Billy Connelly

William Connelly was born and brought up in Glasgow, Scotland. He left school to work in the shipyards where he became a welder then joining the TA. He developed an interest in folk music, eventually becoming 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 across the UK after appearing on the Michael Parkinson show in the early seventies. His first role was in play for today in The Elephants' Graveyard.

Billy has released many recordings of his concert performances over the years as well as several videos. He has expanded his repertoire to include acting, appearing in a number of television dramas and films, more 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'. He is by some considerable margin UK’s top comedian as well as an accomplished actor.

Other film roles include; The Man Who Sued God, Muppet Treasure Island and more recently Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events.

Billy has 3 children with his wife and also comedy actresses Pamela Stephenson, whom he married in 1989. He spends his time in between performing in America and Australia.

 

Billy minus Beard and Long Hair!

Billy's recent role as Uncle Monty, Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events

Biography

  • Boondock II: All Saints Day
  • The Snow Goose
  • Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events
  • The Last Samurai
  • Timeline
  • White Oleander
  • The Man Who Sued God
  • Prince Charming
  • Who Is Cletis Tout?
  • Gabriel & Me
  • Gentlemen's Relish
  • Kingdom Swann
  • An Everlasting Piece
  • ColuBeautiful Joembo: Murder with Too Many Notes
  • The Boondock Saints
  • The Debt Collector
  • Middleton's Changeling
  • Still Crazy
  • The Impostors
  • Deacon Brodie
  • Paws
  • Mrs. Brown
  • Beverly Hills
  • Muppet Treasure Island
  • Pocahontas
  • Down Among the Big Boys
  • Indecent Proposal
  • "Billy" (1992) TV Series
  • The Big Man
  • The Return of the Musketeers
  • The Hunting of the Snark
  • To the North of Katmandu
  • "Head of the Class"
  • Water
  • Bullshot
  • Blue Money
  • Worzel Gummidge
  • Absolution
  • The Elephants' Graveyard
  • Just Another Saturday
News
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Did you know?
  • Billy's trademark is his beard and lomg hair its amazing how much different he actually looks without it (see pictures)
  • American audiences are generally unfamiliar with Connolly's musical accomplishments, since he all but eliminated the songs from his act before he became popular in North America . An exception to this was his guest appearance on " Pearl " in which he sang one of his old songs, "I Wish I Was in Glasgow ", in a duet with Malcolm McDowell
  • Billy once paradied naked through the streets of London for charity.
  • In July 2001: Received an honorary doctorate from the University of Glasgow
  • Is a long time supporter of Glasgow Celtic Football Club
  • Is a former reserve soldier in Britain 's elite Parachute Regiment, serving with 15 Para
  • His nickname is the 'Big Yin'.

Researched from various sources on the net, Local Comedy Connections accept on responsiblity for the accuracy of this article.

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