ACTOR · BORN 1943
Michael Palin
- Born
- 5 May 1943, Broomhill, Sheffield, England, UK
- Known for
- The Simpsons (1989), Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975), Life of Brian (1979), Brazil (1985)
33 archived facts 4 topics 1 source Last reviewed Sep 2026
12 Facts About Michael Palin's Life and Family
- #004
He graduated from Oxford with a degree in History.
- #010
He was born in the industrial city of Sheffield, the son of an engineer, and is still a supporter of Sheffield United Football Club.
- #015
He knew Eric Idle and Terry Jones from university.
- #019
He studied at Brasenose College, Oxford University.
- #020
Palin is the son of Edward and Mary. He has an older sister named Angela.
- #024
His father was an export manager at a Sheffield steel company.
- #025
He married Helen, whom he met on the Suffolk coast in his youth. They have 3 children: sons Tom and Will and daughter Rachel.
- #026
Although most of his ancestors were English, one of his father's great-grandmothers was Irish.
- #028
In the 1920s his parents were a society couple, but conditions changed in the '30s; his father became an export manager in Sheffield.
- #029
After leaving Oxford University, he began writing scripts with Terry Jones.
- #030
As well as attending the prestigious Shrewsbury School and later Oxford University, he also attended Birkdale School in Sheffield as a boy.
- #031
He has a sister, Angela.
Sources & editorial notes
Reference databases
Sources for the entries on this page
- IMDb IMDb
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