Terry Jones, Monty Python co-founder and British comedy icon, dies at 77

The New York Times

Jones, who had been diagnosed with dementia in 2016, died Tuesday night at his home in North London. Together with fellow Brits Michael Palin, Eric Idle, John Cleese and Graham Chapman and American Terry Gilliam, Jones formed Monty Python in 1969. Their TV sketch show Monty Python's Flying Circus became a phenomenon in the mid-1970s, starting in Britain and then the United States, which led to several acclaimed feature films. "I loved him the moment I saw him on stage at the Edinburgh Festival in 1963," Idol tweeted of Jones. "So many laughs,moments of total hilarity onstage and off we have all shared with him. It’s too sad if you knew him,but if you didn’t you will always smile at the many wonderfully funny moments he gave us." Fellow Python Cleese added: It feels strange that a man of so many talents and such endless enthusiasm, should have faded so gently away...Of his many achievements, for me the greatest gift he gave us all was his direction of Life of Brian. Perfection." British comedian Stephen Fry also paid tribute, tweeting: "The great foot has come down to stamp on you. My god what pleasure you gave, what untrammelled joy and delight. What a wonderful talent, heart and mind." ALSO: Read more tributes to Terry Jones.