Photo: Greg2600 / CC BY-SA 2.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
My Take
Terry Gilliam is, to me, the patron saint of the gloriously unreasonable filmmaker. Starting with those anarchic cut-out animations, he developed a visual language so personal that a single frame announces its author. Films like The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus blur dream and nightmare in ways no committee would ever sanction, which is exactly why I treasure them. I love that an industry suspicious of his excess still couldn't deny him, handing over the Winsor McCay Award, lifetime honors, and French cultural medals. His stubborn refusal to sand down his imagination for commerce feels increasingly precious, and I admire him for it without reservation.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Terry Gilliam
- Name (Japanese)
- テリー・ギリアム
- Reading
- てりー・ぎりあむ
- Born
- November 22, 1940 (age 85)
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Scorpio / Dragon
- Origin
- Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
- Blood type
- Private
- Height
- Private
- Agency
- Private
- Occupation
- film director / screenwriter / comedian / animator / film actor
2. Background
- Elementary school
- Private
- Junior high
- Private
- High school
- Birmingham High School
- University
- Occidental College
Awards & achievements
- Officer of Arts and Letters
- 2011 European Film Award for Best Short Film
- 2012 Winsor McCay Award
- 2001 European Film Academy Lifetime Achievement Award
- 2009 Inkpot Award
- Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres
- 2000 Time Machine Award
- 2004 Annual award ACFK
3. Relationships
- Spouse
- Private
- Children
- Private
- Parents
- Private
- Siblings
- Private
4. Personality
Motto
Private
5. Works & records
| Category | Title | Role | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notable work | The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus | — |
6. Links
Frequently asked questions
When was Terry Gilliam born?
Born November 22, 1940 (age 85).
Where is Terry Gilliam from?
Terry Gilliam is from Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States.
What does Terry Gilliam do?
Terry Gilliam works as film director, screenwriter, comedian, animator, film actor.
What is Terry Gilliam known for?
Notable works include The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus.
Film director — see all → · Screenwriter — see all → · More people from United States →
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-11
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public items are marked "Private / Unknown". English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.