History Creator / GrahamChapman

'''Graham Arthur Chapman''' (January 8, 1941 -- October 4, 1989) was an English comedy writer and actor known for his work with Creator/MontyPython. Fans will recognize Chapman from his roles as King Arthur in ''Film/MontyPythonAndTheHolyGrail'' and Brian in ''Film/MontyPythonsLifeOfBrian'', as well as his involvement in countless now-classic sketches in ''Series/MontyPythonsFlyingCircus''. Alongside Creator/JohnCleese (his long-time collaborator, whom he met at Cambridge), Chapman co-wrote "The Parrot Sketch", one of the most beloved comedy routines in British culture, if not the English language as a whole. Cleese recalls that Graham would sit silently through long writing sessions, before suddenly introducing an idea so absurd that it changed the course of the sketch. While not exactly the easiest person to work with, Cleese and the other Pythons all acknowledged that Chapman had a great instinct for what made something funny - or even funnier. Somewhat counter-intuitively, one of his most memorable characters was that of an army Colonel who cut narratives short for being "far too silly".

He died of cancer in 1989, the day before the 20th anniversary of the first broadcast of ''Flying Circus'' (Terry Jones called this "the worst case of party-pooping in all history"). His [[TheFunInFuneral memorial service]] can be found on Website/YouTube; emotionally fragile Tropers who love Python would do well to avoid the video altogether. Despite turning his funeral into a celebrity roast, which the Pythons all insist he would have enjoyed right down to John Cleese saying "good riddance to him, the free loading bastard", some sources claim that Cleese was deeply saddened by Chapman's death and had to be escorted out by hospital physicians when he passed away.

* ''Script/OurShowForRingoStar'' (unproduced)

* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: During the filming of ''Monty Python and The Holy Grail'', Graham would get drunk and start yelling abuse at the cast and crew. Bernard McKenna who co-wrote the film Oddjob with him, said he was a nightmare to work with.

* StraightGay: Chapman frequently played straight characters, including some who were adamant gay-bashers. He also, ironically, frequently played the StraightMan to other, more outlandish characters played by the other Pythons (when not playing outlandish characters himself).

* StraightGay: Chapman frequently played straight characters, including some who were adamant gay-bashers.

He died of cancer in 1989, the day before the 20th anniversary of the first broadcast of ''Flying Circus'' (Terry Jones called this "the worst case of party-pooping in all history"). His [[TheFunInFuneral memorial service]] can be found on Website/{{Youtube}}; emotionally fragile Tropers who love Python would do well to avoid the video altogether. Despite turning his funeral into a celebrity roast, which the Pythons all insist he would have enjoyed right down to John Cleese saying "good riddance to him, the free loading bastard", some sources claim that Cleese was deeply saddened by Chapman's death and had to be escorted out by hospital physicians when he passed away.
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! Tropes associated with him include:

* TheAlcoholic: He quit before filming Life Of Brian
* TheCameo: He appears in Iron Maiden's music video as an art teacher who hates his student's modern creations, then gets tormented by their mascot Eddie. He's the best part of the video, by far.

* TheFunInFuneral: John Cleese quoted The Parrot Sketch at Chapman's funeral ("Graham Chapman has ceased to be ..."), and went on to say that Chapman would never have forgiven him if he ''hadn't'' done so.
** "...and I want to be the first person, at a British memorial service, to say [[PrecisionFStrike 'fuck']]."

** That would probably explain why he drank heavily.
*** That was more [[WordOfGod as he admitted in interviews]] to conquer debilitating stage fright.

* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: During the filming of Monty Python and The Holy Grail, Graham would get drunk and start yelling abuse at the cast and crew. Bernard McKenna who co-wrote the film Oddjob with him, said he was a nightmare to work with.

* StraightGay: Chapman frequently played straight characters, including some who were adamant gay-bashers.

'''Graham Arthur Chapman''' (January 8, 1941 -- October 4, 1989) was an English comedy writer and actor known for his work with Creator/MontyPython. Fans will recognize Chapman from his roles as King Arthur in ''Film/MontyPythonAndTheHolyGrail'' and Brian in ''Film/MontyPythonsLifeOfBrian'', as well as his involvement in countless now-classic sketches in ''Series/MontyPythonsFlyingCircus''. Alongside Creator/JohnCleese (his long-time collaborator, whom he met at Cambridge), Chapman co-wrote "The Parrot Sketch", one of the most beloved comedy routines in British culture, if not the English language as a whole. Cleese recalls that Graham would sit silently through long writing sessions, before suddenly introducing an idea so absurd that it changed the course of the sketch. Somewhat counter-intuitively, one of his most memorable characters was that of an army Colonel who cut narratives short for being "far too silly".

He died of cancer in 1989, the day before the 20th anniversary of the first broadcast of ''Flying Circus'' (Terry Jones called this "the worst case of party-pooping in all history"). His [[TheFunInFuneral memorial service]] can be found on Website/{{Youtube}}; emotionally fragile Tropers who love Python would do well to avoid the video altogether.

'''Graham Arthur Chapman''' (1941-1989) was an English comedy writer and actor known for his work with Creator/MontyPython. Fans will recognize Chapman from his roles as King Arthur in ''Film/MontyPythonAndTheHolyGrail'' and Brian in ''Film/MontyPythonsLifeOfBrian'', as well as his involvement in countless now-classic sketches in ''Series/MontyPythonsFlyingCircus''. Alongside Creator/JohnCleese (his long-time collaborator, whom he met at Cambridge), Chapman co-wrote "The Parrot Sketch", one of the most beloved comedy routines in British culture, if not the English language as a whole. Cleese recalls that Graham would sit silently through long writing sessions, before suddenly introducing an idea so absurd that it changed the course of the sketch. Somewhat counter-intuitively, one of his most memorable characters was that of an army Colonel who cut narratives short for being "far too silly".

* ManlyGay
* StraightGay: Chapman frequently played straight characters, including some who were adamant gay-bashers.
* TheDiseaseThatShallNotBeNamed: Because [=AIDS=] was taboo and associated primarily with gay men at the time of Chapman's death, many people incorrectly assumed that he died from [=AIDS=] or that reports of his cancer were just a cover-up or euphemism.
* TheFunInFuneral: John Cleese quoted The Parrot Sketch at Chapman's funeral ("Graham Chapman has ceased to be ..."), and went on to say that Chapman would never have forgiven him if he ''hadn't'' done so.

* ''At Last the 1948 Show''

** That would probably explain why he drunk heavily.

* TheAlcoholic

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Chapman was a physician, which (like many of his fellow Pythons) made him vastly over-educated for his primary line of work. He was also an [[TheAlcoholic alcoholic]], and ultimately gave up drinking in 1977. During the seventies he admitted publicly that he was homosexual, and began to speak out for LGBT rights.

He died of cancer in 1989, the day before the 20th anniversary of the first broadcast of ''Flying Circus'' (Terry Jones called this "the worst case of party-pooping in all history"). His [[TheFunInFuneral memorial service]] can be found on YouTube; emotionally fragile Tropers who love Python would do well to avoid the video altogether.

* ''At Last the 1948 Show''

Chapman was a physician, which (like many of his fellow Pythons) made him vastly over-educated for his primary line of work. He was also an alcoholic, and ultimately gave up drinking in 1977. During the seventies he admitted publicly that he was homosexual, and began to speak out for LGBT rights.

He died of cancer in 1989, the day before the 20th anniversary of the first broadcast of ''Flying Circus''. His [[TheFunInFuneral memorial service]] can be found on YouTube; emotionally fragile Tropers who love Python would do well to avoid the video altogether.

He died of cancer in 1989, the day before the 20th anniversary of the first broadcast of ''Flying Circus''. His memorial service can be found on YouTube; emotionally fragile Tropers who love Python would do well to avoid the video altogether.