# Point to Terry Gilliam in a Monty Python sketch- any Monty Python sketch. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 15, 2004, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/point-to-terry-gilliam-in-a-monty-python-sketch-any-monty-python-sketch/279952 "2004-12-15T10:57:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/point-to-terry-gilliam-in-a-monty-python-sketch-any-monty-python-sketch/279952/1 "2004-12-15T10:57:27Z")
Been watching Monty Python for years, had always just taken it for granted that I was watching all six of them on screen. Then a while back it hit me. I couldn’t think of any characters to attribute to Terry Gilliam. As I pondered this, I was satisfied to tell myself that when I see Terry Gilliam I must always think that I am watching either Terry Jones of Michael Palin. Now saying to myself, “Self, I am no longer satisfied with that explanation.” I know full well what Terry Jones looks like. I know full well what Michael Palin looks like. I know full well what Terry Gilliam looks like. Still, I can’t connect Terry Gilliam to a single Monty Python character at all ever. So, what’s the deal? Did he just write and animate? He had to have appeared in front of the camera sometimes, didn’t he? Help me out. ---
**Author:** ![Garfield226](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Garfield226](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Garfield226)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/point-to-terry-gilliam-in-a-monty-python-sketch-any-monty-python-sketch/279952/2 "2004-12-15T11:24:59Z")
Well…Patsy in Holy Grail, for one. ---
**Author:** ![RumMunkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b19c9b/32.png) [@RumMunkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RumMunkey)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/point-to-terry-gilliam-in-a-monty-python-sketch-any-monty-python-sketch/279952/3 "2004-12-15T11:44:40Z")
[Naked organ guy](http://python-airways.cside.com/member/member-image/tg-organ.jpg) But over all I think you’re right. I don’t think he was on screen nearly as much as the others in TV or film. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/point-to-terry-gilliam-in-a-monty-python-sketch-any-monty-python-sketch/279952/4 "2004-12-15T12:17:16Z")
He was the live liver donor in Meaning of Life. He’s shown up in at least one of his cartoons. (In Holy Grail, where he keels over before finishing the animation.) I think he regularly did the voices in the cartoons. His on-screen appearances have mostly be quick bit parts to fill out the scene, or to add another quick gag when the rest of the troupe were doing other parts in the bit. Being the animator was probably enough work for him. ---
**Author:** ![Antonius\_Block](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/51bf81/32.png) [@Antonius\_Block](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antonius_Block)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/point-to-terry-gilliam-in-a-monty-python-sketch-any-monty-python-sketch/279952/5 "2004-12-15T12:18:49Z")
> [@Garfield226](#): > > Well…Patsy in Holy Grail, for one. Also, the Keeper of the Bridge of Death: > [@Bridgekeeper](#): > > Stop! Who would cross the Bridge of Death must answer me these questions three, ere the other side he see. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/point-to-terry-gilliam-in-a-monty-python-sketch-any-monty-python-sketch/279952/6 "2004-12-15T12:24:32Z")
He was one of the members of the Spanish Inquisition which no one ever expects. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/point-to-terry-gilliam-in-a-monty-python-sketch-any-monty-python-sketch/279952/7 "2004-12-15T12:37:43Z")
> [@Evil Captor](#): > > He was one of the members of the Spanish Inquisition which no one ever expects. Cardinal Fang, I belive. ---
**Author:** ![hawthorne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@hawthorne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hawthorne)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/point-to-terry-gilliam-in-a-monty-python-sketch-any-monty-python-sketch/279952/8 "2004-12-15T12:49:58Z")
The very strange jailer in _Brian_ who freaks out the Roman handing out the crosses is Gilliam. He’s deaf and mad sir. ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/point-to-terry-gilliam-in-a-monty-python-sketch-any-monty-python-sketch/279952/9 "2004-12-15T12:55:22Z")
If I recall correctly, he was Constable Parrish who ate a crunchy dead chocolate frog in _Live at the Hollywood Bowl_. ---
**Author:** ![LateComer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b5ac83/32.png) [@LateComer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LateComer)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/point-to-terry-gilliam-in-a-monty-python-sketch-any-monty-python-sketch/279952/10 "2004-12-15T13:21:14Z")
Give the guy a break, he was busy doing those awesome cartoons. The only other one I remember is a later sketch (without John Cleese) with a horrible family with a father who just sits on a chair eating bked beans. Also, from the [Wikipedia:](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monty_Python's_Flying_Circus) > [@](#): > > Although he was primarily involved as an animator, Gilliam also occasionally appeared before the camera, usually playing more grotesque characters and parts that no-one else wanted to play (generally because they required a lot of makeup or involved uncomfortable costumes). The most recurrent of these was a knight in armour who would end sketches by walking on and hitting one of the other characters over the head with a plucked chicken. ---
**Author:** ![Nonsuch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonsuch/32/2922_2.png) [@Nonsuch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nonsuch)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/point-to-terry-gilliam-in-a-monty-python-sketch-any-monty-python-sketch/279952/11 "2004-12-15T13:40:12Z")
“This is my only line.” ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/point-to-terry-gilliam-in-a-monty-python-sketch-any-monty-python-sketch/279952/12 "2004-12-15T13:44:24Z")
Read the biography of the Pythons, and it is revealed that he always felt that he wasn’t an actor and so didn’t really want or expect to be in any sketches, though he filled in when they needed an extra character or a crowd scene or whatever. As did Neil Innes and Connie Booth (who were just as part of the core team as any of the others but aren’t really considered as ‘Pythons’). Gilliam’s job was meant to be solely as an animator. That’s how they met him, and that’s what they hired him as. They considered him a part of the main team because his animations were part of what made the show distinctive, and they contained sometimes twice as much humour as any of the live sketches. ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/point-to-terry-gilliam-in-a-monty-python-sketch-any-monty-python-sketch/279952/13 "2004-12-15T13:50:50Z")
This has been a very helpful Thread. Many of the replies made me go :smack: . Other replies were more surprising- for example, I didn’t expect the Spanish Inquisition. ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/point-to-terry-gilliam-in-a-monty-python-sketch-any-monty-python-sketch/279952/14 "2004-12-15T13:55:36Z")
He was the fifth writer/yes-man to Graham Chapman’s “Mr. Saltzberg” hollywood film-producer charactor in the “20th Century Vole” sketch of Episode Six. > [@](#): > > Fifth Writer (Gilliam): Sir, I don’t know how to say this but I got to be perfectly frank. I really and truly believe this story of yours is the greatest story in motion-picture history. > > Larry (Graham): Get out! > > Fifth Writer: What? > > Larry: If there’s one thing I can’t stand, it’s a yes-man! Get out! ---
**Author:** ![PigBoy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/97f17d/32.png) [@PigBoy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PigBoy)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/point-to-terry-gilliam-in-a-monty-python-sketch-any-monty-python-sketch/279952/15 "2004-12-15T14:00:46Z")
> [@RumMunkey](#): > > [Naked organ guy](http://python-airways.cside.com/member/member-image/tg-organ.jpg) > But over all I think you’re right. I don’t think he was on screen nearly as much as the others in TV or film. Terry Jones was also a different naked organ guy whose clothes were sucked away as he started to play. Just want to make sure that Gilliam isn’t mistakenly associated with all naked organ guys. ---
**Author:** ![Satchmo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/satchmo/32/4223_2.png) [@Satchmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Satchmo)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/point-to-terry-gilliam-in-a-monty-python-sketch-any-monty-python-sketch/279952/16 "2004-12-15T14:16:08Z")
He was also the Hindustani Man that was rigged with a remote control. He stood by the TV, when they wanted to change the channel, they pressed the remote control, he received an electric shock, and would then reach over and change the channel. Much funnier than my description. Satch ---
**Author:** ![iampunha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/74df32/32.png) [@iampunha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iampunha)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/point-to-terry-gilliam-in-a-monty-python-sketch-any-monty-python-sketch/279952/17 "2004-12-15T14:32:00Z")
> [@bienville](#): > > Other replies were more surprising- for example, I didn’t expect the Spanish Inquisition. Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition. ---
**Author:** ![cantara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6f9a4e/32.png) [@cantara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cantara)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/point-to-terry-gilliam-in-a-monty-python-sketch-any-monty-python-sketch/279952/18 "2004-12-15T15:22:59Z")
Also the american husband in the “Meaning Of Liff” salmon mousse death sketch (possibly his longest screen time…). ---
**Author:** ![neofishboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/neofishboy/32/444_2.png) [@neofishboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neofishboy)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/point-to-terry-gilliam-in-a-monty-python-sketch-any-monty-python-sketch/279952/19 "2004-12-15T15:25:09Z")
> [@Evil Captor](#): > > He was one of the members of the Spanish Inquisition which no one ever expects. Which is the source of my all-time favorite Gilliam face … one I have been trying to perfect for years: [The Comfy Chair!?!?](http://www.geocities.com/johangambolputy/CardFang.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/point-to-terry-gilliam-in-a-monty-python-sketch-any-monty-python-sketch/279952/20 "2004-12-15T15:36:50Z")
He also appears in **The Meaning of Life** as one of the corporate executives raided by **The Crimson Permanent Assurance.** You can also spot Matt Frewer in those sketches. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/point-to-terry-gilliam-in-a-monty-python-sketch-any-monty-python-sketch/279952.md?page=2)