Trivia

Died of cancer on 4th October 1989, just one day before the 20th anniversary of Monty Python. Terry Jones called it "The worst case of party-pooping I've ever seen.".

When he came out to his parents, his mother cried for a week. His father, however, was especially accepting, telling not to worry, and that "women don't understand this sort of thing".

Struggled with alcoholism, especially during the filming of Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975). According to Terry Gilliam, Chapman constantly forgot his lines and was so drunk during filming that he couldn't make it across the Bridge of Death, so the assistant cameraman had to double for him. Additionally, Chapman was genuinely struggling with the rock climbing scene because of his alcohol struggle, which surprised the other Pythons since they had known him to be an excellent climber and wondered if his suit was interfering with his climbing.

While filming Monty Python's Life of Brian (1979) in Tunisia, he put his medical knowledge to good use and opened a surgery for the cast and crew. He brought along and dispensed much-needed medication for things like dehydration, food poisoning and other Tunisian complaints.

Is the only member of Monty Python's Flying Circus who never worked in one of Terry Gilliam's non-Python projects.

According to John Cleese, his writing partner before and during Monty Python, Cleese himself did most of the actual writing while Chapman sat back quietly smoking his pipe not saying anything for long periods of time before throwing out an idea that often changed the course of the script for the better. Case in point, Cleese's original idea for the dead parrot sketch was that of a man trying to return a broken toaster before Chapman suggested that it be changed to the man bringing back a dead parrot on the grounds that it was funnier.

Qualified at St. Bartholomew's hospital as a medical doctor.

Longtime (24 years) companion of David Sherlock. Together, the two raised a son, John Tomiczak.

Although he earned his doctorate and license, he only practiced medicine for a few years before going into comedy.

Chapman published his memoirs, "A Liar's Autobiography", in 1980, choosing the title because he said "it's almost impossible to tell the truth".

Out of respect for Chapman's family, the five surviving members of his Monty Python comedy group decided not to attend his funeral, knowing that the British press would turn it into a media circus. They opted to hold their own memorial service a few months later instead, but they did send a wreath in the shape of the Python foot to the funeral, with the text "To Graham from the other Pythons with all our love. PS: Stop us if we're getting too silly.".

When at Cambridge he'd met John Cleese whom he shared a passion for comedy and the two began writing and performing skits together.

Fellow Python John Cleese once noted the amount of material published since 1989 that Graham got credited for (mostly as co-author or because it re-uses previously recorded material) despite being dead, calling him one of the most productive dead persons in history.

Studied Medicine at Cambridge University.

As his fellow comedy scriptwriter Jonathan Lynn put it, he was "the only true anarchist among them".

He died of tonsil and spinal cancer on the eve of Monty Python's 20th anniversary due to a life history of smoking and alcoholism.

Co-author (with Barry Cryer) of the play "O Happy Day," which was discovered among his manuscripts and produced nearly eleven years after Chapman's death. "O Happy Day" had its world premiere on September 22, 2000, at Dad's Garage Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia. A portion of Chapman's ashes were in attendance for the premiere.

He and his longtime partner, TV writer David Sherlock, were among the co-writers of the British sitcom Doctor in Charge (1972). After Chapman's death, Sherlock contributed to The Pythons book. David was also the inspiration for many Monty Python sketches, including "Anne Elk" and was the originator of the Python sketch "Death of Mary Queen of Scots". David was one of several co-authors on "A Liar's Autobiography," the official Chapman memoir, and co-writer of the movie Yellowbeard (1983) in which Chapman played the title role.

His last appearance on film in Iron Maiden's promo for "Can I Play With Madness" was directed by Python Editor, Julian Doyle.

Was going to play the part of the reporter in Timeslides (1989), but died before filming could begin. The part instead went to Ruby Wax, the wife of one of the show's directors Ed Bye.

While at Cambridge University, was a member of the prestigious Cambridge University Footlights Club. He went to the USA with the Cambridge University Footlights Club revue in 1964 - appearing on stage in Broadway, and on the "Ed Sullivan Show".

Was the second tallest member of the Monty Python troupe, being an inch taller than Eric Idle and just over two inches shorter than John Cleese.

Co-wrote several episodes of Doctor in the House (1969) and its sequels with John Cleese.

For 30 years, he was identified as the 'dead one' of the Monty Python troupe. His title/distinction finally got changed when Terry Jones passed away on January 21, 2020. (Although Neil Innes, who was sometimes called the 'seventh python' passed away less than a month before Jones).

Before joining the Cambridge Footlight Dramatic Society, while studying medicine at Emmanuel College, he founded his own cabaret show. When he was invited to join the Society, he did the same year that John Cleese joined.

Was asked to play the cameo role of Asylum director Dr. Armstrong in Lifeforce (1985).

Member of Monty Python along with John Cleese, Michael Palin, Terry Jones, Eric Idle and Terry Gilliam.

His parents were Walter and Edith.

Member of the comedy group "Monty Python".

At Cambridge in a Footlights Revue with John Cleese, Tim Brooke Taylor and Bill Oddie which led to the tv series At Last The 1948 show.

Born at 8:30am-BST