As long as there are innocent nickels to be made from the gullible, Python-starved public, I shall be out there dressed in silly frocks and singing filthy lyrics. I'm coming your way in search of ancient dollars.
I like the idea of being out there regularly with an audience and with a funny gang of people. That's what I grew up with - doing television, doing shows every week.
I love being an older comic now. It's like being an old soccer or an old baseball player. You're in the Hall of Fame and it's nice, but you're no longer that person in the limelight on the spot doing that thing.
I think the special thing about Python is that it's a writers' commune. The writers are in charge. The writers decide what the material is.
No day of my life passes without someone saying the words 'Monty Python' to me. It's not bad.
Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will make me go in a corner and cry by myself for hours.
The Minister of Transport issued this appeal to motorists: Can anyone give him a lift to Leicester?
To me, the musical is best when it's a musical comedy. So if you have a very, very funny show, and very good, funny songs, that's what the musical does best.
We've discovered that the less we do, the more money we make.
You look just like you!
Eric's journal, now titled The Greedy Bastard Diary: A Comic Tour of America, has been published!
In 2004, Eric recorded a protest song, the FCC Song in which he lambasts the US Federal Communications Commission for fining him $5000 for using the word 'f*ck' on national radio. Fittingly, the short song contains 14 uses of the expletive.
Eric, and family and friends performed the song, Always Look on the Bright Side of Life at the funeral of Graham Chapman.
Eric is an accomplished songwriter, having composed and performed many of the Pythons' most famous comic pieces, including Eric The Half-A-Bee, The Philosophers' Song, Galaxy Song and Always Look on the Bright Side of Life.
In 1999, Eric starred in the film Burn Hollywood Burn, which was nominated as 'Worst Picture of the Decade' in the Golden Raspberry Awards (known as the Razzies) - and was eventually awarded five Razzies including 'Worst Picture of the Year'.
Eric played one of the four members of the pre-fab-four 'group' The Rutles, which was an affectionate spoof of The Beatles. The 'group' was created by Eric and Neil Innes, and the Rutles' film All You Need Is Cash was written by Eric, with music by Neil. Eric appeared in the film in the role of 'Dirk McQuickly'.
Eric was voted 21 in the top 50 greatest comedy acts ever, in a 2005 poll to find the "The Comedian's Comedian" in the UK. The poll was undertaken by comedians.
Eric wrote the book and co-wrote the music and lyrics for the musical, Monty Python's Spamalot. It premiered on January 9, 2005 in Chicago, Illinois, before moving to Broadway, where it received the Tony Award for Best Musical of the 2004-05 season.
In 1982, Eric wrote a west end farce Pass The Butler, starring Willie Rushton.
Eric wrote the novels Hello Sailor and The Road to Mars.
In January 2003, Eric released the fifth in the book series A Pocketful of Python, containing some of his favourite sketches from Monty Python's Flying Circus and some of his favourite passages from their books.
While at the Royal Wolverhampton School, Eric refused to be senior boy in the school cadet force, as he was a supporter for the ‘Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament’ and had participated in the yearly Aldermaston march.
Eric has said that during his time at the Royal Wolverhampton School, the two things that made his life bearable were listening to Radio Luxembourg under the bedclothes and watching the local football team, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Despite this, he disliked other sports and would sneak out of school every Thursday afternoon to the local cinema.
During the sixties and early seventies, Eric was occasionally mistaken for the actor Peter Cook.
In 2004, Eric embarked on the Greedy Bastard 2003 tour which featured the 'The Greedy Ba$tard Diaries'.
In 1963, as a collegiate, he was admitted into the Cambridge Footlights comedy club. The following year Eric became President of the Cambridge Footlights Club, with one of his first tasks being to open the membership up to include women. Feminist/writer Germaine Greer was one of the first to join.
Eric's father served in the Royal Air Force.
Eric married actress Lyn Ashley on 7 July 1969. They had one child together, Lily. The couple later divorced in 1978.
In 2005, Eric received permission from the other members of Monty Python to go ahead with his play/musical Spamalot. The play was a twist on their classic 1975 film Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
Eric is a close friend of comedian and actor Robin Williams.
In 2002, Eric defeated both Charles Barkley and Martha Stewart on a celebrity episode of Jeopardy.
Eric will play the role of Merlin in the 3rd Shrek movie.
Eric proudly calls himself "the third tallest member of Monty Python."
Eric was the only member of the Monty Python troupe to write alone. Therefore, it was difficult at times for him to get his material accepted and used by the others.
Eric is a member of the comedy troupe Monty Python.
Eric is approximately 5' 11" (1.80 m) tall.
Eric appeared in a TV commercial for Desex and the City in 2005.
Eric conceived the idea for the musical Seussical headed for Broadway celebrating Dr.Seuss's beloved childrens books.
Eric appeared in a TV Commercial for Drug Awareness in 1998.
In 2001, Eric was nominated for the Video Premiere Award for Best Audio Commentary for: Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975). He shared the honour with John Cleese, and Michael Palin.
Eric was named #82 out of 137 on Entertainment Weekly's Must List in 2004.
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