Eric Idle

Eric Idle (Durham, 29 maart 1943) is een Brits acteur, komiek en tekstschrijver. Hij is vooral bekend door zijn bijdragen aan Monty Python.

Idle werd geboren te Durham en woonde in de stadjes Oldham en Wallasey tot hij in 1952 naar school ging in Wolverhampton. Hij studeerde Engels aan het Pemstroke College in Cambridge. Toen hij in 1965 afstudeerde had hij inmiddels kennisgemaakt met John Cleese en Graham Chapman. Van 1969 tot 1978 was hij getrouwd met Lyn Ashley. In 1981 hertrouwde hij met Tanya Kosevich.

In 1966 ging Idle teksten schrijven voor BBC-radio. Vanaf 1967 werkte hij twee seizoenen mee aan Do Not Adjust Your Set met Michael Palin en Terry Jones. In deze periode leerde hij ook Terry Gilliam kennen.

In de periode 1969-1974 zond de BBC het televisieprogramma Monty Python's Flying Circus uit; een programma met Chapman, Cleese, Gilliam, Idle, Jones en Palin dat bestond uit allerlei komische sketches die worden gezien als een toonbeeld van de Engelse humor.
De inbreng van Idle bestond vooral uit one-liners, titels, karakters en liedjes. Hij schreef onder meer Always look on the bright side of life, voor de film The Life of Brian. De Monty Python-groep bracht ook een aantal speelfilms en compilaties van sketches uit.

Een ander groot project waar Idle aan meewerkte was The Rutles, een parodie op The Beatles. Over The Rutles werd een namaakdocumentaire gemaakt waarin het verhaal van deze fictieve band werd verteld, doorspekt met komische verwijzingen naar The Beatles. Er verscheen ook een LP (All You Need Is Cash).

Idle speelde van 1999 tot 2000 de rol van Ian Maxtone-Graham in de Amerikaanse sitcom Suddenly Susan en sprak de stem in van het karakter Rincewind in de computerspellen Discworld 1 en Discworld 2.

De afgelopen tijd legde Idle zich met name toe op het doen van stemmen van tekenfilms waaronder: Shrek 3 (2007) de stem van Merlijn en in Delgo (2006) de stem van Spig.

In 2005 ging op Broadway de musical Spamalot in première, die door Eric Idle was opgezet en geproduceerd. De musical is gebaseerd op de Monty Python film Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Eric Idle is goed bevriend met Jon van Eerd. Hij hoopt dat Van Eerd 'zijn rol' in de Nederlandse versie van Spamalot zal vertolken.

1. Delgo (2008) (voice) .... Spig
2. Shrek the Third (2007) (voice) .... Merlin
   ... aka Shrek 3 (Singapore: English title) (USA: working title)
   ... aka The Third (USA: promotional abbreviation)
3. "The Simpsons" .... Declan Desmond (3 episodes, 2003-2007)
       - Springfield Up (2007) TV episode (voice) .... Declan Desmond
       - Fat Man and Little Boy (2004) TV episode (voice) .... Declan Desmond
       - 'Scuse Me While I Miss the Sky (2003) TV episode (voice) .... Declan Desmond
4. "Super Robot Monkey Team Hyperforce Go!" .... Scrapperton (3 episodes, 2004-2005)
       - The Skeleton King Threat (2005) TV episode (voice) .... Scrapperton
       - Ape New World (2004) TV episode (voice) .... Scrapperton
       - Magnetic Menace (2004) TV episode (voice) .... Scrapperton
5. The Nutcracker and the Mouseking (2004) (V) (voice: English version) .... Drosselmeier
   ... aka Nussknacker und Mäusekönig (Germany)
6. Ella Enchanted (2004) .... The Narrator
7. Christmas Vacation 2: Cousin Eddie's Island Adventure (2003) (TV) .... British Man on Plane
   ... aka Christmas Vacation 2: Cousin Eddie (USA: promotional title)
   ... aka National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation 2: Cousin Eddie's Island Adventure (USA: DVD title)
   ... aka National Lampoon's Cousin Eddie's Island Adventure (USA: promotional title)
8. Hollywood Homicide (2003) .... Celebrity
9. "Mad TV" .... Zookeeper (1 episode, 2003)
       - Episode #8.18 (2003) TV episode .... Zookeeper
10. The Scream Team (2002) (TV) .... Coffin Ed
11. Pinocchio (2002) (voice: English version) .... Medoro
    ... aka Roberto Benigni's Pinocchio (USA: promotional title)
12. "House of Mouse" .... Pluto Angel (6 episodes, 2001-2002)
        - House of Scrooge (2002) TV episode (voice) .... Pluto Angel
        - Pluto vs. Figaro (2002) TV episode (voice) .... Pluto Angel
        - The Mouse Who Came to Dinner (2001) TV episode (voice) .... Pluto Angel
        - Clarabelle's Big Secret (2001) TV episode (voice) .... Pluto Angel
        - Pluto Saves the Day (2001) TV episode (voice) .... Pluto Angel
13. "Suddenly Susan" .... Ian Maxtone-Graham (22 episodes, 1999-2000)
        - Finale: Part 1 (2000) TV episode .... Ian Maxtone-Graham
        - Finale: Part 2 (2000) TV episode .... Ian Maxtone-Graham
        - Susan and the Professor (2000) TV episode .... Ian Maxtone-Graham
        - The Reversal (2000) TV episode .... Ian Maxtone-Graham
        - The Bird in the Wall (2000) TV episode .... Ian Maxtone-Graham
14. "Buzz Lightyear of Star Command" .... Guzelian (1 episode, 2000)
        - War and Peace and War (2000) TV episode (voice) .... Guzelian
15. 102 Dalmatians (2000) (voice) .... Waddlesworth
16. "Mickey Mouse Works" .... Pluto Angel / ... (2 episodes, 1999-2000)
    ... aka Mickey's Laugh Factory (Europe: DVD box title)
    ... aka Mouseworks (USA: alternative title)
        - Episode #2.11 (2000) TV episode (voice) .... Pluto's Angel
        - Episode #1.5 (1999) TV episode (voice) .... Pluto Angel
17. Brightness (2000) .... Mr. Bix
    
    
18. "Recess" .... Galileo (2 episodes, 1998-1999)
    ... aka Disney's Recess: Created by Paul and Joe (USA: complete title)
        - That Stinking Feeling (1999) TV episode (voice) .... Galileo
        - The Girl Was Trouble (1998) TV episode (voice) .... Galileo
19. Dudley Do-Right (1999) .... Prospector
20. South Park: Bigger Longer & Uncut (1999) (voice) .... Dr. Vosknocker
    ... aka South Park (International: English title: short title)
    ... aka South Park: BLU (USA: promotional abbreviation)
    ... aka South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut (USA: closing credits title)
21. "Hercules" .... School Master (1 episode, 1999)
    ... aka Disney's Hercules (USA: complete title)
        - Hercules and the Complex Electra (1999) TV episode (voice) .... School Master
22. Hercules: Zero to Hero (1999) (V) (voice) .... Parenthesis
23. Journey Into Your Imagination (1999) .... Dr. Nigel Channing
    ... aka Journey Into Imagination: With Figment (USA: new title)
24. Pirates: 3D Show (1999) .... Pierre
    ... aka Pirates 4D (UK: alternative title)
25. The Secret of NIMH 2: Timmy to the Rescue (1998) (V) (voice) .... Evil Martin
26. "The Angry Beavers" .... Spanque (1 episode, 1998)
        - Open Wide for Zombies/Dumbwaiters (1998) TV episode (voice) .... Spanque
27. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Movie (1998) (voice) .... Slyly the Fox
28. Quest for Camelot (1998) (voice) .... Devon, Two-Headed Dragon
    ... aka The Magic Sword: Quest for Camelot (International: English title)
29. "Pinky and the Brain" .... Pinky's Dad / ... (1 episode, 1998)
        - The Family That Poits Together, Narfs Together (1998) TV episode (voice) .... Pinky's Mom/Pinky's Dad
30. An Alan Smithee Film: Burn Hollywood Burn (1998) .... Alan Smithee
    ... aka Burn Hollywood Burn (UK: video title)
31. The Wind in the Willows (1996) .... Rat
    ... aka Mr. Toad's Wild Ride (USA: video title)
32. "Frasier" .... Chuck (1 episode, 1996)
        - High Crane Drifter (1996) TV episode (voice) .... Chuck
33. Monty Python & the Quest for the Holy Grail (1996) (VG) (also archive footage) .... Historyteller / Dead Collector / Peasant 1 / Sir Robin the Not-Quite-So-Brave-as-Sir Launcelot / Concorde / Roger the Shrubber / Brother Maynard / Advisor of King Brian / Herald
34. Discworld II: Missing Presumed...!? (1996) (VG) (voice) .... Rincewind
    ... aka Discworld II: Mortality Bytes! (USA)
35. Casper (1995) .... Paul 'Dibbs' Plutzker
36. Discworld (1995) (VG) (voice) .... Rincewind
37. Honey, I Shrunk the Audience (1994) (uncredited) .... Dr. Nigel Channing
38. Splitting Heirs (1993) .... Tommy Butterfly Rainbow Peace Patel
39. Mom and Dad Save the World (1992) .... King Raff
40. "One Foot in the Grave" .... Car Mechanic / ... (2 episodes, 1991-1992)
        - The Beast in the Cage (1992) TV episode (voice) .... Car Mechanic
        - The Man in the Long Black Coat (1991) TV episode .... Mervyn Whale
41. Too Much Sun (1991) .... Sonny
42. Missing Pieces (1991) .... Wendel
43. Nuns on the Run (1990) .... Brian Hope
    
    
44. "Around the World in 80 Days" (1989/I) TV mini-series .... Jean Passepartout
    ... aka Giro del mondo in 80 giorni, Il (Italy)
    ... aka In 80 Tagen um die Welt (West Germany)
45. "Nearly Departed" (1989) TV series .... Grant Pritchard (unknown episodes)
46. The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1988) .... Desmond/Berthold
    ... aka Abenteuer des Baron von Münchhausen, Die (West Germany)
47. The Mikado (1987/I) (TV) .... Ko-Ko
48. "Saturday Night Live" .... Host / ... (2 episodes, 1976-1986)
    ... aka NBC's Saturday Night (USA: first season title)
    ... aka SNL (USA: informal title)
    ... aka SNL 25 (USA: alternative title)
    ... aka Saturday Night (USA: second season title)
    ... aka Saturday Night Live '80 (USA: sixth season title)
    ... aka The Best of Saturday Night Live (USA: rerun title)
        - Chevy Chase/Steve Martin/Martin Short/Randy Newman (1986) TV episode (uncredited) .... Terry Halsey
        - Eric Idle/Joe Cocker/Stuff (1976) TV episode .... Host/Various
49. The Transformers: The Movie (1986) (voice) .... Wreck-Gar
    ... aka Transformers: Matrix yo eien ni (Japan)
50. European Vacation (1985) .... The Bike Rider
    ... aka National Lampoon's European Vacation (UK: video box title)
51. "Faerie Tale Theatre" .... Narrator / ... (2 episodes, 1982-1985)
    ... aka Shelley Duvall's Faerie Tale Theatre (USA)
        - The Pied Piper of Hamelin (1985) TV episode .... The Pied Piper / Robert Browning
        - The Tale of the Frog Prince (1982) TV episode .... Narrator
52. Yellowbeard (1983) .... Commander Clement
53. The Meaning of Life (1983) .... Fish #3/'Meaning of Life' Singer/Mr. Moore/Mrs. Blackitt/Watson/Blackitt/Atkinson/Perkins/Victim #3/Front End/Mrs. Hendy/Man in Pink/Gunther/Noël Coward/Gaston/Angela
    ... aka Monty Python's The Meaning of Life (UK: complete title)
54. Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl (1982) .... Michelangelo / Bruce #1 / Judge #1 / 'World Forum' Host / Arthur Nudge / Yorkshireman #1 / Mr. Smoketoomuch / Husband / Lumberjack
55. Steve Martin's Best Show Ever (1981) (TV) .... Reporter
56. "Laverne & Shirley" .... Derek DeWoods (1 episode, 1981)
    ... aka Laverne & Shirley & Company (USA: syndication title)
    ... aka Laverne & Shirley & Friends (USA: syndication title)
    ... aka Laverne DeFazio & Shirley Feeney (USA: first season title)
        - I Do, I Do (1981) TV episode .... Derek DeWoods
    
    
57. Life of Brian (1979) .... Mr. Cheeky/Stan (Loretta)/Harry the Haggler/Culprit Woman/Warris/Intensely Dull Youth/Jailer's Assistant/Otto/Lead Singer Crucifee
    ... aka Monty Python's Life of Brian (UK: complete title)
58. The Rutles: All You Need Is Cash (1978) (TV) .... Dirk McQuickly / Narrator / Stanley J. Krammerhead III,Jr.,Occasional visiting professor of applied narcotics at the University of Please Yourself Ca.
    ... aka All You Need Is Cash (USA)
59. "Rutland Weekend Television" .... Various / ... (14 episodes, 1975-1976)
        - Rutland Weekend Showtime! (1976) TV episode .... Various
        - Rutland Weekend Is Innocent (1976) TV episode .... Various
        - Rutland Weekend Insurance (1976) TV episode .... Various
        - Rutland Weekend Sprimpo (1976) TV episode .... Various
        - Rutland Weekend Sequel (1976) TV episode .... Various
          (9 more)
60. Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975) .... Dead Collector / Peasant 1 / Sir Robin the Not-Quite-So-Brave-as-Sir Launcelot / First Swamp Castle Guard / Concorde / Roger the Shrubber / Brother Maynard
    ... aka Mønti Pythøn ik den Høli Gräilen (International: English title: subtitle)
61. "Monty Python's Flying Circus" .... Various / ... (46 episodes, 1969-1974)
    ... aka Monty Python (UK: new title)
        - Party Political Broadcast (1974) TV episode .... Radio Voice/Mrs. Garibaldi/Professor/Male Fanshaw-Chumleigh/Pepperpot Mother/Brigadier N. F. Marwood-Git (retired)/Carl Vernon/Newsreader
        - Mr. Neutron (1974) TV episode .... Captain Carpenter/Mrs. Smailes/Chairman/Prime Minister/Continuity Announcer/Various
        - Hamlet (1974) TV episode .... Dr. Natal/Michael Charlton/Second Assistant/Mrs. Non-Gorilla/Brian MacThighbone/Various
        - The Light Entertainment War (1974) TV episode .... Rear Admiral Humphrey DeVere/Gino Agnelli/Squadron Leader/Corporal/Sapper Walters/First Program Planner/Mother/Voice of Dorian Williams/Various
        - Michael Ellis (1974) TV episode .... Chris Quinn/John Keats
          (41 more)
62. And Now for Something Completely Different (1971) .... Prosecutor / Marriage Counselor / Arthur Nudge / Self-defence student #4 (interested in pointed sticks) / 'Hell's Grannies' analyst / Arthur Wilson / Arthur Wilson Two / Nightclub Emcee / Linkman / First General / Restaurant Manager / Lingerie Shop Owner / Accountant #1 (falling past the window) / Fairy Godmother / Rita Fairbanks / Simon Zinc Trumpet Harris
    ... aka Monty Python's And Now for Something Completely Different (UK: complete title)
63. Monty Python's Fliegender Zirkus (1971) (TV) .... Various Roles
64. Euroshow 71 (1971) (TV) (as Montypython Flyingcircus) .... Various
    
    
65. "Do Not Adjust Your Set" .... Various (19 episodes, 1967-1969)
        - Episode #2.13 (1969) TV episode .... Various
        - Episode #2.5 (1969) TV episode .... Various
        - Episode #2.4 (1969) TV episode .... Various
        - Episode #2.3 (1969) TV episode .... Various
        - Episode #2.2 (1969) TV episode .... Various
          (14 more)
66. "We Have Ways of Making You Laugh" (1968) TV series .... Various
67. "The Wednesday Play" (1 episode, 1966)
        - Alice in Wonderland (1966) TV episode (uncredited)