Eric Idle was born on August 29, 1943 in South Shields, Tyne and Wear, England.

His father, who served in the Royal Air Force, died in a car crash on Christmas Eve when Eric was two years old.

The actress Lyn Ashley married Eric Idle in 1969. She had a role in QUEST FOR LOVE in 1971.  They had one son named Carey in 1973. They were later divorced in 1978.

In 1981, Eric Idle married Tania Kosevich, the actress ,who had a role in THE RUTLES: ALL YOU NEED IS CASH IN 1978.  They had a daughter named Lily in 1990.

Eric Idle studied English at Cambridge University.  He was a member of the Cambridge Footlights Club and later the President of the Footlights Club.

Eric Idle is a member of the comedy group Monty Python.  Idle is the only member of the club to write alone.  As a result it was difficult to get the others in the club to accept his material.  Eric Idle proudly calls himself the third tallest member of Monty Python.  He is admired by the other Pythons for his circle of friends.  He managed to get the production money for LIFE OF BRIAN in 1979 from former Beatle George Harrison.

The Actor Robin Williams who recently starred in RV in 2006 is a good friend of Eric Idle.

On the TV show, JEOPARDY, Eric Idle defeated Chales Barkley and Martha Stewart in a 2002 episode.

Eric Idle was nominated for the DVD Exclusive Award for MONTY PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL in 2001.

Some of Eric Idle's credits include -

DELGO - 2008
SHREK THE THIRD - 2007
THE NUTCRACKER AND THE MOUSEKING  - 2004
CHRISTMAS VACATION 2: COUSIN EDDIE'S ISLAND ADVENTURE - 2003
SUDDENLY SUSAN - TV - 1999 - 2000
CASPER - 1995
HONEY I SHRUNK THE AUDIENCE - 1994
EUROPEAN VACATION - 1985
MONTY PYTHON LIVE AT THE HOLLYWOOD BOWL - 1982
LIFE OF BRIAN - 1979
MONTY PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL (1975)
AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT - 1971