Terry Gilliam laughs off death reports

Terry Gilliam has laughed off reports of his death.

Hollywood film industry bible Variety mistakenly announced that the 74-year-old former Python had passed away today.

In response the comedian and director responded on Facebook: 'I APOLOGIZE FOR BEING DEAD especially to those who have already bought tickets to the upcoming talks, but, Variety has announced my demise. Don't believe their retraction and apology!'

Variety's obituary, headlined 'Monty Python's Terry Gilliam, director of Brazil, dies at XXX' was online for several hours yesterday before editors realised the error. The publication later tweeted: 'CORRECTION: Variety incorrectly published an article stating that director Terry Gilliam passed away. We're deeply sorry for the mistake.'

Gilliam is due to release an autobiography, Gilliamesque, on October 1, which is subtitled 'a pre-posthumous memoir'. (Preorder) And he is giving a talk at the Royal Festival Hall in London on October 7 to promote it.

Published: 9 Sep 2015