Terence Alan Patrick Seán Milligan, known as Spike, was a comedian, writer and musician. He was of Irish descent, but spent most of his childhood in India and lived most of his later life in England, moving to Australia after retirement. He is famous for his work in The Goon Show, children's poetry and a series of comical autobiographical novels about his experiences serving in the British Army in WWII. Spike Milligan suffered from bipolar disorder, which led to depression and frequent breakdowns, but he will be remembered as a comic genius. His tombstone reads 'I told you I was ill' in Gaelic.
Son of Captain L.A. Milligan MSM RA (retd).
In 1994 was awarded a British Comedy award for Lifetime Achievement, where he famously referred to Prince Charles as a "little grovelling bastard" live on TV.
Spike and June had three children, Laura Milligan , Sean and Sile.
Spike and Paddy had a daughter (Jane Milligan ) in 1964.
Spike had a daughter (Romany) by a Canadian journalist in 1975.
Spike had a son (James Maughan-Milligan ) after an affair with Margaret Maughan in 1975.
Spike has a younger brother, Desmond Milligan.
His family came back to England in 1933 when his father was retired from the British Army in India.
Spikes parents and brother Desmond moved out to Woy-Woy, New South Wales, Australia. Spike often visited them out there.
Spike has at last been officially recognised by the establishment. He was awarded a knighthood in the 2000 New Years honours list. But because hes an Irish citizen (he refused to take the oath of loyalty when he became stateless in 1960, despite spending 7 years on active service in the British Army) he can only be awarded an honorary knighthood.
Once anonymously placed an advert in the lonely hearts section of Englands Private Eye magazine which said Wanted - rich elderly widow - object, murder, and got several replies.
Wrote a series of books detailing his experiences in World War Two and afterwards: "Adolf Hitler: My Part In His Downfall", "Rommel? Gunner Who?", "Mussolini: My Part In His Downfall", "Goodbye Soldier", "Monty: My Part In His Victory", "Peace Work", "Where Have All the Bullets Gone?".
In October 1964 he appeared in "Oblomov", a play based on a book of the same name by Ivan Goncharov. The play was not a comedy, and he had intended to play his role seriously. However, the play was unsuccessful until Spike began to ab lib. After five weeks of success with the now transformed play it was renamed "Son of Oblomov", changed theaters, and continued to be a hit for several months.
Was a skilled musician, and played the trumpet and guitar professionaly during the second world war.
His poetry is strongly influenced by Lewis Carroll and Edward Lear.
George Martin , the producer of The Beatles , was the best man at his second wedding.
Was a member of the Bill Hall Trio, a very successful jazz band near and after the end of WWII. While the band was touring in Yugoslavia, Spike found himself completely without money, and joined the local Communist party in order to recieve a free meal.
The inscription on his tombstone reads "Dirt m leat go raibh m breoite", which is Irish for "I told you I was ill.".
When Peter Sellers and Stanley Kubrick were stuck for an ending for Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb , it was Milligan who suggested the use of the Vera Lynn song "Well Meet Again".
Roald Dahl had wanted Spike to play his character "Willy Wonka" on the big screen. The studio instead chose Gene Wilder.
He considered Aladdin to be the greatest film of all time.
Is portrayed by Edward Tudor-Pole in The Life and Death of Peter Sellers .
He became an Honorary Knight Bachelor in the 2001 Queens New Year Honours List for his services to Entertainment.
Once made out his autograph to a then unknown David Jason , which Jason treasured. Milligan later wrote the Phantom Raspberry Blower of Old London Town for "The Two Ronnies" , and Jason provided them (which he claims to be a master at).
While in World War II, he put on shows to pass the time with entertainment.
A memorial service was held for him at the Church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields on 24 June 2002.
He was awarded an Honorary CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in the 1992 Queens Birthday Honours List for his services to entertainment.
[on his 62nd birthday] Any man can be 62, but it takes a bus to be 62A.
A sure cure for seasickness is to sit under a tree.
(On his gravestone): "I told you I was ill".
Life is a long agonized illness only curable by death.
With a roof over his head he had ceased to work, living off his [war] pension and his wits, both hopelessly inadequate.
Busty’ Roberts had joined the Royal Artillery in 1914 and since then had steadily risen to the rank of Gunner. Now the crunch: someone with a perverted sense of humour made him a Lance Bombardier. Roberts went insane with power. The war now consisted of two people, him and Hitler.
Some people live a nothing life: the most important thing they ever do is die. Thank God for eccentrics! Take Gunner Octavian Neat. He would suddenly appear naked in a barrack room and say, “Does anybody know a good tailor?”, or “Gentlemen – I think there’s a thief in the battery. ” He was the bane of the Regiment.
. . . Roberts had joined the Royal Artillery in 1914 and since then had steadily risen to the rank of Gunner. Now the crunch: someone with a perverted sense of humour made him a Lance Bombardier. Roberts went insane with power. The war now consisted of two people, him and Hitler.
Many people die of thirst but the Irish are born with one.
I have the body of an eighteen year old. I keep it in the fridge.
A sure cure for seasickness is to sit under a tree.
How long was I in the army? Five foot eleven.
I can speak Esperanto like a native.
When I get depressed, I try to get something for the terrible sadness that comes over me and create something in terms of poetry.
My Father had a profound influence on me. He was a lunatic. .
