Former member of British comedy troupe Monty Python Michael Palin mourns the loss of his wife. “My beloved wife Helen passed away in the early hours of Tuesday morning,” Palin wrote on his website. She was the cornerstone of his life, he wrote.

“Her calm, wise judgment informed all my decisions, and her humor and practical sense have been at the center of our life together,” Palin continued. Two and a half weeks ago they celebrated their 57th marriage anniversary, but his wife suffered from chronic pain and kidney failure.

Palin, who turns 80 on May 5, has appeared on Monty Python classics like ‘Brian’s Life’ (1979) and other hit films by the notorious black humor group. He is also known for his role as animal lover Ken Pile in the comedy A Fish Called Wanda. More recently, he has also made a name for himself as a travel reporter.