# Who was the best actor of Monty Python? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 28, 2026, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-best-actor-of-monty-python/1027106 "2026-01-28T00:55:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2026, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-best-actor-of-monty-python/1027106/1 "2026-01-28T00:55:21Z")
In alphabetical order: _Poll ([view on site](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-best-actor-of-monty-python/1027106/1))_ IMO, it’s either Cleese or Idle but I’ll give a slight edge to Idle. He seems to have a little more range than Cleese. ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2026, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-best-actor-of-monty-python/1027106/2 "2026-01-28T01:33:56Z")
I seem to recall the Pythons all thought Graham Chapman was perhaps the best actor of the group. Hence his playing King Arthur and Brian. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2026, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-best-actor-of-monty-python/1027106/3 "2026-01-28T01:36:26Z")
…no, no; _Brian._ ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2026, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-best-actor-of-monty-python/1027106/4 "2026-01-28T01:40:44Z")
I can’t make myself pick one. I’m tempted to ask questions about what criteria to use, but I don’t think that would help me. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2026, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-best-actor-of-monty-python/1027106/5 "2026-01-28T06:02:05Z")
They certainly had the right training: [Be A Great Actor](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMWfbVD6ULM) ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2026, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-best-actor-of-monty-python/1027106/6 "2026-01-28T06:04:45Z")
I gave the nod to Chapman. He seemed the most at ease playing someone who wasn’t a cartoon character. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2026, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-best-actor-of-monty-python/1027106/7 "2026-01-28T06:10:52Z")
I feel like roles like Archibald Leech in Fish Call Wanda and of course Basil Fawlty give Cleese the edge. Graham would be my 2nd choice. A lot of votes for Palin, can I ask why of those that chose him? ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2026, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-best-actor-of-monty-python/1027106/8 "2026-01-28T06:14:37Z")
I voted for Chapman. I suspect we didn’t get a chance to see just how good he really was, as a result of his tragic early death. Most of the reputation of the Pythons as actors (e.g. Palin in _Death of Stalin_ or Cleese in Branagh’s _Frankenstein_) came years after the troupe’s heyday. Had Chapman been able to explore a similar career, I’m confident he’d have built an impressive roster of work. ---
**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:** [January 28, 2026, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-best-actor-of-monty-python/1027106/9 "2026-01-28T07:08:28Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > A lot of votes for Palin, can I ask whyvof those that chose him? He’s the most low key and approachable, in both real life and in his characters. At least, that’s my perception of him. But I’m now thinking Graham Chapman may actually have been the better actor. It’s a close match. The others are usually more exaggerated in their performances, which is fine in context, but harder to judge their acting ability. The only time I saw John Cleese do anything purely dramatic was in _Silverado_, and I was just waiting for him to say something funny. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2026, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-best-actor-of-monty-python/1027106/10 "2026-01-28T07:13:02Z")
Thanks, that makes sense to me. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2026, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-best-actor-of-monty-python/1027106/11 "2026-01-28T07:38:02Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > of course Basil Fawlty give Cleese the edge. How could I **not** vote for Cleese when he starred in _Fawlty Towers_, which I’ve long regarded as the best sitcom of all time! And I think he had some of the most impressive roles in the Monty Python series as well. ---
**Author:** ![Chad\_Sudan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chad_sudan/32/4509_2.png) [@Chad\_Sudan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chad_Sudan)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2026, 7:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-best-actor-of-monty-python/1027106/12 "2026-01-28T07:55:17Z")
The one who played Bruce. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2026, 8:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-best-actor-of-monty-python/1027106/13 "2026-01-28T08:03:24Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > The only time I saw John Cleese do anything purely dramatic was in _Silverado_ As I mentioned above, he plays a kind of mentor figure in the _Frankenstein_ adaptation Kenneth Branagh made in the mid 90s. If you can’t get over his comic persona, you might find his presence a little distracting, but if you look at his performance _simply as a performance,_ he’s genuinely excellent, one of the best elements of an otherwise mediocre and wildly overcooked movie. There don’t seem to be any good clips on YouTube highlighting Cleese’s role, but here’s something that gives you a taste (apologies for the crappy quality). [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/l40-dzrmqP4/maxresdefault.jpg "Vax scene from Mary Shelley's Frankenstein") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l40-dzrmqP4) Also, regarding Palin, he demonstrated himself quite capable as an actor outside of Python comedy a lot earlier than his troupemates. Terry Gilliam cast him in _Brazil_ the year after the Pythons’ last proper movie came out, cannily exploiting his affable presence to create unsettling dissonance considering the things he’s saying and doing. And toward the end of the movie, when the shell of the character starts to crack, Palin absolutely delivers. There doesn’t seem to be a good video clip of this either, but I cannot recommend the movie highly enough. Depending on the day, _Brazil_ might be my all-time favorite film, and Palin is completely credible in it. I stand by my vote for Chapman, though, for the reasons previously stated. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2026, 9:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-best-actor-of-monty-python/1027106/14 "2026-01-28T09:12:50Z")
Palin seems like the most likable of the bunch. He also gets points for playing Dennis in the Holy Grail. The acting wasn’t necessarily Oscar-worthy but it’s one of the most memorable characters of them all. That should count for something. I seem to be alone in my fondness for Idle. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2026, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-best-actor-of-monty-python/1027106/15 "2026-01-28T17:16:39Z")
John Cleese is funny, but he always plays himself. I always got the sense Terry Jones felt he was an actor and tried his hardest not to be a sketch comedian. The others were just comfortable being funny so I have to give it to Terry for the effort. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2026, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-best-actor-of-monty-python/1027106/16 "2026-01-28T17:28:51Z")
I’ve been a Python fan for most of my life, and I honestly can’t choose. I think that all of them had aspects of their talents, and certain roles, in which they shone as actors. Maybe Cleese? Chapman was the lead in their films, and that might mean something? But I really liked Palin’s ability to play both sleazy characters and sympathetic characters. Ugh. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2026, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-best-actor-of-monty-python/1027106/17 "2026-01-28T17:39:34Z")
For me it came down to Cleese was the most entertaining beyond Python. This includes small things like his Emmy winning appearance on Cheers. Getting nominated again for his 3rd Rock from the Sun appearance. Of course Basil Fawlty. His filmography is fantastic. Starting with the Python films & [A Fish Called Wanda](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095159/?ref_=nm_knf_t_1) & Fierce Creatures. But also movies like Clockwise (starring role), Silverado, Frankenstein, playing one of the Bond Qs, Robin Hood in Time Bandits, and Mostly Headless Nick in the Harry Potter movies. Bonus, he was very good as the Special Guest Star on s2e23 of The Muppet Show. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2026, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-best-actor-of-monty-python/1027106/18 "2026-01-28T17:42:38Z")
I voted for Palin. Not sure if he was the _best_, but I think he was the most _versatile_ of the group. In Monty Python sketches and movies, the others often seem to be playing exaggerated versions of themselves. Palin could go from a sleazy mafioso to a nerdy accountant to a smarmy game show host to a no-nonsense police sergeant and play each one convincingly. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2026, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-best-actor-of-monty-python/1027106/19 "2026-01-28T17:48:14Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > His filmography is fantastic. I remember, as a teenager, seeing a short film, late in the evening, on the local PBS station, which starred Cleese and Connie Booth (his then-wife, and co-star in _Fawlty Towers_), which mostly involved the two of them running around in the woods naked, and him smuggling her in the case for his double bass. It’s actually kind of charming, but mostly I remember it being a rare opportunity to see a naked woman on TV. I now discover that it’s actually based on a Chekhov short story. [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0072095/](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0072095/) ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2026, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-best-actor-of-monty-python/1027106/20 "2026-01-28T18:06:52Z")
I voted for Terry Jones because appearing as the Nude Organist is peak theatrics to me. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-best-actor-of-monty-python/1027106.md?page=2)