Eric Idle English comedian, actor, author, singer and member of the Monty Python comedy group Date of Birth: 29.03.1943 Country: Great Britain

1. Biography of Eric Idle
2. Early Life
3. Early Career
4. University and Monty Python
5. Later Career and Personal Life

Biography of Eric Idle

Eric Idle, an English comedian, actor, author, singer, and member of the comedy group "Monty Python," is known as the "third talent" of Monty Python. In his sketches, he played with sensitive topics, double entendres, sexual innuendos, and other taboos. According to "The Comedians' Comedian" survey in 2005, Idle ranked 21st in the list of the 50 greatest comedians.

Early Life

Eric Idle was born on March 29, 1943, in South Shields, County Durham, U.K. His mother, Nora Barron, worked as a district nurse, and his father, Ernest Idle, served in the Royal Air Force during World War II but tragically died in a car accident soon after the war. Struggling to raise her son, Nora enrolled Eric in the Royal Wolverhampton School, an orphanage school for children who had lost one or both parents. Idle recalls that his time there was filled with physical violence, intimidation, and harsh conditions. However, he adapted to dealing with groups of boys and thrived in a challenging life.

Early Career

Idle describes himself as intelligent and funny during his childhood, which ultimately helped him become a member of the surrealist comedy group "Monty Python." He fondly remembers two things that made his school life bearable: listening to Radio Luxembourg under the covers and watching the local football team, Wolverhampton Wanderers, play matches. Every Thursday, he would escape from school to hang out at the local cinema. However, he was caught once for watching the adult film "BUtterfield 8," which resulted in losing his privileges. Despite this, Idle remained unfazed. Prior to that incident, he had already declined to lead the school's cadet corps due to his support for the nuclear disarmament campaign. He even participated in the "Aldermaston March," dedicated to the movement against nuclear disarmament.

University and Monty Python

Idle attended Pembroke College, Cambridge, where he received an invitation to join the "Cambridge University Footlights Club" from Tim Brooke-Taylor and Bill Oddie. In 1995, Idle became the president of the club and was the first to allow female members. His real success in his career came when he joined the comedy group "Monty Python." Through his performances, Idle connected with students and teenagers who comprised a significant portion of Monty Python's fan base. The group's sketches touched on contemporary topics such as pop music, sexual freedom, and "recreational" drugs, which suited Idle's interests. He gained fame for portraying vulgar middle-aged "playboys" and cunning salesmen. Many also considered him the group's best composer and performer. Idle was willing to dress up as a woman on stage and remarkably pulled off feminine roles. He usually worked on his sketches alone.

Later Career and Personal Life

In 2004, Idle presented his musical comedy "Spamalot," based on the plot of the 1975 film "Monty Python and the Holy Grail." He is also known for his roles in films such as "Life of Brian" and "And Now for Something Completely Different." Idle appeared in the series "Monty Python's Flying Circus," voiced Merlin in the animated film "Shrek the Third," and played Desmond/Bertold in "The Adventures of Baron Munchausen." Eric Idle married Lyn Ashley, an Australian, in 1969, and they had a son named Carey in 1973. The couple divorced in 1975. He then married American Tania Kosevich in 1981, and they had a daughter named Lily in 1990. Idle was a longtime friend of Robin Williams. In honor of Idle, an asteroid was named 9620 Ericidle.