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Theatre, Film, and Television Biographies
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James Newton Howard to Kevin Jarre
Eric Idle Biography (1943-)
Born March 29, 1943, in South Shields, Durham, England; son of Ernest (an airforce sergeant) and Norah (a health visitor; maiden name, Sanderson) Idle; married Lyn Ashley (an actress), July 7, 1969 (divorced, c. 1975; some sourcescite 1978); married Tania Kosevich (a model and actress), 1981; children: (first marriage) Carey (son); (second marriage) Lily. Addresses: Agent:William Morris Agency, Inc., 151 South El Camino Dr., Beverly Hills, CA 90212-2775.
- Nationality
- British
- Gender
- Male
- Occupation
- Actor, director, producer, production designer, writer, composer, editor
- Birth Details
- March 29, 1943
- South Shields, Durham, England
Famous Works
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CREDITS
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Film Appearances
- Multiple roles, And Now for Something Completely Different (also known as Monty Python's And Now for Something Completely Different), Columbia, 1971
- Townsperson, Sir Robin, Roger the Shrubber, Knight Who Says "Ni," guard,Concord, collector of corpses, and Brother Maynard, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Cinema V, 1975
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Side by Side, 1976
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To See Such Fun, 1977
- Stan (called Loretta), Otto, Mr. Frisbee III, Mr. Cheeky, jailer's assistant, intensely dull youth, Harry the Haggler, and culprit woman, MontyPython's Life of Brian (also known as Life of Brian), WarnerBros., 1979
- Multiple roles, Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl, Columbia,1982
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The Secret Policeman's Other Ball, Amnesty International, 1982
- Commander Clement, Yellowbeard, Orion, 1983
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Group Madness, 1983
- Multiple roles, Monty Python's The Meaning of Life, Universal,1983
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The Secret Policeman's Private Parts, 1984
- Bike rider, National Lampoon's European Vacation (also known as European Vacation), Warner Bros., 1985
- Voice of Wreck-Gar, The Transformers: The Movie (also known as Matrix Forever,
The Transformers,
Transformers the Movie: Mokushiroku matrix yo eien ni, and Transformers: Matrix yo eien ni), DeLaurentiis Entertainment Group, 1986
- Desmond and Berthold, The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (also known as Die Abenteuer des Baron von Muenchhausen), Columbia TriStar, 1988
- Brian Hope, Nuns on the Run, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1990
- Sonny Rivers, Too Much Sun, RCA/Columbia Home Video, 1991
- Wendel Dickens, Missing Pieces, HBO Home Video, 1991
- King Raff, Mom and Dad Save the World, Warner Bros., 1992
- Tommy Patel, Splitting Heirs, Universal, 1993
- Dibs, Casper, Universal, 1995
- (Uncredited) Dr. Niles Channing, Honey, I Shrunk the Audience, 1995
- Rat, The Wind in the Willows (also known as Mr. Toad's WildRide), Columbia, 1996
- Alan Smithee, An Alan Smithee Film: Burn Hollywood Burn, Buena Vista, 1997
- Voice of Devon, the two-headed dragon, Quest for Camelot (also known as The Magic Sword: Quest for Camelot), Warner Bros., 1998
- Voice of Slyly the fox, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Movie,Legacy Releasing, 1998
- Voice of "the new and improved" Martin, The Secret of NIMH 2: Timmy tothe Rescue, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/United Artists Home Entertainment, 1998
- Voice of Dr. Vosknocker, South Park: Bigger, Longer, and Uncut (animated), Paramount/Warner Bros., 1999
- Prospector Kim Jay Darling, Dudley Do-Right, Universal, 1999
- Pierre, Pirates: 3D Show (also known as 3-D Pirates Stranded atSea World), 1999
- Dr. Niles Channing, Journey into Your Imagination, 1999
- Voice of Waddlesworth, 102 Dalmations (animated), Buena Vista, 2000
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Film Work
- Executive producer, Splitting Heirs, Universal, 1993
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Television Appearances
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Series
- Multiple roles, Do Not Adjust Your Set, London, 1967
- Multiple roles, Monty Python's Flying Circus (also known as Monty Python and Sex and Violence), BBC, 1969-74, then PBS, 1974-82
- Multiple roles, Rutland Weekend Television, BBC, 1975
- Grant Pritchard, Nearly Departed, NBC, 1989
- Voice of Parenthesis, Hercules (also known as Disney's Hercules), ABC, 1998
- Ian Maxtone-Graham, Suddenly Susan, NBC, 1999-2000
- Voice of Guzelian, Disney/Pixar's Buzz Lightyear of Star Command, The Disney Channel, 2000
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Specials
- Ko-Ko, The Mikado, Thames, then PBS, 1987
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Saturday Night Live 15th Anniversary, NBC, 1989
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Life of Python, Showtime, 1990
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Twenty Years of Monty Python (Parrot Sketch Not Included), Showtime, 1990
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U.S. Comedy Arts Festival Tribute to Monty Python, HBO, 1998
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Canned Ham: Eric Idle, Comedy Network, 2000
- Host, Life of Python, Arts and Entertainment, 2000
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Episodic
- (Uncredited) "Whinfrey's Last Case," Ripping Yarns, 1979
- British musician, "I Do, I Do," Laverne and Shirley, 1981
- Narrator, "The Tale of the Frog Prince," Faerie Tale Theatre, Showtime, 1982
- The pied piper and Robert Browning, "The Pied Piper of Hamelin," Faerie Tale Theatre, Showtime, 1985
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The Legend of Sid Gottlieb, Showtime, 1987
- Guest host, Talk Soup, E! Entertainment Network, 1991
- Voice of Chuck, "High Crane Drifter," Frasier, NBC, 1996
- Voice of Galileo, "The Girl Was Trouble," Recess, 1998
- Voices of Pinky's mom and dad, "The Family That Poits Together, NarfsTogether," Pinky and the Brain, 1998
- Himself, Clive Anderson All Talk, 1999
- Voice of Galileo, "That Stinking Feeling," Recess, 1999
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The Martin Short Show, NBC, 1999
- Also performed multiple roles in At Last the 1948 Show.
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Movies
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Isadora: The Biggest Dancer in the World, BBC, 1966
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Pythons in Deutschland, Bavaria Atelier, 1971
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Other Television Appearances
- (Uncredited) Alice in Wonderland, BBC, 1967
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We Have Ways of Making You Laugh, London Weekend Television, 1968
- Multiple roles, Monty Python's Fliegender Zirkus, Bavaria TV,1972
- Dirk McQuickley, narrator, and S. J. Krammerhead, The Rutles, BBC,1978, then broadcast in the United States as All You Need Is Cash, NBC, 1978
- Jean Passepartout, Around the World in 80 Days (miniseries), NBC,1989
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30 Years of Monty Python: A Revelation (also known as It'sthe Monty Python Story), 1999
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Top Ten Comedy Records, 2000
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The Beatles Revolution, 2000
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I Don't Believe It! The One Foot in the Grave Story, 2000
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Television Director
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Episodic
- Directed an episode of Faerie Tale Theatre, Showtime.
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Other Television Work
- Director, The Rutles, BBC, 1978, then broadcast in the United States as All You Need Is Cash, NBC, 1978
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Stage Appearances
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Footlights '63, Edinburgh Festival, Edinburgh, Scotland, 1963
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My Girl Herbert, Lyric Hammersmith Theatre, London, 1963
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I'm Just Wild about Harry, Henry Miller Theatre, Edinburgh Festival, 1963
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The Tempest, Edinburgh Festival, 1964
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Footlights '64, Edinburgh Festival, 1964
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One for the Pot, Leicester Phoenix Theatre, Leicester, England, 1965
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Oh What a Lovely War, Leicester Phoenix Theatre, 1965
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Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles, 1970
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Monty Python Live at Drury Lane, 1974
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Monty Python Live!, New York City, 1976
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Monty Python Live at City Center, 1976
- Ko-Ko, The Mikado (opera), English National Opera, 1987, then Houston Grand Opera, Houston, TX, 1989
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Major Tours
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Monty Python's First Farewell Tour, Canadian and British cities, 1973
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Eric Idle Exploits Monty Python (revue), U.S. cities, 2000
- As a member of the comedy troupe Monty Python, performed in concert toursin U.S., British, and Canadian cities, 1970s; also performed at Coventry Festival, Coventry, England, 1972.
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RECORDINGS
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Albums with Monty Python
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Monty Python's Flying Circus, BBC Records, 1969
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Another Monty Python Record, Charisma, 1970
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Monty Python's Previous Record, Charisma, 1972
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Monty Python's Matching Tie and Handkerchief, Charisma, 1973,Arista, 1975
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Monty Python Live at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, Charisma, 1974
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The Album of the Soundtrack of the Trailer of the Film "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" (film soundtrack recording with additional material),Arista, 1975
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Monty Python Live at City Center, Arista, 1976
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The Worst of Monty Python, 1976
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Monty Python's Instant Record Collection, Charisma, 1977
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Monty Python's Life of Brian (film soundtrack recording), alsocoproduced by Idle, Warner Bros., 1979
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Monty Python's Contractual Obligation Album, also produced byIdle, Arista, 1980
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Monty Python's The Meaning of Life (film soundtrack recording), CBS Records, 1983
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Monty Python's the Final Ripoff (compilation), Virgin, 1987
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Monty Python Sings, also produced by Idle, Virgin, 1989
- Singles include "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life," Virgin, 1991.
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Other Albums
- (With Neil Innes) The Rutland Dirty Weekend Songbook, BBC Records,1975
- Singles include "The Galaxy Song" and "Every Sperm Is Sacred."
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Video Games
- Multiple roles, Monty Python's Complete Waste of Time, 1994
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Discworld, 1995
- Sir Robin and other roles; also executive producer and production designer, Monty Python and the Quest for the Holy Grail, 1996
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Discworld II: Mortality Bytes, 1996
- Multiple roles, Monty Python's the Meaning of Life, 1997
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WRITINGS
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Screenplays
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Albert Carter, Q.O.S.O., Dormer, 1968
- (With Chapman, Cleese, Gilliam, Jones, and Palin) And Now for Something Completely Different (also known as Monty Python's And Now for Something Completely Different; based on Monty Python's Flying Circus), Columbia, 1972
- (With Chapman, Cleese, Gilliam, Jones, and Palin) Monty Python and theHoly Grail, Cinema 5, 1975
- (With Chapman, Cleese, Gilliam, Jones, and Palin) Monty Python's Life of Brian (also known as Life of Brian), Warner Bros., 1979
- (With Chapman, Cleese, Gilliam, Jones, and Palin) Monty Python Live atthe Hollywood Bowl, Columbia, 1982
- (With Chapman, Cleese, Gilliam, Jones, and Palin) Monty Python's The Meaning of Life, Universal, 1983
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Splitting Heirs, Universal, 1993
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Welcome to the Family, Savoy Pictures, 1994
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The Remains of the Piano, Miramax, 1995
- (With Leslie Nielsen) Pirates: 3D Show (also known as 3-D Pirates Stranded at Sea World), 1999
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Film Music
- Song, "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life," Monty Python's Life of Brian (also known as Life of Brian), Warner Bros., 1979
- Songs, including "The Meaning of Life," "Galaxy Song," and "Oh Lord Please Don't Burn Us Down," Monty Python's The Meaning of Life, Universal, 1983
- Song, "The Torturer's Apprentice," The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (also known as Die Abenteuer des Baron von Muenchhausen), Columbia TriStar, 1988
- Lyricist, Splitting Heirs, Universal, 1995
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Television Series
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The Frost Report, BBC, 1965
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No, That's Me over Here!, London Weekend Television, 1967
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Do Not Adjust Your Set, BBC, 1968-69
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Broaden Your Mind, 1968
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Marty Feldman, BBC, 1968-69
- (With Chapman, Cleese, Gilliam, Jones, and Palin; also composer) MontyPython's Flying Circus (also known as Monty Python and Sexand Violence), BBC, 1969-74, then PBS, 1974-82
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The Two Ronnies, 1971
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Rutland Weekend Television, BBC, 1975
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Television Specials
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Life of Python, Showtime, 1990
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Twenty Years of Monty Python (Parrot Sketch Not Included), Showtime, 1990
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Television Episodes
- "The Pied Piper of Hamelin," Faerie Tale Theatre, Showtime, 1982
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Other Television Writing
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Twice a Fortnight, BBC, 1967
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Pythons in Deutschland (movie), Bavaria Atelier, 1971
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Monty Python's Fliegender Zirkus, Bavaria Television, 1972
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The Rutles, BBC, 1978, then broadcast in the United States as All You Need Is Cash, NBC, 1978
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30 Years of Monty Python: A Revelation (also known as It'sthe Monty Python Story), 1999
- Composer of theme song, I Don't Believe It! The One Foot in the Grave Story, 2000
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Stage Plays
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Pass the Butler, Globe Theatre, London, 1982, published by Methuen, 1982
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Radio Plays
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I'm Sorry I'll Read That Again, BBC, 1966
- (With John Du Prez) Behind the Crease, BBC, 1990
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Radio Series
- Author of two series titled Radio Five in the 1970s.
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Video Games
- Composer, Discworld II: Mortality Bytes, 1996
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Books with Chapman, Cleese, Gilliam, Jones, and Palin
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Monty Python's Big Red Book, also edited by Idle, Methuen (England), 1972, Warner Books (New York City), 1975
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The Brand New Monty Python Book, also edited by Idle; illustratedby Gilliam (under pseudonym Jerry Gillian) and Peter Brookes, Methuen, 1973,published as The Brand New Monty Python Papperbok, Methuen, 1974
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Monty Python and the Holy Grail (Book), Methuen, 1977, also published as Monty Python's Second Film: A First Draft, Methuen, 1977
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Monty Python's Life of Brian (of Nazareth), also edited by Idle, Grosset (New York City), 1979
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Montypythonscrapbook, Grosset (New York City), 1979
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The Complete Works of Shakespeare and Monty Python (contains Monty Python's Big Red Book and The Brand New Monty Python Papperbok), Methuen, 1981
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Monty Python's The Meaning of Life, Grove (New York City), 1983
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The Complete Monty Python's Flying Circus: All the Words, twovolumes, Pantheon (New York City), 1989
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Monty Python Speaks! John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, and Michael Palin Recount an Amazing, and Silly, Thirty-Year Spree in Television and Film--in Their Own Words, Squire!, interviewed by David Morgan, Spike (New York City), 1999
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Other Books
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Hello Sailor (novel), Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 1974
- (With Neil Innes) The Rutland Dirty Weekend Book, Eyre Methuen, 1976
- (Author and song composer) The Quite Remarkable Adventures of the Owland the Pussycat (juvenile), illustrated by Edward Lear and Wesla Weller,Dove Kids (Los Angeles), 1996
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The Road to Mars: A Post Modern Novel, Pantheon (New York City), 1999
- Also author of the novel The Rutles.
Further Reference
ADAPTATIONS
- Idle created the concept for the stage play Seussical the Musical, April 25, 2000, produced at the Richard Rodgers Theatre, New York City, 2000.
OTHER SOURCES
Books:
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Authors and Artists for Young Adults, Volume 7, Gale (Detroit, MI), 1991.
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Contemporary Literary Criticism, Volume 21, Gale, 1982.
- Hewison, Robert, Monty Python: The Case Against, Methuen, 1981.
- Hewison, Robert, Footlights!, Methuen, 1983.
- Johnson, Kim Howard, The First 200 Years of Monty Python, St. Martin's (New York City), 1989.
- Perry, George, Life of Python, Pavilion, 1983, expanded edition, 1996.
- Thompson, John O., editor, Monty Python: Complete and Utter Theory ofthe Grotesque, University of Illinois Press (Champaign), 1982.
- Wilmut, Roger, From Fringe to Flying Circus, Methuen, 1980.
Periodicals:
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Globe and Mail (Toronto), p. R3.
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Maclean's, November 15, 1999, p. 120.
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People Weekly, July 1, 1996, p. 35.
Internet:
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Pythonline, http://www.pythonline.com
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