Terry Jones, Monty Python co-founder, dies at 77

Terry Jones, co-founder of the comedy group Monty Python, died on January 21, 2020, at age 77 in his London home, surrounded by his wife and close friends. He had been suffering from a severe form of dementia, which he faced with his characteristic humor. Born in Colwyn Bay, Wales, in 1942, Jones moved to England as a child and grew up in Surrey. He studied English literature at Oxford, where he met Michael Palin, who performed at the Oxford Revue. After university, Jones and Palin wrote and hosted TV programs alongside Graeme Garden, Bill Oddie, Eric Idle, John Cleese, Peter Cook, and David Jason. In 1969, Jones, Palin, Cleese, Graham Chapman, Idle, and Terry Gilliam created Monty Python's Flying Circus on the BBC, a sketch show that revolutionized British television comedy. The group was known for its democratic structure, with Jones emphasizing that no single member dominated. The show ran until 1974, and the following year they released their first film, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, followed by Life of Brian (which sparked controversy for its religious satire) and Monty Python's The Meaning of Life (1983), which won the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival. Jones acted in and directed all three films. He is the second Monty Python member to die, after Chapman in 1989. Surviving members include Cleese, Gilliam, Idle, and Palin. In 2016, Jones received a BAFTA lifetime achievement award, receiving a standing ovation from fellow artists.