Eric Idle

**Eric Idle** (born 29 March 1943) is an English actor, comedian, songwriter, musician, screenwriter, and playwright. He earned recognition as part of the British comedy group Monty Python and the parody rock band, the Rutles. Idle studied at Pembroke College, Cambridge, and joined Cambridge University Footlights. He accumulated numerous accolades over the years, including a Grammy Award and nominations for two Tony Awards. Idle gained stardom for co-creating and acting in the sketch series Monty Python's Flying Circus (1969–1974), and the films Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975), Life of Brian (1979) and The Meaning of Life (1983). His noteworthy modus operandi is his elaborate wordplay and musical numbers; he composed and performed many songs featured in Python projects. After his time with Monty Python's Flying Circus, he created the sketch show Rutland Weekend Television (1975–1976), hosted Saturday Night Live four times, and appeared in various films such as The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1988), Nuns on the Run (1990), Splitting Heirs (1993), and many more. Idle made his Broadway debut with his adaptation of Monty Python and the Holy Grail into a musical, Spamalot (2005), which was lauded with the Tony Award for Best Musical, and Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album. He also wrote Not the Messiah (2009), and performed at the London 2012 Olympic Games closing ceremony.