Joined Cambridge theater troupe, The Footlights, eventually becoming group's president; met future comic mates John Cleese and Graham Chapman

Professional stage debut, "One for the Pot"

English TV debut as the chauffeur in Ken Russell's "Isadora: The Biggest Dancer in the World" (BBC-1)

Wrote for the BBC TV series "The Frost Report", starring David Frost

Along with Chapman and Barry Cryer provided scripts for British series "No--That's Me Over Here!", starring Ronnie Corbrett

Wrote and co-starred in the English series "Do Not Adjust Your Set" (Rediffusion 1967-1968; Thames Television, 1968-1969) with Michael Palin and Terry Jones

Co-founded the English comedy troupe Monty Python's Flying Circus with Cleese, Chapman, Palin, Jones and token 'Yank' Terry Gilliam

Worked as a performer and writer on the popular TV series "Monty Python's Flying Circus" (BBC); shows aired in 1969-1970 and from 1972 to 1974 with a two-year hiatus

Script edited the early episodes of "The Liver Birds" (BBC-1, 1969-1979)

Feature acting and writing debut, "And Now for Something Completely Different", the first Monty Python feature

"Monty Python's Flying Circus" premiered in the USA on PBS

Portrayed 13 characters in "Monty Python and the Holy Grail"

Wrote and starred in "Rutland Weekend Television" (BBC-2); Neil Innes supplied the music and also co-starred, as did David Battley, Henry Woolf and Gwen Taylor

Published novel, "Hello Sailor"

Hosted the third show of the second season of NBC's "Saturday Night Live"; he would go on to host "SNL" three more times over the years, as well as guest-starring twice

Wrote, co-starred and co-directed the story of The Rutles, "All You Need is Cash", an NBC special

First collaboration with George Harrison's HandMade Films, "Monty Python's Life of Brian", playing 14 characters; Harrison contributed cameo as Mr. Papadopolous

Guest-starred with Peter Noone (of Herman's Hermits fame) as British rock stars on episode of "Laverne and Shirley" (ABC)

Wrote first stage play, "Pass The Butler"

Wrote and directed "The Frog Prince", the debut episode for Showtime's "Faerie Tale Theatre", starring Robin Williams and Teri Garr

Last Python film to date, "Monty Python's Meaning of Life"

Portrayed bike rider in "National Lampoon's European Vacation"

Played Ko-Ko in an English National Opera Company revival of "The Mikado"

Served as Chairman of Prominent Features, a production company formed by the Monty Python team; pictures ranged from the sublime ("A Fish Called Wanda" 1988) to the ridiculous ("Erik the Viking" 1989)

Appeared in Gilliam's "The Adventures of Baron Munchausen"

Starred in the short-lived NBC fantasy sitcom "Nearly Departed"

Co-starred as Passepartout in the NBC miniseries, "Around the World in 80 Days"

Acted opposite Robbie Coltrane as "Nuns on the Run" for HandMade Films

Wrote and performed the title music for British sitcom "One Foot in the Grave" (BBC)

Wrote, executive produced and starred (with Cleese) in "Splitting Heirs"

First Python CD-Rom released, "Monty Python's Complete Waste of Time"

Reteamed (as Rat) with Jones (Toad), Cleese (Toad's Lawyer) and Palin (The Sun) for a live-action version of "The Wind and the Willows", adapted and directed by Jones

Starred as Alan Smithee in the egregious "Burn, Hollywood, Burn"

His "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" (originally sung in "Monty Python's Life of Brian") popped up in "As Good as It Gets" (performed by Art Garfunkle)

Contributed vocal talent to the straight-to-video animation release "The Secret of Nimh II: Timmy to the Rescue" and to "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Movie", which had a limited release in theaters

Provided the singing voice of Devon (the two-headed dragon) in the animated "Quest for Camelot"

Voiced Parenthesis on animated series "Disney's Hercules" (ABC)

Was the voice of Dr. Vosknocker in "South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut"

Played a prospector who mentors the title character when he is drummed out of the Mounties in the live-action feature version of "Dudley Do-Right"

Participated in Toronto workshop of the stage musical "The Seussical"; had written a version of the libretto (not used); credited as "creative consultant" when show opened on Broadway in 2000

Joined cast of the NBC sitcom "Suddenly Susan", playing magazine owner Ian Maxtone-Graham

Performed with surviving mates in "Monty Python Reunion Special" (BBC), celebrating their 30th anniversary

Received a grammy nomination for Best Spoken Word Album For Children, for his work on "Charlie And The Chocolate Factory"

Was the voice of the Narrator for "Ella Enchanted"

Wrote and Composed the Broadway musical "Monty Python's Spamalot," which starred David Hyde Pierce (Sir Robin), Tim Curry (King Arthur), and Hank Azaria (Sir Lancelot); received a Tony nomination for Best Book of a Musical and Best Original Score

Voiced Merlin in the animated feature, "Shrek the Third"