In his personal life, Chapman was openly homosexual and a strong supporter of gay rights, and was in a long-term partnership with David Sherlock.
He subsequently left Britain for Los Angeles, where he attempted to be a success on American television, speaking on the college circuit and producing the pirate film Yellowbeard (1983), before returning to Britain in the early 1980s. Chapman eventually established a writing partnership with John Cleese, which reached its critical peak with Monty Python during the 1970s. He enjoyed science, acting and comedy and, after graduating from Emmanuel College, Cambridge and St Bartholomew's Hospital Medical College, he turned down a career as a doctor to be a comedian instead. He portrayed authority figures such as the Colonel and the lead role in two Python films, Holy Grail (1975) and Life of Brian (1979).Ĭhapman was born in Leicester and was raised in Melton Mowbray. He was one of the six members of the surreal comedy group Monty Python. Graham Chapman (8 January 1941 – 4 October 1989) was an English actor, comedian and writer.
