Terry Jones has died. Jones, one of the co-founders of Monty Python, was 77. He has seen an outpouring of love since news of his passing spread. People from all walks of entertainment, and some of those closest to him, took to pay their respects to the late actor, writer, director and historian.
The news of Terry Jones’ passing has been confirmed by the BBC and his family. Jones was diagnosed with dementia in 2015, which had made it difficult for him to communicate in recent years. Terry Jones passed with his wife, Anna Soderstrom, by his side. Fellow Python member Eric Idle had this to say on Twitter.
“I loved him the moment I saw him on stage at the Edinburgh Festival in 1963. So many laughs, moments of total hilarity onstage and off we have all shared with him. It’s too sad if you knew him, but if you didn’t you will always smile at the many wonderfully funny moments he gave us.”
Monty Python was founded by Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Graham Chapman, Michael Palin, Terry Gilliam and John Cleese. The group rose to fame with their sketch show, Monty Python’s Flying Circus, which aired from 1969 to 1974. The group also produced several movies, including 1971’s And Now for Something Completely Different, 1975’s Monty Python and the Holy Grail, 1979’s Life of Brian and 1983’s The Meaning of Life. Cleese had this to say on Twitter.
“Just heard about Terry J. It feels strange that a man of so many talents and such endless enthusiasm, should have faded so gently away… Of his many achievements, for me the greatest gift he gave us all was his direction of ‘Life of Brian‘. Perfection. Two down, four to go”
Terry Jones was known for often playing middle-aged female characters, such as in Life of Brian when he delivered the famous line, “He’s not the Messiah, he’s a very naughty boy.” Outside of his work on screen, Jones also directed both Monty Python and the Holy Grail as well as Life of Brian Outside of Python, he directed projects such as The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles and Absolutely Anything. Hot Fuzz and Baby Driver filmmaker Edgar Wright was amongst those who paid tribute to Jones and had this to say on Twitter.
“A very fond farewell to Terry Jones: Not only 1/6 of the Pythons, Mr Creosote, Arthur Two Sheds Jackson, Dino Vercotti, Mandy Cohen, Prince Herbert, Cardinal Biggles & the Nude Organist, but also esteemed director of all time comedy classic; ‘Life Of Brian’. He will be missed.”
Aside from his comedic work, Terry Jones also became a noted historian, wrote more than 20 children’s books and a newspaper columnist. RIP, Terry Jones. Feel free to check out some of our collected tributes from Twitter below.
I loved him the moment I saw him on stage at the Edinburgh Festival in 1963. So many laughs,moments of total hilarity onstage and off we have all shared with him. It’s too sad if you knew him,but if you didn’t you will always smile at the many wonderfully funny moments he gave us
— Eric Idle (@EricIdle) January 22, 2020
Just heard about Terry J
It feels strange that a man of so many talents and such endless enthusiasm, should have faded so gently away…
Of his many achievements, for me the greatest gift he gave us all was his direction of ‘Life of Brian‘. Perfection
Two down, four to go
— John Cleese (@JohnCleese) January 22, 2020
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
— Stephen Fry (@stephenfry) January 22, 2020
36 years ago I met Terry Jones. I was meant to interview him. I asked for tea, so he opened a bottle of Chablis & got me drunk. He was funny, brilliant and honest. He was irrepressible and is seen here repressing the very young me. Rest in Peace, Terry. You were an inspiration. pic.twitter.com/fNBJZwOFcX
— Neil Gaiman (@neilhimself) January 22, 2020
A very fond farewell to Terry Jones: Not only 1/6 of the Pythons, Mr Creosote, Arthur Two Sheds Jackson, Dino Vercotti, Mandy Cohen, Prince Herbert, Cardinal Biggles & the Nude Organist, but also esteemed director of all time comedy classic; ‘Life Of Brian’. He will be missed. pic.twitter.com/PeBDlvGfsD
— edgarwright (@edgarwright) January 22, 2020
OMG (Oh my God), so funny. Salute to Terry Jones. https://t.co/1SK3dRwspf
— Steve Martin (@SteveMartinToGo) January 22, 2020
Terry Jones was a cornerstone of my growing up, from Python to Ripping Yarns and way beyond. A huge talent – and a very naughty boy. RIP. pic.twitter.com/JCp5tXVPft
— Mark Gatiss (@Markgatiss) January 22, 2020
Lovely Terry Jones, the heart of Python. Ripping Yarns remains so gloriously funny, and Bert Fegg’s Nasty Book For Boys & Girls made me laugh like a small fool when I was eight. Very sad to see him go.
— Simon Blackwell (@simonblackwell) January 22, 2020
RIP legend Terry Jones pic.twitter.com/h0iS15OJLf
— Brendon Small (@_Brendonsmall) January 22, 2020
Terry Jones.
Director, Writer, Historian, Comedian, Flying Emperor, Immortal.
Eternally in our hearts.#TerryJonespic.twitter.com/UBJlAgBD2u— Greg Proops (@GregProops) January 22, 2020
Sad to learn of the death of Monty Python’s Terry Jones. I didn’t know him especially well, which made me all the more touched when he made a wonderfully witty, impromptu speech for me, at the Vice Chancellor’s dinner to celebrate my retirement in 2008.
— Richard Dawkins (@RichardDawkins) January 22, 2020
‘The Life of Brian’ is comic perfection. It might just be the funniest film ever made. pic.twitter.com/9bE1rkmIFh
— David Walliams (@davidwalliams) January 22, 2020
Terry Jones was the absolute best
— John Oliver (@iamjohnoliver) January 22, 2020
MONTY PYTHON’S LIFE OF BRIAN (1979)
Cinematography by Peter Biziou
Directed by Terry Jones
The movie made our list of the 50 best comedies of all time: https://t.co/HJCcVaAuTMpic.twitter.com/whLJEkSVQy— One Perfect Shot (@OnePerfectShot) January 22, 2020
