Idle made his Broadway debut with his adaptation of Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975) into a musical, Spamalot (2005), which was a critical and commercial success earning the Tony Award for Best Musical, and Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album.

He has also acted in films, including The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1988), Nuns on the Run (1990), Splitting Heirs (1993), Casper (1995), An Alan Smithee Film: Burn Hollywood Burn (1997), Ella Enchanted (2004), and Shrek the Third (2007). After Monty Python's Flying Circus, he created the sketch show Rutland Weekend Television (1975–1976), and hosted Saturday Night Live four times (1976–1979). Known for his elaborate wordplay and musical numbers, Idle performed many of the songs featured in Python projects, including ' Always Look on the Bright Side of Life' and ' Galaxy Song'. He reached stardom when he co-created and acted in the sketch series Monty Python's Flying Circus (1969–1974) and the films Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975), Life of Brian (1979) and The Meaning of Life (1983) with John Cleese, Michael Palin, Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones, and Graham Chapman. Idle studied at Pembroke College, Cambridge, and joined Cambridge University Footlights. He was a member of the British surreal comedy group Monty Python and the parody rock band the Rutles.

Eric Idle (born 29 March 1943) is an English actor, comedian, musician and writer.

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