Eric Idle is a British comedian, actor, songwriter, musician, screenwriter, and playwright, best known for being a member of Monty Python.
Idle was raised by his grandmother after his mother struggled with depression following his father's death when he was just two years old.
He became the president of the Cambridge University Footlights Club in 1965, making history by allowing women to join.
Biography
Early Life
Eric Idle was born on March 29, 1943, in Harton Hospital, South Shields, England. His early life was marked by tragedy; his father, Ernest Idle, was killed in a road accident when Eric was just two years old, leading to his mother, Norah Barron Sanderson, struggling with depression. As a result, Eric was raised by his grandmother in Swinton, Lancashire. He attended St George's Primary School and later the Royal Wolverhampton School, where he faced a harsh environment that shaped his comedic outlook on life. Idle found solace in listening to Radio Luxembourg and watching local football, which helped him develop a sense of humor that would later define his career.
Career
Idle's career began at Pembroke College, Cambridge, where he studied English and joined the prestigious Cambridge University Footlights Club. He became the club's president in 1965, making history by allowing women to join. His early television work included the series "Do Not Adjust Your Set," which featured future Monty Python members. Idle was a key writer and performer for Monty Python from 1969 to 1983, contributing to the group's unique blend of absurdist humor. He also formed the parody rock band The Rutles and has released several albums, including "Monty Python's Spamalot" and "Eric Idle Sings Monty Python."
Personal Life
Idle has been married twice; his first marriage to actress Lyn Ashley produced one son before their divorce in 1975. He later married Tania Kosevich in 1981, with whom he has a daughter. A permanent resident of the United States since 1997, Idle has been vocal about his political views, particularly during Donald Trump's presidency. In 2019, he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer but underwent successful surgery. As of 2024, he resides in Los Angeles, where he continues to engage with his audience through various media.
Collected from open sources (4) · facts link to sources · AI-processed
Discography
Monty Python‘s Spamalot2016
- 1.Ouvertüre1:00
- 2.Einleitung1:08
- 3.Fischwatschenlied1:20
- 4.Mönchsgesang0:53
- 5.Ich bin noch nicht tot2:25
- 6.Die Fee aus dem See1:53
- 7.Seejungfrauen2:08
- 8.Das Lied, das jetzt erklingt2:56
- 9.Wir für uns2:38
- 10.Die Ritter der Tafelrunde6:50
- 11.Such den Gral3:36
- 12.Nichts wie weg!2:44
- 13.Zwischenaktmusik0:33
- 14.Der sehr sehr teure Wald0:35
- 15.Nimm das Leben beschwingt4:42
- 16.Der tapfere Sir Robin1:03
- 17.Denn kommt es nicht vom Broadway …5:40
- 18.Wann geht's hier wieder mal um mich?2:43
- 19.Wo bist du?1:32
- 20.Der Typ heißt Lancelot2:16
- 21.Ich bin allein3:10
- 22.Das Lied, das jetzt erklingt (Reprise)2:58
- 23.Finale4:13
- 24.Nimm das Leben beschwingt (Reprise)1:38
Monty Python's Spamalot: UK Cast Album2010
- 1.Overture / Historian's Introduction to Act I1:50
- 2.Fisch Schlapping Song / Finland1:18
- 3.Monks Chant / Arthur King of the Britons1:24
- 4.I Am Not Yet Dead / Playoff2:28
- 5.Come With Me2:22
- 6.Laker Girls Cheer1:20
- 7.The Song That Goes Like This.3:10
- 8.All for One2:16
- 9.Knights of the Round Table / The Song That Goes Like This (reprise)4:32
- 10.Find Your Grail3:25
- 11.Run Away1:22
- 12.Historian's Introduction to Act II0:31
- 13.Always Look on the Bright Side of Life3:47
- 14.Brave Sir Robin1:25
- 15.Star Song3:47
- 16.Whatever Happened to My Part (Diva's Lament)2:31
- 17.Where Are You0:44
- 18.His Name Is Lancelot2:20
- 19.I'm All Alone3:22
- 20.Twice in Every Show2:32
- 21.Finale3:06
- 22.Bright Side Bows / Exit Music2:06
F**k Christmas2006
- 1.F**k Christmas1:51
Monty Python’s Spamalot2005
- 1.Tuning0:20
- 2.Overture0:53
- 3.Historian's Introduction to Act I0:52
- 4.Finland / Fisch Schlapping Dance1:02
- 5.Monks Chant / He Is Not Dead Yet2:51
- 6.Come With Me1:42
- 7.Laker Girls Cheer1:17
- 8.The Song That Goes Like This2:54
- 9.He Is Not Dead Yet (Playoff)0:23
- 10.All for One1:59
- 11.Knights of the Round Table / The Song That Goes Like This (reprise)6:02
- 12.Find Your Grail3:27
- 13.Run Away!2:02
- 14.The Intermission0:22
- 15.Historian's Introduction to Act II0:22
- 16.Always Look on the Bright Side of Life4:30
- 17.Brave Sir Robin0:57
- 18.You Won't Succeed on Broadway5:06
- 19.Diva's Lament (Whatever Happened to My Part?)2:33
- 20.Where Are You?1:03
- 21.His Name Is Lancelot2:12
- 22.I'm All Alone3:20
- 23.Twice in Every Show1:18
- 24.Act II Finale3:28
- 25.Always Look on the Bright Side of Life (Company Bow)1:19
The Rutland Isles: A Visit to Liberaçion and Parañoia2003
- 1.Intro1:52
- 2.Rock Stars1:13
- 3.Penis Fish0:35
- 4.Rutland Triangle1:17
- 5.National Anthem1:28
- 6.Whoops Look Out Behind You3:14
- 7.Mugger’s Day2:09
- 8.Pre-Chewed Food1:24
- 9.Contracepcion1:11
- 10.Killing for God1:22
- 11.Analogy2:06
- 12.Flipper Minnelli0:36
- 13.Gay Animal Song1:32
- 14.West Pole1:41
- 15.Camouflage Regiment1:36
- 16.General Gucci2:31
- 17.Hey Rita1:46
- 18.Paranoid Jails0:55
- 19.Vacation in Rutland1:34
- 20.Quiz Show3:28
- 21.Goodbye From Parañoia1:01
- 22.Intermission1:18
- 23.Intro, Part II1:01
- 24.The Over-Friendly Isles1:22
- 25.Fishing for Compliments1:32
- 26.Muff Diving1:52
- 27.Civil War0:46
- 28.Banana Song0:27
- 29.The Randi1:39
- 30.Homo Semi-Erectus0:38
- 31.Surfing Apes0:55
- 32.Randi Statistics3:42
Eric Idle Sings Monty Python2000
- 1.Spam Song0:48
- 2.The Meaning of Life3:07
- 3.Money Song2:02
- 4.Every Sperm Is Sacred5:21
- 5.Accountancy Shanty1:52
- 6.The Meaning of Life Poem2:08
- 7.I Like Chinese5:51
- 8.The Bruce's Philosophers Song2:24
- 9.Men Men Men1:25
- 10.Shopping1:07
- 11.Sit on My Face1:19
- 12.Penis Song0:45
- 13.All Things Dull and Ugly2:02
- 14.Eric the Half a Bee3:06
- 15.One Foot in the Grave3:34
- 16.I Must Be in Love3:12
- 17.Rock Notes2:24
- 18.The Galaxy Song3:13
- 19.The Medical Love Song3:30
- 20.Always Look on the Bright Side of Life4:18
- 21.Lumberjack Song2:38
- 22.Liberty Bell0:31
The Mikado (The English National Opera)1987
- 1.The Mikado: Act I. If You Want to Know Who We Are3:04
- 2.The Mikado: Act I. A Wand'ring Minstrel I4:14
- 3.The Mikado: Act I. Our Great Mikado3:12
- 4.The Mikado: Act I. Young Man, Despair2:37
- 5.The Mikado: Act I. Behold, the Lord High Executioner2:37
- 6.The Mikado: Act I. I've Got a Little List2:49
- 7.The Mikado: Act I. Comes a Train of Little Ladies2:14
- 8.The Mikado: Act I. Three Little Maids From School Are We1:27
- 9.The Mikado: Act I. So Please You, Sir, We Much Regret1:52
- 10.The Mikado: Act I. Were You Not to Ko-Ko Plighted2:15
- 11.The Mikado: Act I. Finale Act I13:06
- 12.The Mikado: Act II. Braid the Raven Hair3:25
- 13.The Mikado: Act II. The Sun Whose Rays Are All Ablaze2:55
- 14.The Mikado: Act II. Here's a How-De-Do1:17
- 15.The Mikado: Act II. A More Humane Mikado4:22
- 16.The Mikado: Act II. The Flowers That Bloom in the Spring1:36
- 17.The Mikado: Act II. Alone, and Yet Alive3:15
- 18.The Mikado: Act II. Tit Willow2:53
- 19.The Mikado: Act II. There Is Beauty in the Bellow of the Blast2:11
The Rutland Weekend Songbook1976
- 1.L'amour Perdue0:40
- 2.Gibberish1:40
- 3.Front Loader2:43
- 4.Say Sorry Again2:24
- 5.I Must Be in Love2:40
- 6.24 Hours in Tunbridge Wells1:55
- 7.The Fabulous Bingo Bros.1:05
- 8.Concrete Jungle Boy3:30
- 9.The Children of Rock and Roll0:46
- 10.Stoop Solo2:40
- 11.Song o' the Insurance Men0:54
- 12.Testing0:37
- 13.I Give Myself to You2:19
- 14.Communist Cooking1:16
- 15.Johnny Cash0:47
- 16.Protest Song3:41
- 17.Accountancy Shanty0:39
- 18.Football1:30
- 19.Boring2:41
- 20.L'amour Perdue Cha Cha Cha1:55
- 21.The Hard to Get3:09
- 22.Closedown1:28
Galaxy DNA Song2013
Tracklist not collected yet.
Soggy Old Blondes2005
Tracklist not collected yet.
It’s Only Rock ’n’ Roll1999
Tracklist not collected yet.
That's Death1996
Tracklist not collected yet.
One Foot in the Grave1994
Tracklist not collected yet.
Always Look on the Bright Side of Life1991
Tracklist not collected yet.
The Adam Buxton Podcast #259, “Eric Idle”2025
Tracklist not collected yet.
Always Look on the Bright Side of Life (a Sortabiography)2018
Tracklist not collected yet.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory2002
Tracklist not collected yet.
Gallery
Achievements
- Award
- European Film Academy Lifetime Achievement Award
Groups
- John Cleese & Eric Idlecurrent
- Monty Pythoncurrent
Archive
Passport
Identifiers & aliases
Eric Idle is an English actor, comedian, songwriter, musician, screenwriter and playwright. He was a member of the British comedy group Monty Python and the parody rock band the Rutles. Idle studied English at Pembroke College, Cambridge, and joined Cambridge University Footlights. He has received a Grammy Award as well as nominations for two Tony Awards.
All links
Opinions of fans — not verified facts.
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