Spike Milligan was an Irish-British actor and comedian who is best known for The Goon Show, Adolf Hitler: My Part in His Downfall, and Yellowbeard. He was born on April 16, 1918, in Ahmednagar, India, and passed away on February 27, 2002, in Rye, England.
Personal and Family Life
Spike Milligan was born Terence Alan Patrick Sean Milligan and raised in a military family. He had three children from his first marriage and one child from his second. He was married to Shelagh Milligan at the time of his death in 2002.
Career
Milligan had a significant impact on comedy, particularly through his work on The Goon Show. He served in the British Army during World War II, which influenced his later comedic style. Despite his success, he struggled with mental health issues, including depression, throughout his life.
Death and Legacy
Spike Milligan died on February 27, 2002, due to kidney failure. His tombstone famously reads, “Dúirt mé leat go raibh mé breoite,” meaning “I told you I was ill” in Irish. He left behind a legacy of laughter and was posthumously recognized for his contributions to comedy.
Filmography
| Title | Release Date | Character |
|---|---|---|
| The Three Musketeers | 1973-12-11 | M. Bonancieux |
| Adolf Hitler – My Part in His Downfall | 1973-06-12 | Leo Milligan |
| Yellowbeard | 1983-06-24 | Flunkie |
| The Magic Christian | 1969-12-12 | Traffic Warden |
| The Case of the Mukkinese Battle-Horn | 1956-01-01 | Assorted |
| Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland | 1972-11-20 | Gryphon |
| Penny Points to Paradise | 1951-04-25 | Spike Donnelly |
| The Hound of the Baskervilles | 1978-08-01 | Policeman |
| Digby, the Biggest Dog in the World | 1973-12-01 | Dr. Harz |
| Let’s Go Crazy | 1951-05-01 | Multiple Roles |
| The Great McGonagall | 1975-01-23 | William Topaz McGonagall |
| Watch Your Stern | 1960-10-14 | Ranjid – Civilian electrician #1 |
| Down Among the Z Men | 1952-10-01 | Pvt. Eccles |
| The Big Freeze | 1993-11-17 | Der Schauspieler |
| Life of Brian | 1979-08-17 | Spike |