• Name: Eric Idle
  • Date of Birth: March 29, 1943
  • Place of Birth: South Shields, Tyne and Wear, England, UK
Mini-bio: The "matinee idol" of the motley Monty Python crew, Eric Idle attended Cambridge University, where he served as president of the Footlights Revue. Idle's fellow college troupers included future Python... read moreites John Cleese and Graham Chapman. After getting his start on such TV series as Do Not Adjust Your Set and The Frost Report, Idle served as performer and co-writer for the zany weekly series Monty Python's Flying Circus. He remained a loyal Python throughout the group's many film, TV-special and book projects. On his own, Idle has co-starred in such films as The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1989), Nuns on the Run (1990), Mom and Dad Save the World (1992), and Casper (1995). One of his best screen showings was his sidesplitting bit as an accident-prone cyclist in National Lampoon's European Vacation (1985). Among Idle's contributions to American television was his star turn as snobbish ghost Grant Pritchard in the 1989 comedy/fantasy series Nearly Departed. He starred in the 1990 farce Nuns on the Run, and three years later wrote and starred in the comedy Splitting Heirs. He continued to appear in various projects, often lending his voice to animated works like Quest for Camelot, The Secret of NIMH II, and South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut}. He directed a second Rutles movie in 2003, and that same year appeared in the documentary about the tribute concert performed after George Harrison's death. He narrated Ella Enchanted in 2004, but the next year he would have one of the biggest successes of his career when he masterminded Spamalot, a smash-hit Broadway musical that reworked Monty Python and the Holy Grail. He appeared in the documentary The Aristocrats, and voiced Merlin in Shrek the Third. In 2011 he was one of the many pepole who discussed his relationship with George Harrison in Martin Scorsese's documentary about the former Beatle. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
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Replace this image with an actor photoEric Idle mini-bio: Daughter, Lily (b. 1990), with Tania Kosevich. Son, Carey (b. 1973), with Lyn Ashley. Member of the comedy group "Monty Python" Studied English at Cambridge University. While at university, he was a member of the prestigious Cambridge Footlights Club, and later, President of the Footlights Club. Eric's father, who served in the Royal Air Force, died in a car crash on Christmas eve when he was two years old. The only member of the Monty Python group to write alone. Therefore, it was difficult at times for him to get his material accepted and used by the others. In 1963, as a collegiate, he was admitted into the Cambridge Footlights comedy club. He became president of the club the following year and one of his first acts was to open the membership up to include women. Feminist/writer Germaine Greer was one of the first to join. Supporter of Sunderland Football Club of the English Premiership Proudly calls himself "the third tallest member of Monty Python." Is an accomplished guitar player. Biography in: "Who's Who in Comedy" by Ronald L. Smith, pg. 225-226. New York: Facts on File, 1992. ISBN 0816023387 Defeated Charles Barkley and Martha Stewart on a celebrity episode of "Jeopardy" (2002) in 2002. Got permission from the other members of Monty Python (except, naturally, Graham Chapman) to go ahead with his play/musical "Spamalot" (set to hit Broadway in early 2005), a twist on their classic film Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975), because they all found the script hilarious. Was once tasked by his fellow Pythons with composing a response to an angry piece of fan mail. Monty Python member Graham Chapman was openly gay, and a letter had been written citing Bible verses, stating that homosexuals should be stoned to death. He jokingly replied that they had stoned Chapman to death. Friend of Robin Williams. Describes himself as having "creative dyslexia", meaning he can look at any word and automatically see the anagrams that can be made from it. One of the characters he played in "Monty Python's Flying Circus" was a man who speaks only in anagrams. Admired by the other Pythons for his circle of friends, it was he who procured part of the production money for Life of Brian (1979) from former Beatle George Harrison. Appears as the M.C. in the 3-D film Honey, I Shrunk the Audience (1994) at Disneyland. Although his picture An Alan Smithee Film: Burn Hollywood Burn (1998) was a commercial and critical disappointment, Idle has been asked for Alan Smithee's "autograph" in real life...and consented (Smithee was the nonexistent, pseudonymous director whom Idle "portrayed" in said movie). Rented out his house to Carrie Fisher during the production of Life of Brian (1979), while she was in London filming Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980). Steve Martin calls him his mentor. The only member of Monty Python not to appear on "Friday Night, Saturday Morning" (1979). Was invited to the party Steve Martin was throwing that turned out to be his wedding.

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Eric Idle Trivia

  • In the film The Adventures of Baron Munchausen what was Berthold's (Eric Idle) ability?  Answer »
  • Which film starred these actors & actresses? Christina Ricci, Devon Sawa, Bill Pullman & Eric Idle?  Answer »
  • What movie starred Judd Nelson, Orson Welles, Eric Idle and Leonard Nimoy?  Answer »
  • What was the name of the group of comedians that consisted of, amongst others, John Cleese and Eric Idle?  Answer »

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