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Idle in 2017, photo by kathclick /Bigstock.com
Place of Birth: South Shields, Durham, England, U.K.
Date of Birth: 29 March, 1943
Ethnicity: English
Eric Idle is an English actor, voice actor, screenwriter, playwright, comedian, songwriter, and musician. He was a member of comedy troupe Monty Python. He starred in and co-wrote their films And Now for Something Completely Different , Monty Python and the Holy Grail , Monty Python’s Life of Brian , Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl , and Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life . He co-created the series No – That’s Me Over Here! and Monty Python’s Flying Circus , and created the series Rutland Weekend Television , all of which he also starred on and wrote for; as he did for Do Not Adjust Your Set . His roles also include the films Yellowbeard , National Lampoon’s European Vacation , The Transformers: The Movie (1986), The Adventures of Baron Munchausen , Nuns on the Run , Missing Pieces , Mom and Dad Save the World , Splitting Heirs , which he wrote; Casper (1995), The Wind in the Willows (1996), An Alan Smithee Film: Burn Hollywood Burn , Quest for Camelot , Dudley Do-Right (1999), 102 Dalmatians , Shrek the Third , and Delgo ; the made-for-tv movies All You Need Is Cash , which he also directed and co-wrote; and The Scream Team ; the mini-series Around the World in 80 Days (1989); and the series We Have Ways of Making You Laugh , Hercules , and Suddenly Susan . Other members of Monty Python were Graham Chapman , John Cleese , Terry Gilliam , Terry Jones , and Michael Palin .
He is the son of Norah Barron (Sanderson), a health visitor, and Ernest Idle, who served in the RAF during WWII. His father was killed in a road accident in December 1945. Eric was raised partly in Wallasey on the Wirral Peninsula.
Eric is married to model Tania Kosevich. He has a son with his former wife, Australian actress Lyn Ashley; and a daughter with Tania. He is a cousin of Canadian conductor Peter Oundjian; and Nigel Wray, who was Chairman of Saracens Rugby Club.
Eric’s paternal grandfather was Harry Idle (the son of Alfred Idle and Mary A. Hemingway). Harry was born in Earl Shilton, Yorkshire. Alfred was the son of Ralph Idle.
Eric’s paternal grandmother was Annie Elizabeth Taylor (the daughter of Isaac Taylor and Sarah Grayson). Annie was born in Thornhill Lees, Yorkshire.
Eric’s maternal grandfather was Henry Thomas Barron Sanderson (the son of John Sanderson and Mary S. Barron). Henry was born in South Shields, Durham.
Eric’s maternal grandmother was named Agnes Julia Bertrand (the daughter of Henry Bertrand and Julia). Agnes was born in West Derby, Liverpool, Lancashire.
Sources: Family history of Eric Idle – https://www.telegraph.co.uk
Genealogy of Eric’s father (focusing on his own father’s side) – https://www.wikitree.com