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Agence France-Presse

Associated Press

Terry Jones, a member of the British Monty Python comedy troupe, has died at the age of 77.
Jones’ agent said the star, who had been suffering from dementia, died on 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 Eric Idle, John Cleese, Michael Palin, Graham Chapman and Terry Gilliam, Jones formed Monty Python’s Flying Circus, whose surreal sketches, characters and catchphrases helped revolutionise British comedy in 1969.
Jones appeared in the troupe’s TV series and films including Monty Python and the Holy Grail and The Life of Brian.

Jones’ 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 humour has given pleasure to countless millions across six decades”.
“His work with Monty Python, his books, films, television programmes, poems and other work will live on forever, a fitting legacy to a true polymath,” they said.
Born in Wales in 1942, Jones attended Oxford University, where he began writing and performing with fellow student Michael Palin.
Monty Python actor-director Terry Jones diagnosed with dementia
After leaving university, he wrote for seminal 1960s comedy series including The Frost Report and Do Not Adjust Your Set.
At the end of the decade he, and the rest of the troupe formed Monty Python’s Flying Circus.
Jones wrote and performed for the troupe’s early-70s TV series and films including Monty Python and the Holy Grail in 1975 and Monty Python’s Life of Brian in 1979.
Playing the mother of Brian, a hapless young man who is mistaken for Jesus, he delivered one of the Pythons’ most famous lines: “He’s not the Messiah. He’s a very naughty boy!”
A s well as performing, Jones co-directed Holy Grail with Gilliam, and directed Life of Brian and the 1983 Python film The Meaning of Life.

In 2017, Terry Jones & his loved ones joined us at our London Memory Walk.

Terry's dementia meant that he could no longer speak. But his kind gesture helped us raise vital awareness & donations to help other families living with the condition.

Thank you for everything, Terry ️ pic.twitter.com/MjxaVmGLsQ
— Alzheimer's Society (@alzheimerssoc) January 22, 2020

After the troupe largely disbanded in the 1980s, Jones wrote books on medieval and ancient history, presented documentaries, directed films, wrote poetry and wrote the script for the Jim Henson-directed fantasy film Labyrinth.
In 2016 he was diagnosed with fronto-temporal dementia, which gradually robbed him of the ability to write and speak.
“(He) was one of my closest, most valued friends. He was kind, generous, supportive and passionate about living life to the full,” Palin said in a statement.
“He was far more than one of the funniest writer-performers of his generation. He was the complete Renaissance comedian — writer, director, presenter, historian, brilliant children’s author, and the warmest, most wonderful company you could wish to have,” Palin said.
Jones is survived by his wife, his ex-wife Alison Telfer, and three children.


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British funnyman Terry Jones, of Monty Python fame, dies age 77

British comedian Terry Jones. Photo: Reuters

FILE PHOTO: Members of British comedy troupe Monty Python (L-R) Eric Idle, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Michael Palin and Terry Jones pose for a photograph during a media event in central London, June 30, 2014. REUTERS/Paul Hackett/File Photo

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The archbishop's register that tells the story of Joan of Leeds, escapee nun. Photograph: York Archbishops' Register

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His family said he died after ‘a long, extremely brave but always good humoured battle with a rare form of dementia’



His family said he died after ‘a long, extremely brave but always good humoured battle with a rare form of dementia’.


Fame and celebrity

Obituaries

British funnyman Terry Jones, of Monty Python fame, dies age 77

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;} His family said he died after ‘a long, extremely brave but always good humoured battle with a rare form of dementia’

His family said he died after ‘a long, extremely brave but always good humoured battle with a rare form of dementia’