Graham Arthur Chapman (8 January 1941 – 4 October 1989) was an English comedian, physician, writer, and actor and one of the six members of the Monty Python comedy troupe. He was also the lead actor in their two narrative films, playing King Arthur in Monty Python and the Holy Grail and Brian in Monty Python's Life of Brian. He co-authored and starred in the film Yellowbeard.
Chapman was born in Leicester but was raised in nearby Melton Mowbray. After graduating from Emmanuel College, Cambridge and St Bartholomew's Medical College, he turned down a career as a doctor to be a comedian.
Chapman died of cancer on 4 October 1989.
Known For
Life of Brian
(1979)
Wise Man #2 / Brian Cohen / Biggus Dickus
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
(1975)
King Arthur / Voice of God / Middle Head / Hiccoughing Guard
Yellowbeard
(1983)
Captain Yellowbeard
Monty Python's The Meaning of Life
(1983)
Various Roles
And Now for Something Completely Different
(1971)
Brother / Policeman / Defence attorney / British pedestrian / Mr. Harrison (Apricot) / The Colonel / 'Hell's Grannies' policeman / Jimmy Blankensop / Sir Edward Ross / Restaurant patron #1 / Letter Writer / Oliver St. John Mollusk / Mountie / Town Guild Lady
Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl
(1982)
Various Roles
The Magic Christian
(1969)
Oxford Crew
The Crimson Permanent Assurance
(1983)
Chairman (uncredited)
Full Filmography
Acting
How to Irritate People
(1969)
Various
The Magic Christian
(1969)
Oxford Crew
Doctor in Trouble
(1970)
Roddy
The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer
(1970)
Fromage
Monty Python: Who's There?
(1970)
Ian
And Now for Something Completely Different
(1971)
Brother / Policeman / Defence attorney / British pedestrian / Mr. Harrison (Apricot) / The Colonel / 'Hell's Grannies' policeman / Jimmy Blankensop / Sir Edward Ross / Restaurant patron #1 / Letter Writer / Oliver St. John Mollusk / Mountie / Town Guild Lady
Monty Python's Fliegender Zirkus
(1971)
Various Roles
Euroshow '71: May Day Special
(1971)
Various (as Montypython Flyingcircus)
The Statue
(1971)
News reader
The Great Birds Eye Peas Relaunch 1971
(1971)
Monty Python & the Holy Grail Location Report
(1974)
Self
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
(1975)
King Arthur / Voice of God / Middle Head / Hiccoughing Guard
Pleasure at Her Majesty's
(1976)
Himself
Out of the Trees
(1976)
The Odd Job
(1978)
Arthur Harris
Life of Brian
(1979)
Wise Man #2 / Brian Cohen / Biggus Dickus
The Pythons: Somewhere in Tunisia, Circa A.D. 1979
(1979)
Self
Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl
(1982)
Various Roles
The Secret Policeman's Other Ball
(1982)
Himself - Various Roles
Monty Python's The Meaning of Life
(1983)
Various Roles
Yellowbeard
(1983)
Captain Yellowbeard
The Crimson Permanent Assurance
(1983)
Chairman (uncredited)
Group Madness
(1983)
Self
Still Crazy Like a Fox
(1987)
Detective Inspector Palmer
Jake's Journey
(1988)
Sir George / Queen
Parrot Sketch Not Included: Twenty Years of Monty Python
(1989)
Self / Various Characters
Life of Python
(1990)
Various Roles (archive footage) (uncredited)
Monty Python: Live at Aspen
(1998)
Self / Various (archive footage)
The Monty Python Story
(1999)
Self
Monty Python: From Spam to Sperm
(1999)
Self
The Life of Python
(2000)
Self
Iron Maiden: Visions of the Beast
(2003)
Madman - in video 'Can I Play With Madness' (uncredited)
The Meaning of Making 'The Meaning of Life'
(2003)
Self (archive footage)
Remember the Secret Policeman's Ball?
(2004)
Self
The Best of Monty Python's Flying Circus Volume 1
(2004)
Self (archive footage)
The Best of Monty Python's Flying Circus Volume 2
(2004)
Self (archive footage)
The Best of Monty Python's Flying Circus Volume 3
(2004)
Self (archive footage)
Looks Like a Brown Trouser Job
(2005)
Self
Monty Python's Flying Circus - Graham Chapman's Personal Best
(2006)
Various Characters
The Secret Life of Brian
(2007)
Self / Brian (archive footage) (uncredited)
Hitler: The Comedy Years
(2007)
Joachim von Ribbentrop (archive footage) (uncredited)
Monty Python: Before the Flying Circus
(2008)
Self (archive footage)
Monty Python Conquers America
(2008)
Self (archive footage)
Life Of Brian Screenplay
(2008)
Wise Man #2, Brian Cohen, Biggus Dickus
A Liar's Autobiography: The Untrue Story of Monty Python's Graham Chapman
(2012)
Self (voice)
Anatomy of a Liar
(2012)
Self
Python at 50: Silly Talks and Holy Grails
(2019)
Self (archive footage)
Monty Python's Best Bits Celebrated
(2021)
Self (archive footage)(uncredited)
Crew
Writing
How to Irritate People
(1969)
Writer
The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer
(1970)
Writer
And Now for Something Completely Different
(1971)
Screenplay
The Magnificent Seven Deadly Sins
(1971)
Writer
Monty Python's Fliegender Zirkus
(1971)
Writer
The Great Birds Eye Peas Relaunch 1971
(1971)
Writer
Rentadick
(1972)
Writer
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
(1975)
Writer
Out of the Trees
(1976)
Writer
Life of Brian
(1979)
Screenplay
Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl
(1982)
Writer
Monty Python's The Meaning of Life
(1983)
Screenplay
Yellowbeard
(1983)
Writer
Jake's Journey
(1988)
Writer
Parrot Sketch Not Included: Twenty Years of Monty Python
(1989)
Writer
Life Of Brian Screenplay
(2008)
Screenplay
A Liar's Autobiography: The Untrue Story of Monty Python's Graham Chapman
(2012)
Writer
Monty Python Live (Mostly)
(2014)
Writer
Production