Graham Chapman was heading for a career as a doctor until he met John Cleese at Cambridge University in the late 1950s. The duo were both members of the Footlights theatrical club, where they began writing comic skits. This partnership eventually led to the creation of Monty Python’s Flying Circus in 1969.
Chapman was considered the most subversive of the Monty Python members. When he was asked why he parodied authority figures, he said:
"Because they don't know their fucking business."
Chapman said that when he realized he was homosexual, it was "an important moment in my life". He met David Sherlock, his long-term partner, in Ibiza in 1966. When they returned to London and soon lived in together. The next year, Chapman came out to friends John Cleese and Marty Feldman.
In 1971, Chapman and Sherlock met John Tomiczek, a 14-year-old runaway from Liverpool. They later spoke with Tomiczek’s father, who agreed to let the pair become his legal guardians. (In later years, Tomiczek would become Chapman’s business manager.)
Chapman was a vocal supporter of Gay Rights. In 1972, he publicly supported the UK Gay Liberation Front and helped fund the pioneering newspaper Gay News. The same year, Chapman became one of the first British celebrities to come Out to the public - during a television chat show (although some say he was drunk at the time).
Chapman drank alcohol heavily most of his life. He once described it as:
“(It) was for relaxation. But it became more of a necessity. Four pints of gin a day is really hitting the juice.”
In 1973, while on tour with Monty Python, Chapman missed cues to go on stage and suffered from DTs (shakes, shivers, and confusion), which could last days.
In 1975, the Python Team began developing the script for “The Life of Brian”. Chapman had been considered by the team to be the best actor of the bunch, so he was cast as Brian. At Christmas 1977, Chapman became increasingly concerned that his drinking would impact his performance as Brian, so he quit drinking and remained sober for the rest of his life.
After the film opened in 1979, Chapman said:
“I'm still rediscovering myself. I don't really know who I am.”
Chapman took up pipe smoking at 15, which became a lifelong habit. It would have serious repercussions. In 1988, Chapman had a routine dentist appointment. The dentist discovered what appeared to be a small tumour on one of his tonsils. He had a tonsillectomy, but a year later, it was discovered that the cancer had spread into his spinal column. He underwent chemotherapy and other procedures, but it was determined the cancer was inoperable. Chapman died in October 1989, survived by his partner, David Sherlock, and his adopted son, John Tomiczek.
Chapman died the night before a planned Monty Python 20th anniversary celebration on the BBC. Python member Terry Jones called it "the worst case of party-pooping in all history".
At Chapman’s memorial service, close friend and writing partner John Cleese said:
“I guess that we're all thinking how sad it is that a man of such talent, of such capability for kindness, of such unusual intelligence, should now, so suddenly, be spirited away at the age of only forty-eight, before he'd achieved many of the things of which he was capable, and before he'd had enough fun. Well, I feel that I should say, nonsense. Good riddance to him, the freeloading bastard. I hope he fries! And the reason I feel I should say this is he would never forgive me if I didn't, if I threw away this glorious opportunity to shock you all on his behalf. Anything for him, but mindless good taste."
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