The news that Monty Python founding member and beloved comedian, writer and director Terry Jones had died provoked an instant outpouring of emotion across the U.K.’s entertainment world Wednesday.
Michael Palin, Jones’ friend and fellow Python (the two met while studying at Oxford University), offered the highest praise to his former comic collaborator.
“He was far more than one of the funniest writer-performers of his generation, he was the complete Renaissance comedian — writer, director, presenter, historian, brilliant children’s author and the warmest, most wonderful company you could wish to have,” Palin said in a statement.
“I loved him the moment I saw him on stage at the Edinburgh Festival in 1963,” reminisced another Python icon, Eric Idle. “So many laughs,moments of total hilarity onstage and off we have all shared with him. It’s too sad if you knew him,but if you didn’t you will always smile at the many wonderfully funny moments he gave us.”
I loved him the moment I saw him on stage at the Edinburgh Festival in 1963. So many laughs,moments of total hilarity onstage and off we have all shared with him. It’s too sad if you knew him,but if you didn’t you will always smile at the many wonderfully funny moments he gave us
— Eric Idle (@EricIdle) January 22, 2020
“It feels strange that a man of so many talents and such endless enthusiasm should have faded so gently away,” said another member of the Python troupe, John Cleese. “Of his many achievements, for me the greatest gift he gave us all was his direction of ‘Life of Brian.’ Perfection. Two down, four to go.”
Just heard about Terry J
It feels strange that a man of so many talents and such endless enthusiasm, should have faded so gently away…
Of his many achievements, for me the greatest gift he gave us all was his direction of ‘Life of Brian’. Perfection
Two down, four to go
— John Cleese (@JohnCleese) January 22, 2020
Stephen Fry, who appeared on stage with the Monty Python team during their 2014 stage show, also tweeted his sadness.
“Farewell, Terry Jones. The great foot has come down to stamp on you. My god what pleasure you gave, what untrammelled joy and delight. What a wonderful talent, heart and mind,” he wrote.
Farewell, Terry Jones. The great foot has come down to stamp on you. My god what pleasure you gave, what untrammelled joy and delight. What a wonderful talent, heart and mind
— Stephen Fry (@stephenfry) January 22, 2020
American Gods and Good Omens author Neil Gaiman described meeting Jones 36 years ago.
“I was meant to interview him. I asked for tea, so he opened a bottle of Chablis and got me drunk,” he wrote. “He was funny, brilliant and honest.”
36 years ago I met Terry Jones. I was meant to interview him. I asked for tea, so he opened a bottle of Chablis & got me drunk. He was funny, brilliant and honest. He was irrepressible and is seen here repressing the very young me. Rest in Peace, Terry. You were an inspiration. pic.twitter.com/fNBJZwOFcX
— Neil Gaiman (@neilhimself) January 22, 2020
Meanwhile, Minnie Driver recalled an encounter with Jones when she was on the way to an audition in 1992.
I was lost, on my way to an audition in 1992. Rather desperately, I stopped a man for directions. He started to explain but then said it would be easier to show me.He walked me there,told some stories,then came in to charm the casting director because I was late. #TerryJonesRIP
— Minnie Driver (@driverminnie) January 22, 2020
Veep writer Simon Blackwell described Jones as “the heart” of Python.
“Ripping Yarns remains so gloriously funny, and Bert Fegg’s Nasty Book For Boys & Girls made me laugh like a small fool when I was eight,” he wrote on Twitter. “Very sad to see him go.”
Lovely Terry Jones, the heart of Python. Ripping Yarns remains so gloriously funny, and Bert Fegg’s Nasty Book For Boys & Girls made me laugh like a small fool when I was eight. Very sad to see him go.
— Simon Blackwell (@simonblackwell) January 22, 2020
