Milligan, Spike

Milligan, Spike

▪ Irish writer and comedian
byname of  Terence Alan Patrick Sean Milligan 
born April 16, 1918, Ahmadnagar, India
died Feb. 27, 2002, Rye, East Sussex, Eng.

      Irish writer and comedian who led the comic troupe featured on the 1950s British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) radio hit The Goon Show. His anarchic sense of absurdity and unique comic genius made him a model for succeeding generations of comedians and paved the way for the Monty Python brand of alternative comedy.

      Milligan was raised in India and Burma (Myanmar), where his father was in the British army, and moved to England with his family in 1933. He served in the army during World War II and, when he was wounded in combat, began a struggle with manic-depressive illness that lasted the rest of his life. Toward the end of the war, Milligan met Harry Secombe, and they worked together entertaining the troops. After the war the pair, along with Peter Sellers (Sellers, Peter) and Michael Bentine, began spending time at the Grafton Arms pub, where they developed their comedy routines. BBC radio began broadcasting the group's work in 1951, as Crazy People, and in 1952 it was renamed The Goon Show. As such it continued until early 1960 (though Bentine soon left the show) and became a cult classic.

      Milligan later acted onstage and in small parts in movies—including Monty Python's Life of Brian (1979)—and wrote numerous books of poems, war memoirs, the play The Bedsitting Room (with John Antrobus; first performed 1962), and a number of television series. He also supported a multitude of causes, especially those involving the environment. Because Milligan's father was Irish and Milligan was born in India—and despite Milligan's years of military service—the British government did not consider him a citizen; rather than take an oath of allegiance, he took Irish citizenship. Nonetheless, he was made an honorary Commander of the British Empire in 1992 and was given an honorary knighthood in 2000.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Milligan, Spike — (1918 2002)    Terence Alan Milligan was born in India, where his Irish father was a captain in the Royal Artillery; he finished his education at the South East London Polytechnic in Lewisham. Determined to be an entertainer, he learned to play… …   British and Irish poets

  • Spike Milligan — Infobox Comedian bgcolour = silver name = Spike Milligan imagesize = 180 caption = Spike Milligan in his younger days birthname = Terence Alan Patrick Seán birth date = birth date|1918|4|16|df=y birth place = Ahmednagar, British India death date …   Wikipedia

  • Spike Milligan — Terence Alan Milligan, KBE (16 de abril de 1918 – 27 de febrero de 2002), más conocido como Spike Milligan, fue un actor, cómico, escritor, poeta y músico irlandés, de origen hindú. Contenido 1 Shows de comedia radial 2 …   Wikipedia Español

  • Spike Milligan — Pour les articles homonymes, voir Milligan. Terence Alan Patrick Seán Milligan, KBE, connu sous le nom de Spike Milligan, est un homme de spectacle irlandais, né le 16 avril 1918 à Ahmadnâgar (Inde) et décédé le… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Milligan — is a surname of Scottish origin. It may refer to: Alice Milligan (1865–1953), Irish nationalist and poet Andy Milligan (1929–1991), American playwright, screenwriter, and film director Billy Milligan (born 1955), noted sufferer of multiple… …   Wikipedia

  • Milligan — ist der Name von folgenden Personen: Andy Milligan (1929–1991), US amerikanischer Regisseur und Dramatiker Dustin Milligan (* 1985), kanadischer Schauspieler Hanik Milligan (* 1979), US amerikanischer Footballspieler Jacob L. Milligan (1889–1951) …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Spike — (homonymie) Cette page d’homonymie répertorie les différents sujets et articles partageant un même nom. Spike est un prénom américain. En anglais, spike signifie pique, aiguille, baïonnette ou peut désigner un outil destiné à piquer. En anglais,… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Spike Milligan — ➡ Milligan * * * …   Universalium

  • Spike Milligan — Sir Spike Milligan, KBE (* 16. April 1918 in Ahmadnagar, Indien; † 27. Februar 2002 bei Rye in East Sussex) war ein irischer Komiker, Schriftsteller, Dichter, Schauspieler und Jazz Musiker (Trompete und Gitarre). Biografie Spike Milligan wurde… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Spike (comics) — Superherobox| caption= comic color=background:#ff8080 character name=Spike real name=Owen species=Human Mutant publisher=Marvel Comics debut= X Force #121 creators=Peter Milligan, Mike Allred alliance color=background:#ffc0c0 alliances=X Force X… …   Wikipedia

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