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The Meaning of Life (1983) Poster

Full Cast & Crew

Directed by 

Terry Jones

Writing Credits  

Graham Chapman ... (written by) &
John Cleese ... (written by) &
Terry Gilliam ... (written by) &
Eric Idle ... (written by) &
Terry Jones ... (written by) &
Michael Palin ... (written by)

Cast (in credits order) verified as complete  

Graham Chapman ... Chairman / Fish #1 / Doctor / Harry Blackitt / Wymer / Hordern / General / Coles / Narrator #2 / Dr. Livingstone / Transvestite / Eric / Guest #1 / Arthur Jarrett / Geoffrey / Tony Bennett
John Cleese ... Fish #2 / Dr. Spencer / Humphrey Williams / Sturridge / Ainsworth / Waiter / Eric's Assistant / Maître D' / Grim Reaper
Terry Gilliam ... Window Washer / Fish #4 / Walters / Middle of the Film Announcer / M'Lady Joeline / Mr. Brown / Howard Katzenberg
Eric Idle ... Gunther / Fish #3 / 'Meaning of Life' Singer / Mr. Moore / Mrs. Blackitt / Watson / Blackitt / Atkinson / Perkins / Victim #3 / Front End / Mrs. Hendy / Man in Pink / Noël Coward / Gaston / Angela
Terry Jones ... Bert / Fish #6 / Mum / Priest / Biggs / Sergeant / Man with Bendy Arms / Mrs. Brown / Mr. Creosote / Maria / Leaf Father / Fiona Portland-Smythe
Michael Palin ... Window Washer / Harry / Fish #5 / Mr. Pycroft / Dad / Narrator #1 / Chaplain / Carter / Spadger / Regimental Sergeant Major / Pakenham-Walsh / Rear End / Female TV Presenter / Mr. Marvin Hendy / Governor / Leaf Son / Debbie Katzenberg
Carol Cleveland ... Beefeater Waitress / Wife of Guest #1 / Leaf Mother / Leaf Daughter / Heaven Receptionist
Simon Jones ... Chadwick / Jeremy Portland-Smythe
Patricia Quinn ... Mrs. Williams
Judy Loe ... Nurse #1
Andrew MacLachlan ... Groom / Wycliff / Victim #1 / Guest #3
Mark Holmes Mark Holmes ... Victim #2 (Cheerful Severed Head) / Troll Waiter / Guest #2
Valerie Whittington Valerie Whittington ... Mrs. Moore
Jennie Franks Jennie Franks ... Bride (as Jennifer Franks)
Imogen Bickford-Smith ... Nurse #2 (as Imogen Bickford Smith)
Angela Mann Angela Mann ... Wife of Guest #2
Peter Lovstrom ... Brown's Son
George Silver George Silver ... Diner Eating Howard the Fish
Chris Grant Chris Grant
Sydney Arnold Sydney Arnold ... (segment "The Crimson Permanent Assurance")
Guy Bertrand Guy Bertrand ... (segment "The Crimson Permanent Assurance")
Andrew Bicknell ... (segment "The Crimson Permanent Assurance")
Ross Davidson Ross Davidson ... (segment "The Crimson Permanent Assurance")
Myrtle Devenish ... Old Lady (segment "The Crimson Permanent Assurance")
Tim Douglas Tim Douglas ... (segment "The Crimson Permanent Assurance")
Eric Francis ... (segment "The Crimson Permanent Assurance")
Matt Frewer ... Cornered Executive who Jumps (segment "The Crimson Permanent Assurance")
Billy John Billy John ... (segment "The Crimson Permanent Assurance")
Russell Kilmister ... (segment "The Crimson Permanent Assurance")
Peter Mantle Peter Mantle ... (segment "The Crimson Permanent Assurance")
Len Marten ... (segment "The Crimson Permanent Assurance")
Peter Merrill Peter Merrill ... (segment "The Crimson Permanent Assurance")
Cameron Miller Cameron Miller ... (segment "The Crimson Permanent Assurance")
Gareth Milne Gareth Milne ... (segment "The Crimson Permanent Assurance")
Larry Noble ... (segment "The Crimson Permanent Assurance")
Paddy Ryan Paddy Ryan ... (segment "The Crimson Permanent Assurance")
Leslie Sarony ... (segment "The Crimson Permanent Assurance")
John Scott Martin ... (segment "The Crimson Permanent Assurance")
Eric Stovell Eric Stovell ... (segment "The Crimson Permanent Assurance")
Wally Thomas ... (segment "The Crimson Permanent Assurance")
Jack Armstrong Jack Armstrong ... (segment "The Crimson Permanent Assurance")
Robert Carrick Robert Carrick ... (segment "The Crimson Permanent Assurance")
Douglas Cooper Douglas Cooper ... (segment "The Crimson Permanent Assurance")
George Daly George Daly ... (segment "The Crimson Permanent Assurance")
Chick Fowles Chick Fowles ... (segment "The Crimson Permanent Assurance")
Terry Grant Terry Grant ... (segment "The Crimson Permanent Assurance")
Robin Hewlett Robin Hewlett ... (segment "The Crimson Permanent Assurance")
Tommy Isley Tommy Isley ... (segment "The Crimson Permanent Assurance")
Juba Kennerley ... (segment "The Crimson Permanent Assurance")
Anthony Lang Anthony Lang ... (segment "The Crimson Permanent Assurance") (as Tony Lang)
John Murphy John Murphy ... (segment "The Crimson Permanent Assurance")
Terry Rendell Terry Rendell ... (segment "The Crimson Permanent Assurance")
Ronald Shilling Ronald Shilling ... (segment "The Crimson Permanent Assurance")
Albert Welch Albert Welch ... (segment "The Crimson Permanent Assurance")
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Luke Baxter Luke Baxter ... Dancer
Stephen Beasley Stephen Beasley ... Dancer (as Stephen Beagley)
Paul Bourke Paul Bourke ... Dancer
Bonnie Bryg Bonnie Bryg ... Dancer
Charlotte Corbett Charlotte Corbett ... Dancer
Geoff Davids Geoff Davids ... Dancer
Emma-Kate Davies Emma-Kate Davies ... Dancer
Sandra Easby Sandra Easby ... Dancer
Jane Eve Jane Eve ... Dancer (as Jane Newman)
Donna Fielding Donna Fielding ... Dancer
Roy Hamlyn Gayle Roy Hamlyn Gayle ... Dancer (as Roy Gayle)
Dawn Gerrard Dawn Gerrard ... Dancer
Natascha Gilbrooke Natascha Gilbrooke ... Dancer (as Natasha Gilbrook)
Donnette Goddard Donnette Goddard ... Dancer
Heavon Grant Heavon Grant ... Dancer
Alison Jane Hierlihy Alison Jane Hierlihy ... Dancer (as Alison Herlihy)
Laura James Laura James ... Dancer
Kim Elizabeth Leeson Kim Elizabeth Leeson ... Dancer (as Kim Leeson)
Maddie Loftin Maddie Loftin ... Dancer
Michelle Mackie Michelle Mackie ... Dancer
Paul Madden Paul Madden ... Dancer
Helen Mason Helen Mason ... Dancer
Caroline Meacher Caroline Meacher ... Dancer
Lorraine Meacher Lorraine Meacher ... Dancer
Sue Menhenick Sue Menhenick ... Dancer
Kerri Murphy Kerri Murphy ... Dancer
Tammy Needham Tammy Needham ... Dancer
Garry Noakes Garry Noakes ... Dancer (as Gary Noakes)
Trudy Pack Trudy Pack ... Dancer
Floyd Anthony Pearce Floyd Anthony Pearce ... Dancer (as Floyd Pearce)
Wanda Rokicki ... Dancer (as Wanda Rockiki)
Peter Salmon Peter Salmon ... Dancer
Lizie Saunderson Lizie Saunderson ... Dancer
Steve St. Klonis Steve St. Klonis ... Dancer
Voyd Voyd ... Dancer
Timothy Ward Timothy Ward ... Dancer
Michelle Welch Michelle Welch ... Dancer
Gess Whitfield Gess Whitfield ... Dancer
Lorraine Whitmarsh Lorraine Whitmarsh ... Dancer
Dominique Wood Dominique Wood ... Dancer
Lynne Hazelden Lynne Hazelden ... Student Doctor (uncredited)
Jane Leeves ... Dancer (uncredited)
Keith Macey Keith Macey ... School Boy in Chapel (uncredited)
Sean Maguire ... 'Every Sperm is Sacred' Child w / Red Jumper (uncredited)
Gerald Paris ... Passerby (uncredited)
Monty Python Monty Python ... Themselves (uncredited)
Lee Sheward ... Choir Boy (uncredited)
John Simpkin John Simpkin ... Mr. Bloke (uncredited)
Guy Standeven ... Restaurant Diner (uncredited)
Carole Anne Stevenson Carole Anne Stevenson ... Topless Pursuer (uncredited)
Reg Thomason ... Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
Cy Town ... Restaurant Diner (uncredited)
Fred Wood ... Branded Man in Dungeon Room (uncredited)

Produced by 

John Goldstone ... producer

Music by 

John Du Prez

Cinematography by 

Peter Hannan
Roger Pratt ... (segment "The Crimson Permanent Assurance")

Editing by 

Julian Doyle

Casting By 

Michelle Guish
Debbie McWilliams

Production Design by 

Harry Lange

Art Direction by 

John Beard ... (segment "The Crimson Permanent Assurance")
Richard Dawking

Set Decoration by 

Sharon Cartwright
Simon Wakefield

Costume Design by 

James Acheson ... (as Jim Acheson)

Makeup Department 

Elaine Carew ... makeup artist (segment "The Crimson Permanent Assurance")
Sallie Evans ... hairdresser (segment "The Crimson Permanent Assurance")
Mary Hillman ... makeup supervisor
Mike Jones ... hairdresser / makeup artist
Pamela Rayson ... hairdresser / makeup artist
Hilary Steinberg ... hairdresser / makeup artist
Maureen Stephenson ... hairdresser (segment "The Crimson Permanent Assurance")
Christopher Tucker ... makeup artist: Mr. Creosote (as Chris Tucker)
Maggie Weston ... hair designer / makeup designer

Production Management 

David Wimbury ... production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director 

Jonathan Benson ... first assistant director (segment "The Crimson Permanent Assurance")
Matthew Binns ... second assistant director (segment "The Crimson Permanent Assurance")
Ray Corbett ... first assistant director
Derek Harrington ... third assistant director (segment "The Crimson Permanent Assurance")
Callum McDougall ... third assistant director
Kieron Phipps ... key second assistant director
Paul Taylor ... third assistant director (segment "The Crimson Permanent Assurance")
Gary White ... first assistant director (segment "The Crimson Permanent Assurance")
Bob Wright ... second assistant director (segment "The Crimson Permanent Assurance") (as Bobby Wright)

Art Department 

Peter Browne ... construction department
Roger Cain ... art department
Alan Chesters ... construction department
John Cole ... properties
Mel Coleman ... construction department (as Melvin Coleman)
Steve Cooper ... art department
Peter Cull ... construction department
Dennis Griffin ... art department
Richard Hornsby ... art department
Brian Humphrey ... properties
Tommy Kavanagh ... construction department
Reginald Keywood ... construction department (as Reg Keywood)
Michael Law ... construction department (as Mick Law)
Colin Lovering ... construction department
Dave Newton ... properties
Brian Payne ... properties
Ken Powell ... construction department
Bill Sansom ... construction department
Dick Savery ... construction department
Vic Simpson ... construction manager
John Skinner ... construction department
Bob Walker ... art department
Andrew Ackland-Snow ... draughtsman (uncredited)
Gari Bacon ... props (uncredited)
Gerry Bourke ... props (uncredited)
Dennis Murray ... plasterer (uncredited)
Martin Smeaton ... model sculptor (uncredited)

Sound Department 

Paul Carr ... dubbing mixer
Philip Chubb ... sound maintenance (as Phil Chubb)
Bob Doyle ... boom operator
Rodney Glenn ... dubbing editor
Debbie Kaplan ... sound (segment "The Crimson Permanent Assurance")
Garth Marshall ... sound mixer
Brian Paxton ... dubbing mixer

Special Effects by 

Richard Conway ... special effects
George Gibbs ... special effects supervisor
Ray Hanson ... special effects
Bob Hollow ... special effects
David Watson ... special effects
Terence J. Cox ... special effects technician (uncredited)
Garth Inns ... pyrotechnic effects (uncredited)

Visual Effects by 

Michael Beard ... model maker (segment "The Crimson Permanent Assurance")
Valerie Charlton ... model maker (as Val Charlton)
Carol De Jong ... model maker (as Carole De Yong)
Nick Dunlop ... optical effects
Roy Field ... optical effects
Kent Houston ... optical effects
Tim Ollive ... animation & backgrounds
Peter Pullen ... model maker (segment "The Crimson Permanent Assurance")
Tim Spence ... optical effects
Paul Whitbread ... optical effects
Janice Body ... visual effects assistant (uncredited)
Martin Body ... rotoscope artist (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department 

David Appleby ... still photographer
Fred Ashby ... electrical department
Kenneth Atherfold ... grip (as Ken Atherfold)
Barry Brown ... focus puller
John Clark ... electrician (segment "The Crimson Permanent Assurance")
Clive Coote ... still photographer (segment "The Crimson Permanent Assurance")
Mark Cridlin ... clapper loader (segment "The Crimson Permanent Assurance")
Tony Cridlin ... grip (segment "The Crimson Permanent Assurance")
Chuck Finch ... gaffer
Dewi Humphreys ... camera operator
John Ignatius ... focus puller (segment "The Crimson Permanent Assurance")
Sue Knight ... clapper loader (segment "The Crimson Permanent Assurance")
Alan McPherson ... electrical department
Stewart Monteith ... electrical department
Reg Parsons ... best boy (segment "The Crimson Permanent Assurance")
Larry Randall ... electrical department
Roy Rodhouse ... gaffer (segment "The Crimson Permanent Assurance")
Richard Seal ... electrical department
Malcolm Smith ... grip (segment "The Crimson Permanent Assurance")
Stefan Stankowski ... clapper loader
Toby Tyler ... electrician (segment "The Crimson Permanent Assurance")
George White ... electrician (segment "The Crimson Permanent Assurance") (as Geo. J. White)
Kevin Brookner ... video operator (uncredited)
Stuart McAlister ... lighting console operator (uncredited)

Animation Department 

Jill Brooks ... animator
Kate Hepburn ... animator
Richard Ollive ... animator
Tim Ollive ... animator
Mike Stuart ... animator

Costume and Wardrobe Department 

William Baboo ... costume maker
Vin Burnham ... costume maker
Shirley Denny ... costume maker
Linda Eke ... wardrobe department
Gilly Hebden ... costume assistant
Janet Lucas-Wakely ... wardrobe department (as Janet Lucas)
Stephen Miles ... costume assistant (as T. Stephen Miles)
David Murch ... wardrobe department
Ray Scott ... costume maker
Joyce Stoneman ... wardrobe (segment "The Crimson Permanent Assurance")
Jill Thraves ... costume maker
James Wakely ... wardrobe department (as James Wakley)
Lizzie Willey ... costume maker
Dougie Hawkes ... costume assistant (uncredited)

Editorial Department 

Roy Baker ... editing department
Margarita Doyle ... editing department
Keith Lowes ... editing department
Simon Milton ... editing department
Diane Ryder ... editing department

Location Management 

Peter Kohn ... location manager

Script and Continuity Department 

Penny Eyles ... continuity
Maggie Jones ... continuity (segment "The Crimson Permanent Assurance")

Additional Crew 

Steve Abbott ... not the production accountant
Patricia Carr ... production assistant (segment "The Crimson Permanent Assurance")
Valerie Craig ... production assistant
William Hobbs ... fight arranger (segment "The Crimson Permanent Assurance")
Barbara Holloway ... assistant to producer
Anne James ... python manager
Nancy Lewis ... director of python US relations
Arlene Phillips ... choreographer
Heather Seymour ... assistant choreographer
Mike Smith ... production accountant
Paul Taylor ... production department
Tim Vaughan-Hughes ... assistant to producer
Robin Demetriou ... catering supervisor (uncredited)
Steve Meek ... stand-in for mr. cleese (uncredited)
Adam Samuelson ... louma crane technician (uncredited)
Crew believed to be complete

See also

Release Dates | Official Sites | Company Credits | Filming & Production | Technical Specs

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