Michael Palin was born in Sheffield, Yorkshire, on 5th May 1943. His father was an engineer and he has an older, by nine years, sister called Angela.
Mike's childhood was happy, if somewhat traditional, and although his father had a limited income, Michael was sent to Shrewsbury public school, the same place attended by Peter Cook and Willie Rushton before him.
However, Palin didn't follow his father to Cambridge University, instead deciding to go to Oxford, studying History at Brasenose College.
Michael met Helen whilst on holiday when he was about sixteen and they had a holiday romance. Years later whilst at Oxford, he realised that his friend Robert's girlfriend was a friend of hers. Mike and Helen were reunited and married in 1966, the year after he left university.
Michael met Terry Jones whilst at Oxford, Eric Idle whilst working on "Do Not Adjust Your Set" and then Cleese and Chapman whilst working on the "Frost Report" Post Python.
He has starred in Ripping Yarns, the series he co-wrote with Terry Jones, Terry Gilliam's Jabberwocky and Brazil, and has written, co-produced and starred in the film "The Missionary" and perhaps most successfully played Ken in "A Fish Called Wanda"
Mike is also famed for his travelogues and documentarys like "Pole to Pole" and "Hemingway Adventures."
Born: 5th May 1943
