Monty Python performer and director Terry Jones dead at 77
Terry Jones, a member of the Monty Python comedy troupe, has died at 77. He had been suffering from dementia.
Jones’s agent says he died Tuesday evening. In a statement, his family said he died «after a long, extremely brave but always good-humoured battle with a rare form of dementia, FTD.»
With fellow Britons Eric Idle, John Cleese, Michael Palin, Graham Chapman and American Terry Gilliam, Jones formed Monty Python’s Flying Circus, whose anarchic humour helped revolutionize British comedy.
Jones wrote and performed for the troupe’s TV series, which ran over five seasons on BBC and was later picked up in the U.S. by PBS, and their films.
He directed Monty Python’s Life of Brian, with a co-director credit with Gilliam on Monty Python and the Holy Grail and The Meaning of Life.
He went on to direct the non-Python films Personal Services starring Julie Walters and Erik the Viking starring Cleese and Tim Robbins.
In 2014, the group reunited for a series of shows at London’s O2 Arena, one of which was later filmed, entitled Monty Python Live (Mostly).
In 2016 Jones was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia.
Jones’s wife, Anna Soderstrom, and children Bill, Sally and Siri, said «we have all lost a kind, funny, warm, creative and truly loving man whose uncompromising individuality, relentless intellect and extraordinary humor has given pleasure to countless millions across six decades.»
«His work with Monty Python, his books, films, television programs, poems and other work will live on forever, a fitting legacy to a true polymath,» they said.
Chapman died in 1989 of cancer, while Neil Innes, the musician often known as the «seventh Python» for his contributions to their songs and sketches, died in December.
Just heard about Terry J<br><br>It feels strange that a man of so many talents and such endless enthusiasm, should have faded so gently away…<br><br>Of his many achievements, for me the greatest gift he gave us all was his direction of ‘Life of Brian’. Perfection<br><br>Two down, four to go
—@JohnCleese
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
—@stephenfry
