John Young

John Young as Frank, the historian in Monty Python and the Holy Grail. John Young (16 June 1916 – 30 October 1996) was a British actor from Edinburgh, Scotland. He is the father of the actor Paul Young.

Career Young joined the Edinburgh Gateway Company in 1953, playing Tammas Biggar in Graham Moffat's Bunty Pulls the Strings. His film credits include The Wicker Man (1973, as the fishmonger), Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975, as Frank, the historian, and the "I'm not dead!" man), Monty Python's Life of Brian (1979, as Matthias), Black Angel (1980), The Dollar Bottom (1980) and Chariots of Fire (1981). On television, he played Rev Iain McPherson in the ITV soap opera Take the High Road for a number of years.

Theatre Year Title Role Company Director Notes 1953 The Forrigan Reel Grant of Forrigan Gateway Theatre Company, Edinburgh James Gibson play by James Bridie 1953 Bunty Pulls the Strings Tammas Biggar Gateway Theatre Company, Edinburgh James Gibson play by Graham Moffat 1981 Let Wives Tak Tent Montgomery The Scottish Theatre Company David Thompson play by Robert Kemp

Filmography Year Title Role Notes1969 Ring of Bright Water Guard 1971 The Massacre of Glencoe Colonel Hill 1973 The Wicker Man Fishmonger 1975 Monty Python and the Holy Grail Dead Body / Historian Frank 1977 Moonshine County Express Starkey's Man 1978 My Way Home Shop assistant 1979 Monty Python's Life of Brian Matthias, Son of Deuteronomy of Gath 1979 Black Jack Dr. Hunter 1980 Black Angel The Old Man Short1980 The Dollar Bottom Short1981 Chariots of Fire Reverend. J.D. Liddell 1981 Time Bandits Reginald 1983 Every Picture Tells a Story Artist