Sir Michael Palin, 82, confesses he is preparing for the end of his life and has finalised his will following the devastating death of his wife Helen, 80

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Sir Michael Palin shared that he’s making final preparations, as the passing of his cherished spouse has led him to deeply ponder his own impending end.

For over five decades, the beloved comedian known from Monty Python, now 82 years old, had been married to Helen Gibbins until her passing due to chronic kidney disease, just two years back.

His deceased mother’s death has led him to discuss death more candidly within the family. He has also completed his will and shared his passwords with others.

In an interview for the Marie Curie Couch podcast, he candidly shared: “I often ponder over mortality. My loved ones have a charming way of bringing up the topic: ‘Have you prepared a will? Could I potentially be included in it?’

I’ve prepared a will for future reference. In case anything happens to me, my family, especially my kids, are aware of where they can locate the necessary documents.

The multitalented individual (actor, writer, broadcaster) shares custody of three children – Thomas, aged 56, William, aged 54, and Rachel, aged 50 – with Helen. He admittedly has shared all his passwords with them, just in case an unfortunate incident were to occur, such as a bus accident.

‘However fit you are, anything might happen. But I don’t dwell on mortality. I dwell on life.’

On a summer vacation at the tender age of sixteen in the tranquil county of Suffolk, I crossed paths with the remarkable Helen. Her passing served as a profound reminder for me to stay acutely attuned to my very existence.

‘I’m 82 now, which is longer than any Palin male has lived for 200 years,’ he said. 

I’m maintaining my physical fitness, working diligently, and tackling some challenging tasks, including filming-related activities. Luckily, everything is going smoothly.

‘I try to convince myself that everything will be fine, but deep down I suspect it won’t be, as your exhaustion shows at times. You seem wobbly when rising from bed, and wonder if something is amiss. Truthfully, the old car isn’t running quite as smoothly anymore.’

In 2019, Michael had open-heart surgery to fix a valve, an event that heightened his awareness of our bodies’ vulnerability.

He expressed, “That was a lifesaver, truly,” he stated. “Having gone through such an experience myself, I believe it carries significant value – understanding that our bodies can be fragile. As we age, this fragility only increases.

He added that Helen’s death had prompted the entire family to confront death more directly.

I am overjoyed that each of my grandchildren had the opportunity to witness and comprehend until the very end, the process: when someone falls sick, their body eventually ceases functioning, and that’s the end.

They are aware of it, and they are free to inquire. I subsequently promoted this curiosity – should they be interested in understanding her health condition or about their grandfather: questions like, “When will you pass away?” Such topics are acceptable. Indeed, I find such discussions quite enriching.

Michael added that following Helen’s death, he struggled to imagine how he would survive.

At one point, he expressed that things seemed unlikely to improve for him, feeling as if each day would be filled with sadness and occasional bouts of tears.

‘Things have improved and adapted over time, and now, as it stands, I can consider Helen again. She’s always with me – in the form of photographs.’

I haven’t discarded anything related to her. The family embodies her memory, which has eased the process immensely.

Even under meticulous situations when you confidently assert, “I’ve got this handled, I know the steps,” surprisingly, it turns out that you aren’t fully prepared.

You have no idea at all, it’s like an unexpected blow. You never can tell what will occur, how you might feel, or how you’ll respond.

Inquired about his preferred legacy, Michael responded: ‘I wouldn’t want to be seen as being placed on a pedestal or any kind of elevated status.’

‘Helen showed great enthusiasm about that topic… It was clear she was delighted when I accomplished certain tasks, yet she didn’t dwell excessively on it. Instead, her focus shifted towards inquiring if I could fix the flat tire on the car.’

He remembered a particular time while shooting in Tibet, when he managed to call her from up high on the Tibetan Plateau.

I asked her if she could guess where I was, but all she cared about was finding the plumber’s phone number. The bathroom boiler had broken down and was making a loud hissing sound.

During our conversation, I didn’t share any details about the stunning scenery with her… And so, that’s essentially life for you. I believe that’s also a reflection of what death might be like too.

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2025-07-30 13:49