his song "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" at the 2012 Olympics closing ceremony.
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Graham Chapman died in 1989. Before then, he performed material at several colleges and appeared in an Iron Maiden video. Since his death, at least one of his plays, "O Happy Day," has been performed. The Pythons haven't forgotten their colleague: They did a wonderfully uncomfortable routine with Chapman's "ashes" at the Aspen Comedy Festival in 1998, and in 2012, all the Pythons except Idle lent their voices to a film based on Chapman's memoirs. He missed last year's Python reunion -- though not in spirit.
Graham Chapman died in 1989. Before then, he performed material at several colleges and appeared in an Iron Maiden video. Since his death, at least one of his plays, "O Happy Day," has been performed. The Pythons haven't forgotten their colleague: They did a wonderfully uncomfortable routine with Chapman's "ashes" at the Aspen Comedy Festival in 1998, and in 2012, all the Pythons except Idle lent their voices to a film based on Chapman's memoirs. He missed last year's Python reunion -- though not in spirit.
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