Terry Gilliam facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Terry Gilliam
Gilliam in 2019
Born	(1940-11-22) 22 November 1940 (age 84) Minneapolis, Minnesota, US
Citizenship	United States (1940–2006) United Kingdom (1968–present)
Education	Birmingham High School
Alma mater	Occidental College (BA)
Occupation	Screenwriter director comedian animator actor
Years active	1968–present
Spouse(s)	Maggie Weston ​ (m. 1973)​
Children	3

Terrence Vance Gilliam (born 22 November 1940) is a famous American-British filmmaker, comedian, and actor. He is also known for creating unique animated collages.

He became well-known as a member of the comedy group Monty Python. He worked with John Cleese, Eric Idle, Michael Palin, Terry Jones, and Graham Chapman. They created the funny TV show Monty Python's Flying Circus (1969–1974) and popular films like Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975), Life of Brian (1979), and The Meaning of Life (1983).

Terry Gilliam also became a successful film director. His movies often explore big ideas like imagination and standing up against unfair rules or powerful systems. Many of his films are set in dark, futuristic worlds and mix serious topics with humor. Some of his most famous films include Time Bandits (1981), Brazil (1985), 12 Monkeys (1995), and The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009).

Gilliam was born in Minnesota, USA. He moved to England in 1968 and became a British citizen. He later gave up his American citizenship in 2006.

Early Life and Education

Terry Gilliam was born on 22 November 1940, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. His father, James Hall Gilliam, was a traveling salesman and later a carpenter. The family moved to Panorama City, California, in 1952.

During high school at Birmingham High School, Terry loved reading Mad magazine. This magazine, known for its funny and often strange cartoons, greatly influenced his later work. After high school, he studied political science at Occidental College and graduated in 1962.

Career Highlights

Early Animation Work

Gilliam started his career as an animator and cartoonist. He created comic strips for a US magazine called Help!. One of these strips even featured John Cleese, who would later become his fellow Monty Python member.

When Help! magazine closed, Gilliam moved to England. There, he created animated parts for a children's TV show called Do Not Adjust Your Set (1968–1969). This show also featured Eric Idle, Terry Jones, and Michael Palin, who would all join him in Monty Python.

Joining Monty Python

Terry Gilliam was part of Monty Python's Flying Circus from the very beginning. At first, he was mainly known for his animations. These cartoons connected the different sketches in the show and gave Monty Python its unique visual style. His animations often mixed his own drawings with old photographs, especially from the Victorian era. He would cut out figures and objects from these photos and make them move in funny ways.

Gilliam as Cardinal Fang in "The Spanish Inquisition" sketch during the Python reunion, Monty Python Live (Mostly), in 2014

A character of limited intelligence and vocabulary, Gumby (played by Gilliam) flower arranging at the 2014 reunion.

Even though he was mostly an animator, Gilliam also appeared in many sketches. He often played characters that needed a lot of makeup or uncomfortable costumes. Some of his memorable roles include Cardinal Fang in "The Spanish Inquisition" and the silly "Gumby" character. He also designed the covers for most of Monty Python's albums.

Becoming a Director

In 1975, Gilliam started directing films. He co-directed Monty Python and the Holy Grail with Terry Jones. Gilliam was in charge of the camera work and also acted in the film.

After this, Gilliam began making his own films. His first solo movie was Jabberwocky (1977), a comedy set in the Middle Ages. It starred Michael Palin from Monty Python. In 1981, he directed Time Bandits, which became a big success.

Famous Film Trilogies

Terry Gilliam created a group of three films he called the "Trilogy of Imagination." These films are Time Bandits (1981), Brazil (1985), and The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1988). They all explore how people try to escape the strange rules of society through their imagination. Time Bandits shows this through a child's eyes, Brazil through a man's, and Munchausen through an older man's.

In the 1990s, he directed another group of three films, sometimes called the "Americana" trilogy. These were The Fisher King (1991), 12 Monkeys (1995), and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998). These films were set in North America and, while still a bit strange, were less fantastical than his earlier movies.

Later Projects

Gilliam at an IFC Center event in 2006

In 1999, Gilliam tried to make a film called The Man Who Killed Don Quixote. However, the project faced many problems, including an actor getting hurt and a flood damaging the set. The film was stopped, but a documentary called Lost in La Mancha (2002) was made about the difficulties. He later managed to complete the film in 2018.

In 2000, J. K. Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter books, wanted Terry Gilliam to direct the first Harry Potter movie. However, the film studio chose another director.

In 2002, Gilliam directed a series of popular TV ads for Nike called "Secret Tournament". These ads featured famous football players playing in a secret tournament inside a giant ship.

In 2005, he released two films: The Brothers Grimm and Tideland. He also directed a stage show called Slava's Diabolo in 2006, which combined clown art with his unique visual style.

Gilliam at the 41st Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, April 2006

In 2009, Gilliam released The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus. During the filming, one of the main actors, Heath Ledger, sadly passed away. Other actors like Johnny Depp, Jude Law, and Colin Farrell stepped in to help finish the film, playing different versions of Ledger's character. The movie was a success and was nominated for two Academy Awards.

Recent Work

In 2011, Terry Gilliam directed his first opera, The Damnation of Faust, in London. He later directed another opera, Benvenuto Cellini, in 2014.

In 2013, he directed the film The Zero Theorem. After many years and attempts, he finally completed The Man Who Killed Don Quixote in 2018. The film premiered at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival and received a standing ovation.

In 2022, he co-directed a stage musical called Into the Woods. In 2024, he announced a new film called The Carnival at the End of Days, which will star Johnny Depp as Satan and Jeff Bridges as God.

Other Creative Projects

Gilliam at the 36th Deauville American Films Festival in 2010

Besides directing films, Gilliam has also been involved in other creative projects. He was a "creative advisor" for an animated film called 1884, which was a funny, steam-punk version of the book Nineteen Eighty-Four.

He also had an idea to release his thousands of animation templates from the 1970s as free clip art for people to create their own animations. This project, called Animations of Mortality, was planned as a CD-ROM but later considered as a digital download.

Film Success

Many of Gilliam's films have been very successful. Time Bandits (1981) earned much more than it cost to make. The Fisher King (1991) also did well at the box office. His film 12 Monkeys (1995) made over $168 million worldwide, making it his most successful film financially. The Brothers Grimm (2005) and The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009) also earned a lot of money around the world.

Personal Life

Terry Gilliam has been married to British makeup artist Maggie Weston since 1973. She worked on many Monty Python projects and Gilliam's early films. They have three children: Amy, Holly, and Harry. All of their children have also worked on or appeared in some of his films.

Gilliam became a British citizen in 1968. He had dual American and British citizenship for 38 years. In 2006, he decided to give up his American citizenship. He said this was partly a protest against the US president at the time, George W. Bush, and also related to tax concerns for his family. Because he gave up his American citizenship, he was only allowed to spend a limited number of days in the United States each year.

He has homes in Italy, near the border of Umbria and Tuscany, and in Highgate, London. He helped start the annual Umbria Film Festival in Italy.

Helping Others

Terry Gilliam has supported several charities. In 2009, he joined the board of Videre Est Credere, a UK charity that helps human rights activists. This charity gives local activists cameras and training to record evidence of human rights problems. This footage is then checked and shared with people who can make a difference.

Filmography

Awards and Recognitions

Terry Gilliam has received many awards for his work in film and comedy. In 1988, Monty Python received a BAFTA Award for their amazing contribution to British cinema. In 2009, Gilliam himself received the BAFTA Fellowship, which is a special award for lifetime achievement in film.

Images for kids

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  Gilliam in 2019

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  Gilliam as Cardinal Fang in "The Spanish Inquisition" sketch during the Python reunion, Monty Python Live (Mostly), in 2014

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  Gumby (played by Gilliam) flower arranging at the 2014 reunion.

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  Gilliam at an IFC Center event on 4 October 2006

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  Gilliam at the 41st Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, April 2006

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  Gilliam at the 36th Deauville American Films Festival in 2010

See Also

In Spanish: Terry Gilliam para niños