Born Terence Milligan. A British "army brat," he grew up in India, Burma, and Ceylon (Sri Lanka), then moved to England in his mid teens. In 1936 he began his performing career as a singer and trumpeter. He became well known in the '50s on the English radio show Crazy People, which developed into the legendary Goon Show. He wrote much of his own comedy material for the show, and did the same on a number of TV series. He debuted onscreen in 1951, but -- although busy as a screen actor -- never achieved as much success in films as on radio and TV. He co-wrote the play The Bed-Sitting Room and authored several comic novels as well as books of nonsense and verse.
Spike Milligan
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Factsheet
- Despite serving in the British Army for 6 years, he was never given British citizenship because he was born in India and refused to swear the Oath of Allegiance; he instead became an Irish citizen.
- While doing his military service he wrote and performed comedy sketches as part of concerts to entertain troops.
- Was injured by a mortar in 1940 and suffered from shell shock.
- As a staunch environmentalist, he attacked an art exhibition that was going to electrocute fish in 1971.
- Was made an honorary Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1992.
- Was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at the British Comedy Awards in 1994.
- Was made an honorary Knight of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) in 2000.
- Wanted to have "I told you I was ill" on his gravestone but the local diocese would not allow it, so he had the Irish translation of it instead.