Eric Idle Biography

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 Pythonites 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

• 1. King Arthur: How does it... um... how does it work?
  2. Sir Lancelot: I know not, my liege.
  3. King Arthur: Consult the Book of Armaments!
  4. Maynard: Armaments, chapter two, verses nine through twenty-one.
  5. Minstrel + minor role: And Saint Attila raised the hand grenade up on high, saying, 'O Lord, bless this thy hand grenade, that with it thou mayst blow thine enemies to tiny bits, in thy mercy.' And the Lord did grin. And the people did feast upon the lambs and sloths, and carp and anchovies, and orangutans and breakfast cereals, and fruit-bats and large chu...
  6. Maynard: Skip a bit, brother...
  7. Minstrel + minor role: And the Lord spake, saying, First shalt thou take out the Holy Pin. Then shalt thou count to three, no more, no less. Three shall be the number thou shalt count, and the number of the counting shall be three. Four shalt thou not count, neither count thou two, excepting that thou then proceed to three. Five is right out! Once the number three, being the third number, be reached, then lobbest thou thy Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch towards thy foe, who, being naughty in my sight, shall snuff it.
  8. Maynard: Amen.
  9. King Arthur: Right. One... two... five!
  10. Sir Galahad: Three, sir.
  11. King Arthur: Three!
  From Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Submitted by Typhon Q (8 months ago)

• 1. Sir Robin: You mankey Scots git! -What does he do nibble ya bum?
  From Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Submitted by Daniel R (10 months ago)

• 1. Stan: Alright, that's it! No more briefing! From now on, we take action!
  2. Judith: [breaking into the room] Brian's been caught! They're going to nail him up!
  3. Stan: Right! This calls for immediate discussion!
  From Monty Python's Life of Brian. Submitted by Alan Torres Dwyer B (11 months ago)

• 1. Mr. Cheeky: Oi, I think he just said bless be all the bignoses!
  2. Big Nose: Alright, you say that ONCE more, and I'll punch you in the face!
  3. Mrs. Big Nose: Oh, leave him alone! And don't pick your nose!
  4. Big Nose: I wasn't picking it, I was scratching it!
  From Monty Python's Life of Brian. Submitted by Alan Torres Dwyer B (11 months ago)

• 1. Fourth Fish: Oh sh*t, it's Mr. Creosote!
  2. Second Fish Grim: Hide!
  From Monty Python's The Meaning of Life. Submitted by Jed G (11 months ago)

• 1. Sir Lancelot: [charges into room, killing hicoughing guard]
  2. Guard: [turns] Now, you're not allowed to- [gets cut off as Lancelot kills him]
  From Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Submitted by Connor S (11 months ago)

• 1. Cornwall: [trying to start a fire with two sticks] Come on baby, light my fire...
  2. Devon: You know, there's nothing more pathetic than a flame retarded dragon.
  From Quest For Camelot. Submitted by Lorenzo V (13 months ago)

• 1. Minstrel + minor role: [singing] Bravely bold Sir Robin rode forth from Camelot He was not afraid to die, o' brave Sir Robin! He was not at all afraid to be killed in nasty ways, Brave, brave, brave, brave Sir Robin! He was not at not in the least bit scared to be mashed into a pulp Or to have his eyes gouged out, Or his elbows broken; To have his kneecaps split And his body burned away, Or his limbs all hacked and mangled, Brave Sir Robin! His head smashed in, his heart cut out, His liver removed, and his bowels unplugged, His nostrils raped, and his bottom burned off, And his penis split--
  2. Sir Robin: Stop! That's enough singing for now.
  From Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Submitted by Kris R (14 months ago)

• 1. Concorde: I'll-uh, I'll just stay here, then, shall I, sir?
  From Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Submitted by Dmitri B (20 months ago)