How many original members were in Monty Python? Six. The original troupe consisted of Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin.
The group formed in Britain in 1969 and became famous through Monty Python's Flying Circus, which first aired on the BBC that year. Five members were British performers and writers; Terry Gilliam was the American animator whose surreal cut-out sequences became a defining part of the show's style.
A common mix-up is confusing the six core Pythons with the much larger group of writers, performers and collaborators who appeared in their programmes. Carol Cleveland, Neil Innes and others were important contributors, but they were not members of the original six-person troupe. The group also worked with many guest performers across its television series and films.
The six members had different creative strengths: Chapman and Cleese often formed a writing partnership, Jones and Palin frequently collaborated, Idle wrote many songs and monologues, and Gilliam created the animation. Together they expanded beyond television into films such as Monty Python and the Holy Grail and Life of Brian.