Terry Gilliam's not dead: Variety magazine apologises for massive screw up

Terry Gilliam isn't dead, despite Variety's report to the contrary.

Monty Python's Terry Gilliam is not dead, he's just resting, or maybe stunned.

The comedy legend's death was accidentally and incorrectly announced by Variety magazine, in what appeared to be a pre-pepared obituary accidentally published online.

"Director Terry Gilliam, the only American member of the Monty Python comedy troupe and an Oscar nominee for the screenplay to his film Brazil has died," read the article.

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It remained online without correction for several hours before Variety addressed the mistake.

CORRECTION: Variety incorrectly published an article stating that director Terry Gilliam passed away. We're deeply sorry for the mistake.

— Variety (@Variety) September 8, 2015

The article was possibly published in response to a hoax Facebook page announcing his death.

The Twitter-verse wasted no time in referencing Monty Python's classic "dead parrot" sketch in response to the incident.

"He may be trending - but thankfully Terry Gilliam isn't dead - despite what you might have read. Now, about that parrot," tweeted user Nick Spense.

"Monty Python's Terry Gilliam is not dead. He's resting... he's stunned... he's pining for the fjords," tweeted Mark Humphries.

Other sketches including the Black Night ("Variety has downgraded Terry Gilliam from dead to "merely a flesh wound") and the plague sketch from Monty Python and the Holy Grail ("I'm not dead! I'm getting better!") were also referenced.

- nzherald.co.nz