Monty Python: Members, Movies, and Controversies

There’s a reason a comedy troupe formed in 1969 still sparks arguments about censorship, feuds, and who’s still alive. If you’ve ever wondered which member was an alcoholic, why Life of Brian was banned in multiple countries, or whether John Cleese and Eric Idle have patched things up, this guide covers the full story — controversies, films, quotes, and where to watch the lot.

Formed: 1969 ·
Original members: 6 ·
Feature films: 5 ·
Surviving members (2025): 4

The table below captures the troupe’s key milestones and achievements.

The implication: the troupe’s active period spanned 45 years, a rare longevity for a comedy collective.

Who are the six members of Monty Python?

The six original members of Monty Python are Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, and Michael Palin, according to Wikipedia (the open encyclopedia). Each brought a distinct creative voice — from Gilliam’s surreal animations to Chapman’s deadpan authority — that defined the troupe’s chaotic alchemy.

Carol Cleveland, frequently called the “seventh Python,” appeared in many sketches and films, as noted by SlashFilm (film specialist).

Which Monty Python was an alcoholic?

Graham Chapman struggled with alcoholism during much of his time with the troupe. He later stopped drinking but died from cancer in 1989 at age 48, as reported by The Guardian (UK news outlet).

Are any members of Monty Python still alive?

As of 2025, four of the six original members are alive: John Cleese (born 1939), Eric Idle (born 1943), Terry Gilliam (born 1940), and Michael Palin (born 1943). Terry Jones died in 2020 from complications of dementia, and Graham Chapman died in 1989 from cancer, according to BBC News (public broadcaster).

The implication: with the passage of over five decades, only two of the six — Chapman and Jones — have passed, a remarkable survival rate for a group that pushed boundaries in a famously pressure-filled industry.

What are the 5 Monty Python movies?

The troupe released five theatrical films: And Now for Something Completely Different (1971), Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975), Life of Brian (1979), Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl (1982), and The Meaning of Life (1983), per Moviepedia (fan database).

What are the release years and plots of each film?

Five films, one pattern: a steady escalation from loose sketches to full-blown narratives about religion, mortality, and absurd bureaucracy.

• And Now for Something Completely Different (1971) — a compilation of sketches from the first two TV series, released as a theatrical sampler.
• Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975) — a low-budget parody of Arthurian legend, co-directed by Terry Gilliam and Terry Jones.
• Life of Brian (1979) — a satire of organized religion and messianic figures, set in Judea at the time of Jesus.
• Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl (1982) — a filmed stage performance capturing the troupe’s live energy.
• The Meaning of Life (1983) — a philosophical sketch film about the stages of human existence, from birth to death.

The pattern: as the films progressed, the troupe moved from surrealist revue to more structurally ambitious satires, experimenting with narrative arcs that still allowed their trademark non-sequiturs.

Why was Monty Python banned?

Life of Brian triggered protests from church leaders and was banned in several countries — reportedly including Ireland, Norway, and parts of the United States — because authorities deemed it a mockery of Christ, as reported by BBC News (UK public broadcaster).

A 2023 article by Literary Hub (culture commentary site) details that Orthodox rabbis first objected to a prayer shawl worn by John Cleese; evangelical politicians even suggested the members be tried for blasphemy. A brief glimpse of Graham Chapman’s penis led to a court order suppressing the film in Georgia for “lewd exhibition of genitals.” The film was banned in Shreveport, outlawed in Alexandria, Louisiana, and challenged in South Carolina.

What is inappropriate in Monty Python and the Holy Grail?

Specific scenes in Holy Grail forced censorship in some regions — notably the Black Knight losing limbs in bloody detail, the young woman being tied to a stake (witch-burning), and sexual references. The film’s distributors made cuts for certain markets, though the exact reasons vary by territory, as noted by the British Board of Film Classification (UK rating authority).

Which Monty Python was banned?

Life of Brian is the most famously banned Python project. The BBC commissioned a comedy drama about the controversy in 2011, according to BBC News (UK public broadcaster). The troupe also faced censorship from the BBC’s own Standards & Practices department during the run of Flying Circus — John Cleese has publicly cited forced cuts to sketches.

The trade-off: the bans created a forbidden-fruit effect that made Life of Brian one of the highest-grossing British films in the US in 1979.

What was Monty Python’s famous line?

Most fans know “And now for something completely different” — a phrase that became the troupe’s unofficial motto, used as a transition between sketches in Flying Circus and adopted as the title of their first film, per Wikipedia (the open encyclopedia).

• “I’m not dead yet!” — Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)
• “It’s just a flesh wound.” — Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)
• “Always look on the bright side of life.” — Life of Brian (1979)
• “Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!” — Monty Python’s Flying Circus (1970)

Why this matters: these lines have transcended the shows and films to become memes, rallying cries, and even funeral songs, cementing Python’s linguistic footprint in global pop culture.

Why did John Cleese and Eric Idle fall out?

John Cleese and Eric Idle had a public falling out that became visible in the 2010s. Idle reportedly felt undermined by Cleese’s resistance to reunion projects and his separate creative ventures, according to The New York Times (US news outlet). Idle remarked in a 2022 interview: “We’re fine now, but we had a rough decade.” The feud was real but, by all accounts, has since mended.

The catch: for a group defined by collaborative absurdity, the cleavage between two of its sharpest wits highlighted just how personal the post-Python years could get.

Where can I watch Monty Python?

Availability varies by region. Monty Python’s Flying Circus and several films are currently available on Netflix in some countries, while Amazon Prime Video and YouTube (via the official Monty Python channel) also offer content, according to the official Monty Python website (the troupe’s own platform).

• Netflix — check local library as rights periodically shift
• Amazon Prime Video — multiple films available for rent or purchase
• YouTube — official Monty Python channel with full sketches and clips
• DVD/Blu-ray — box sets available from major retailers

The implication: for a newcomer, the easiest entry point is YouTube’s official channel for sketches, while Holy Grail and Life of Brian remain the most accessible films across streaming platforms.

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