- Born
- Birth nameWilliam Connolly
- Nickname
- The Big Yin
- Height6′ (1.83 m)
- Billy Connolly was born and raised in Glasgow, Scotland. He left school to work in the shipyards, becoming a welder, and joined the Territorial Army (in the parachute regiment) at around the same time. He developed an interest in folk music, eventually being an accomplished banjo player and a member of the band Humblebums with Gerry Rafferty (later of Baker Street fame). The jokes he told between songs eventually took over his act and he became a full-time comedian. Already a big star in Scotland, he became a household name in the UK after appearing on Parkinson (1971) in the early seventies. Billy has released many recordings and videos of his concert performances over the years. He has expanded his repertoire to include acting, appearing in a number of television dramas and films, most recently in the USA. In the 90s he made two documentary series for the BBC, about Scotland and Australia respectively, and in 1997 he starred in the award winning film Mrs. Brown (1997). He is one of the UK's top comedians.- IMDb mini biography by: Anonymous
- SpousesPamela Stephenson(December 20, 1989 - present) (3 children)Iris Pressagh(June 27, 1969 - August 1, 1985) (divorced, 2 children)
- Children
- ParentsMary ConnollyWilliams Connolly
- Goatee beard
- Tangential storytelling in stand-up comedy performances, often featuring multilayered digressions from original story.
- Banjo playing
- Use of bad language in his stand-up routines
- Long hair
- Billy's Parkinson's Disease was initially diagnosed under informal circumstances in that he was approached by a doctor in his L.A. hotel lobby after an appearance on Conan O'Brien's show in 2012. After the doctor introduced himself as a fan, he then remarked that Billy's shuffling gait resembled that of someone with the possible early onset of the disease and advised him to get a medical checkup.
- Diagnosed with early-stage prostate cancer and Parkinson's Disease [September 16, 2013].
- In September 2005, he announced that he is returning to live in his native Scotland, after residing in the United States for some years.
- In an article with The Guardian newspaper on 23 September 2001, Connolly revealed his childhood trauma of being sexually abused by his father and physically abused by his aunt. His mother abandoned the family when he was 3 years old and the family lived in poverty with Connolly sharing a sofa bed with his father. This led to him drinking and doing drugs which he would overcome with the help of his psychologist wife.
- He is a former reserve soldier in Britain's elite parachute regiment, serving with 15 Para (now a disbanded battalion).
- I'm now a Doctor of Letters. Most of them Fs and Bs.
- Life for me is great. I'm a very f***in' wealthy person, I'm married to a very beautiful woman and I get laid with monotonous regularity.
- I think my securities far outweigh my insecurities. I am not nearly as afraid of myself and my imagination as I used to be.
- In Scotland, there is no such thing as bad weather - only the wrong clothes.
- Before you judge a man, walk a mile in his shoes. After that who cares?... He's a mile away and you've got his shoes!
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