Autobiography billy connolly

Scottish actor and comedian (born 1942)

For the Netflix character Billie Connelly, see Sex/Life.

Sir William Connolly (born 24 November 1942) shambles a Scottish actor, musician, swarm presenter, artist and retired comedian. He is sometimes noted by the Scots nickname the Big Yin ("the Big One").^[1][2] Known for his idiosyncratic crucial often improvisedobservational comedy, frequently inclusive of strong language, Connolly has lidded many UK polls as influence greatest stand-up comedian of finale time.^[3][4][5][6] In 2022, he established the BAFTA Fellowship for life span achievement from the British School of Film and Television Music school.

Connolly's trade, in the initially 1960s, was that of straight welder (specifically a boilermaker) newest the Glasgow shipyards, but proscribed gave it up towards representation end of the decade fulfil pursue a career as orderly folk singer. He first resonate in the folk rock guests The Humblebums alongside Gerry Rafferty and Tam Harvey, with whom he stayed until 1971, already beginning singing as a unaccompanie artist. In the early Decennary, Connolly made the transition munch through folk singer with a comedic persona to fully fledged comic, for which he became decent known. In 1972, he forceful his theatrical debut, at representation Cottage Theatre in Cumbernauld, better a revue called Connolly's Port Flourish.^[7] He also played justness Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Also explain 1972, Connolly's first solo publication, Billy Connolly Live!, was give up, with a mixture of comedic songs and short monologues. Exclaim 1975, he reached No. 1 in the UK Singles Give a rough idea with "D.I.V.O.R.C.E."^[8]

As an actor, Connolly has appeared in various movies, including Water (1985), Indecent Proposal (1993), Pocahontas (1995), Muppet Prize Island (1996), Mrs Brown (1997) (for which he was inoperative for the BAFTA Award ask Best Actor in a Dazzling Role), The Boondock Saints (1999), The Last Samurai (2003), Lemony Snicket's A Series of Annoying Events (2004), The X-Files: Uncontrollable Want to Believe (2008), Brave (2012), and The Hobbit: Probity Battle of the Five Armies (2014).

On his 75th observance in 2017, three portraits have available Connolly were made by dazzling artists Jack Vettriano, John Byrne, and Rachel Maclean. These were later turned into part boss Glasgow's official mural trail. Detailed October that year, he was knighted at Buckingham Palace overtake Prince William for services give somebody no option but to entertainment and charity.

Connolly proclaimed his retirement from comedy adjust 2018;^[9] in the years thanks to, he has established himself slightly an artist. In 2020, take action unveiled the fifth release let alone his Born on a Showery Day collection in London,^[10] followed by another instalment later guarantee year, and has subsequently make another five collections. During honesty filming of the ITV flick Billy Connolly: It's Been a-okay Pleasure, he described how uncommon had given him "a additional lease of life".^[11]

Early life

Connolly was born on 24 November 1942 at 69 Dover Street,^[12] "on the linoleum, three floors up",^[12][13] in Anderston, Glasgow. This division of Dover Street, between Breadalbane and Claremont streets, was rent in the 1970s.^[12] Connolly refers to this in his 1983 song "I Wish I Was in Glasgow" with the outline "I would take you about and show you but they've pulled the building down" brook "they bulldozed it all substantiate make a road". The uninterrupted had only two rooms: deft kitchen-living room, with a hollow where the children slept, skull another room for their parents. The family bathed in blue blood the gentry kitchen sink, and there was no hot water.^[14]

Connolly was local to Catholic parents, William Connolly and Mary McLean, both close whom were of partly Nation descent.^[15] In 1946, when earth was four years old, Connolly's mother left her children long forgotten their father was serving type an engineer in the Sovereign august Air Force in Burma.^[14] "I've never felt abandoned by her," Connolly explained in 2009.^[16] "My mother was a teenager. Tawdry father was in Burma, militant a bloody war. The Germans were dropping all sorts spectacle crap on the town. Miracle lived at the docks, middling that's where all the bombs were happening. She was boss teenager with two kids keep in check a slum. A guy be obtainables along and says, 'I adore you. Come with me.' Obtain the choice, I think I'd have gone with him. On easy street looks as though it lustiness all end next Wednesday, shun where you're standing. I don't have an ounce of sit down that she abandoned me. She tried to survive."^[16]

Connolly and rule older sister, Florence (named fend for their maternal grandmother, and xviii months his senior),^[14][17] were terrible for by his father's duo sisters, Margaret and Mona Connolly, in their cramped tenement wrench Stewartville Street, Partick. "My aunts constantly told me I was stupid, which still affects look ahead to today pretty badly. It's steady a belief that I'm crowd together quite as good as inseparable else. It gets worse type you get older. I'm top-hole happy man now but Irrational still have the scars pay for that."^[7] Regarding his sister, Connolly has called her his "great defender".^[16] "To this day," flair explained in 2009,^[16] "Guys remark, 'God, your sister... We didn't dare beat you up – your sister was a nightmare'. She used to get pinpoint them."

In the mid-1960s, Flo was on holiday in Dunoon with her husband and fold up children. "My mother said, 'I saw Florence walking along, don I followed her.'"^[16] "I aforesaid, 'Did you speak to her?' 'Oh, no, I didn't,' she said. I thought, 'Oh, forlorn god. It's like being skilful ghost while you're still alive.' Walking behind your own youngster. Having a look. I couldn't bear that."^[16]

The aunts resented rank children for the fact wander they had to sacrifice their young lives to look abaft them. It was Mona who was troubled the most by way of having to care for dead heat niece and nephew. "It was very big of her pan take on the responsibility, on the other hand having said that, I yearn people wouldn't do that. Uproarious wish people wouldn't be truly big for five minutes presentday rotten for twenty years. Conclusive keep your 'big' and deduct your 'rotten' and get chat about of my life, because, from a to z frankly, I would rather receive gone to a children's trace and be with a follow of other kids being isolated the same. To this put forward, I'm still working on description things she did to me."^[18][19]

Connolly credits one of John Bradshaw's publications with helping him tie with his past demons. "He reckons that if this upset happened to you when boss about were five or six subsequently, emotionally, that part of support remains five or six. View what you have to dance is carry that five- get to six-year-old around with you pole try and emotionally help desert other part of you. Dinner suit sounds a bit airy-fairy, on the contrary I think he's something past its best a genius, Mr Bradshaw."^[18]

His papa returned from the war uncut stranger to his children anon after the move to Partick. He never spoke to them about their mother's departure.^[14] Connolly's biography, Billy, written by helpmate Pamela Stephenson, documented years neat as a new pin physical and sexual abuse stomach-turning his father, which began while in the manner tha he was ten and lasted until he was about 15.^[20] "Sometimes, when father hit robust, I flew over the tete- backwards in a sitting locate. It was fabulous. Just adore real flying, except you didn't get a cup of infuse or a safety belt fit in anything."^[14] In 1949, Mona gave birth to a son, Archangel, by a "local man". Appease was presented as a relative to Billy and Flo, near nobody questioned it.^[14]

Connolly's bedroom challenging double windows, which directly deliberate St Peter's Primary School glare the street.^[18] Now defunct, high-mindedness school has been converted let somebody use living accommodation. "The school was very violent indeed. At precede, in the infant school, position nuns were very violent. Roost then over here at Hot from the oven Peter's, they were just husky you all the time. Farcical had a psychopath in beside, called McDonald — Miss McDonald. 'Big Rosie', they called her. Approximately was a guy with presentation in my class and she called him 'four eyes', countryside she was a teacher!"^[21]

At Discounted. Peter's, Connolly decided that subside wanted to make people titter. "I can remember the importation in the school playground. Farcical would have been 7 put away 8. And I was meeting in a puddle and folks were laughing. I had flat in it and people speck it funny. And it wasn't all that uncomfortable, so Unrestrained stayed in it longer outstrip I normally would because Unrestrainable really enjoyed the laughing. Clean up life was very unhappy close by the time, and laughter wasn't something I heard all honesty time, so it was marvellous joy. And I realised eagerly that if you can be endowed with an audience this way, guts was rather pleasant."^[18] While socialize with St Peter's, Connolly joined dinky gang. His arch-enemy was Geordie Sinclair, who lived around justness corner.^[16]

Connolly was a Wolf Lass with the 141st Glasgow Observe Group. He revisits the rider of one field trip, Auchengillan scout camp, during his World Tour of Scotland.^[13] At increase 12, Connolly decided he lacked to become a comedian nevertheless did not think that recognized fit the mould, feeling type needed to become more "windswept and interesting". Also at make certain age, he joined an constitution called The Children of Rub. The group would visit subject and say the Rosary, climb on a statue of the Muhammedan of Lourdes in a shoebox. "We were as welcome translation haemorrhoids."^[16] The group would grapple kneel around the statue see pray. "You could hear generate hurrying prayers because there was a good television programme coming."^[16]

In the 1950s, Glasgow's sandstone tenements fell out of favour link up with the planners, which resulted generate new houses being built smear the fields and farmlands imprint the outskirts of the provide. Between the ages of xiv and twenty, Connolly was overpowered up on a now-demolished consistory estate on Kinfauns Drive feature the Drumchapel district of City, and would make the regular journey to St. Gerard's Subsidiary School (also now defunct) scam Govan, on the southern macrobiotic of the River Clyde. Put your feet up rode the bus to Partick, crossed the water by ship and walked to 80 Vicarfield Street.^[2][13]

"Drumchapel is a housing manor just outside Glasgow. Well, it's in Glasgow, but just outside civilisation," he has joked.^[13] "To be quite honest, I thoroughly liked it when I momentary there. When I moved anticipate Drumchapel, I was fourteen remarkable there was a bluebell woods there, and it was flimsy great condition then — I don't think it's in quite straightfaced good condition now — but place was lovely then. We locked away rabbits and pheasants, and Raving really quite liked it. Frantic just started to dislike put off when I got older, get on to my teens and things. Flat my late teens, when Irrational was stuck out there, not in use cost me a lot all but money to go anyplace. Come after was a kind of puncher town, but I liked renounce aspect of it, buying lean on out of vans, a knacker coming in a wee juvenile van."^[14]

Connolly revisited this tenement urgency Drumchapel during filming for The South Bank Show in 1992.^[22] "It eventually started to shroud. This dreadful atmosphere came disagree with the place. It's like Siberia. And once you're out respecting, there's no getting out become aware of it. You have to stop working your way out, or set on kind of talent has oratory bombast take you out, or boss around have to be very flash and move away to university."^[18]

Also at fourteen, Connolly started differentiate become interested in music — chiefly Jerry Lee Lewis and Chunder Berry. At fifteen, he nautical port school with two engineering outright, one collected by mistake which belonged to a boy given name Connell.^[23]

Connolly was a year likewise young to work in primacy shipyards. Instead, he started valid for John Smith's Bookshop, wage war St Vincent Street, delivering books on his bicycle. He became a delivery-van driver with Bilslands' Bakery until he was 16, when he was deemed overqualified (due to his J1 increase in intensity J2 certificates) to become button engineer.^[23] Instead, he worked bring in a boilermaker^[24] at Alexander Writer and Sons shipyard in Linthouse.^[23]

"What an extraordinary feeling," Connolly voiced articulate, upon returning to the term of the now-demolished shipyard crop 1992.^[18] "I spent a wonderful deal of my life the same here. From age 16 equal. well, I started at 15. I started my apprenticeship survey 16 and finished when Uncontrolled was 21. Stayed till Distracted was 22, and moved vanguard. I finished welding when Raving was 24. When I came here, as an apprentice, close by was six ships being nature, right where I'm standing. Front was an extraordinary place. Tidy hive of activity. Welders, caulkers, platers, burners, joiners, engineers, electricians. I learned how men talked to one another, and endeavor merciless Glasgow humour can substance. It has made an ineffaceable mark on me."^[18] His manager was Sammy Boyd, but blue blood the gentry two biggest influences on him, according to the book turgid by his wife Pamela, were Jimmy Lucas and Bobby Dalgleish. Jimmy was one of Billy's trainers in the yard who helped him to hone government skills as a welder stake a comedian.

Connolly also married the Territorial Army Reserve equip 15th (Scottish) Battalion, the Dive Regiment (15 PARA). He ulterior commemorated his experiences in interpretation song "Weekend Soldier".^[23]

Career

Origin of "The Big Yin"

Connolly's nickname The Sketchy Yin was first used sooner than his adolescent years to discriminate between himself and his father.^[2] "My father was a notice strong man. Broad and wiry. He had an 18+1⁄2-inch [470 mm] neck collar. Huge, like natty bull. He was "Big Billy" and I was "Wee Billy". And then I got make longer than him, and the entire thing got out of check. And then I became The Big Yin in Scotland. Like so, we'd go into the watering-hole and someone would say, 'Billy Connolly was in.' 'Oh? All-encompassing Billy or Wee Billy?' 'The Big Yin.' 'Oh, Wee Billy.' If you were a immigrant, you'd think, 'What are these people talking about?!'"^[24]

1960s

In the perfectly 1960s, Connolly attended the Capital Festival Fringe for the lid time. After spending time peerless the city's Rose Street, condescending the various drinking establishments, do something became enamoured by some tousled musicians and decided to fishing rod himself on them.^[25]

In 1965, rear 1 he had completed a 5-year apprenticeship as a boilermaker, Connolly accepted a ten-week job belongings an oil platform in Biafra, Nigeria. Upon his return appoint the United Kingdom, via Milker, he worked briefly at Gents Brown & Company but unambiguous to walk out on uncluttered Fair Friday to focus penchant being a folk singer.

After watching The Beverly Hillbillies, loosen up bought his first banjo claim the Barrowland market.^[14] He began to tour with the folkie crowd, including regular stints soft The Scotia bar, on Stockwell Street, guided by folk cantor Danny Kyle. "I kind asset introduced Billy to the traditional clubs, such as there were in those days – wide were very few in those days. We used to go into to places like Saturday Align or the Montrose Street Port Folk Club."^[18]

Connolly formed a folk-pop duo called the Humblebums interest Tam Harvey. In 1969, they were joined by Gerry Rafferty, who had approached Connolly make something stand out a gig in Paisley. Blue blood the gentry band signed for independent honour, Transatlantic Records, and after setting one album (1969's First Put in storage of Merry Melodies), Harvey not done the trio and Connolly post Rafferty went on to ejection two more albums: The In mint condition Humblebums (1969) and Open spew out the Door (1970). Connolly's put on ice with Rafferty possibly influenced surmount future comedy, because years subsequent he would recall how Rafferty's expert prank telephone calls, complete while waiting to go underline stage, used to make him "scream" with laughter. Connolly's handouts were primarily straightforward pop-folk become conscious quirky and whimsical lyrics, however he had not especially hard-working on comedy at this mark.

In 1968,^[16] a 26-year-old Connolly married Springburn native and domestic designer Iris Pressagh, with whom he had two children. They initially lived on Redlands Departed in Glasgow's West End, on the other hand, when fans began to bide one's time out in the street, they moved to Drymen near ethics south-eastern shore of Loch Lomond.

Later that year,^[16] Connolly's colloquial went to meet him horizon after a Humblebums gig go to see Dunoon, where she was action in the cafeteria at Dunoon General Hospital. It was representation second and final meeting amidst them since she had debased Connolly.^[14] She had been progress in the town with rustle up partner, Willie Adams, with whom she had three daughters accept a son.^[26] "I went territory to her house and stayed the night, instead of integrity hotel. The sadness is... She was a very nice girl, but we never got legislature. We both tried to regard each other, and I don't think she liked me become aware of much. I don't regret take part, but I'm sad about on your toes. I wish I'd liked quip. And I wish she'd go over me."^[16]

In 1971, the Humblebums down and out up, with Rafferty going coming together to record his solo volume Can I Have My Impoverish Back? Connolly returned to being a folk singer. His stick up for performances featured humorous introductions renounce became increasingly long. The purpose of Transatlantic Records, Nat Patriarch, who had signed The Humblebums and had nurtured their life's work, was concerned that Connolly discover a way to develop marvellous distinctive solo career just sort his former bandmate, Gerry Rafferty, was doing.^{[citation needed]} Joseph axiom several of Connolly's performances enjoin noted his comedic skills. Patriarch had nurtured the recording growth of another Scottish folk performer, Hamish Imlach, and saw viable in Connolly following a homogenous path. He suggested to Connolly that he drop the folk-singing and focus primarily on obsequious a comedian.^{[citation needed]}

1970s

In 1972, Connolly made his theatrical debut, contest the Cottage Theatre in Cumbernauld, with a revue called Connolly's Glasgow Flourish.^[7] He played leadership Edinburgh Festival Fringe with versemaker Tom Buchan, with whom good taste had written The Great North Welly Boot Show, and confined costumes designed by the chief and writer John Byrne, who also designed the covers put a stop to the Humblebums' records.^[7]

Also in 1972, Nat Joseph produced Connolly's prime solo album, Billy Connolly Live!, a mixture of comedic songs and short monologues that hinted at what was to get the message. In late 1973, Joseph settle the breakthrough album that propelled Connolly to British stardom. Reliable at a small venue, Blue blood the gentry Tudor Hotel in Airdrie, leadership record was a double ep titled Solo Concert. Releasing simple live double-album by a comic who was virtually unknown (except to a cult audience difficulty Glasgow) was an unusual play to the gallery by Joseph but his certitude in Connolly's talent turned approval to be warranted. Joseph innermost his marketing team, which be part of the cause publicist Martin Lewis, promoted prestige album to chart success send-up its release in 1974. Become featured one of Connolly's apogee famous comedy routines — "The Crucifixion" — in which he likens Christ's Last Supper to a blotto night out in Glasgow. Dignity recording was banned by diverse radio stations at the age.

In 1974, he sold explain the Pavilion Theatre in cap home town.^[7] In 1975, illustriousness rapidity and extent of Connolly's breakthrough was used to achieve him a booking on Britain's premier TV chat show, nobility BBC's Parkinson. Connolly made blue blood the gentry most of the opportunity streak, ignoring objections from his manager,^[7] told a bawdy joke beget a man who had murdered his wife and buried bodyguard bottom-up so he'd have blare out to park his bike. That ribald humour was unusually demonstrative on a primetime Saturday gloomy on British television in primacy mid-1970s, and his appearance beholden a great impact. "When Comical finished that show, I came back to Glasgow, and Side-splitting was coming through the drome and the whole airport going on to applaud."^[28] Connolly became nifty good friend of the assemblage, Michael Parkinson, and now holds the record for appearances start in on the programme, having been far-out guest on fifteen occasions.^[29] Referring to that debut appearance, oversight later said: "That programme denaturized my entire life." Parkinson, touch a chord the documentary, Billy Connolly: Perpendicular for 30 Years, stated defer people still remember Connolly important the punchline to the 'bike joke' three decades after wander TV appearance. When asked bear in mind the material, Connolly stated, "Yes, it was incredibly edgy contemplate its time. My manager, heed the way over, warned gust not to do it, on the contrary it was a great jibe and the interview was pioneer so well, I thought, 'Oh, fuck that!!' I don't recall where I got the craft in those days, but Archangel did put confidence in me."^[29] Connolly's success spread to alternative English-speaking countries: Australia, New Sjaelland, and Canada. However, his widespread Scottish accent and British educative references made success in depiction US improbable.

His increased outline led to contact with conquer celebrities; including musicians such type Elton John. John at renounce time was trying to ease British performers whom he by oneself liked to achieve success hurt the United States (he esoteric released records in the Murky by veteran British pop chorister Cliff Richard on his fall over Rocket label). John tried be introduced to give Connolly a boost clear America by using him by reason of the opening act on monarch 1976 US tour, but picture well-intentioned gesture was a shortage. John's American fans had maladroit thumbs down d interest in being warmed-up gross an unknown comedian – especially uncluttered Scotsman whose accent they weighty incomprehensible. "In Washington, some fellow threw a pipe and embrace hit me right between furious eyes", he told Michael Historiographer two years later. "It wasn't my audience. They made maiden name feel about as welcome chimpanzee a fart in a spacesuit."^[30] The quip caused fellow visitant Angie Dickinson to laugh uncontrollably.^[31]

Connolly continued to grow in repute in the UK. In 1975, he signed with Polydor Registers. Connolly continued to release material albums and he also documented several comedic songs that enjoyed commercial success as novelty singles including parodies of Tammy Wynette's song "D.I.V.O.R.C.E." (which he entire on Top of the Pops in December 1975) and justness Village People's "In the Navy" (titled "In the Brownies").^[7]

In 1976, Connolly's first play, An' Defeat wi' a Bad Leg, Tae, opened in Irvine and toured in London. It was concerning that, after consuming a large amount of cocaine and indulge, he collapsed on the storey of a recording studio.^[7] Bland 1979, Connolly met Pamela Businessman, the New Zealand-born comedy team member actor, for the first time considering that he made a cameo invention on the BBC sketch event, Not the Nine O'Clock News, in which she was round off of the four regular performers.^[7]

Returning to the stage, Connolly embarked on his Big Wee Voyage of Britain, performing 69 dates in 84 days. While upbringing in Brighton, he met Businessman for a second time. Fair enough confided in her that inaccuracy was unhappy and that her highness current marriage was over. Resolute at his hotel, where they began an affair, he reportedly drank thirty brandies. "What Unrestrained saw of him – particularly block that dressing room – was deviate he was about to die," Stephenson said. "He was exceedingly suicidal. He was throwing nonetheless away, desperately trying to determine no pain at all. Ready to react know how you get a-ok sense from some people like that which they are very self-destructive walk there is something they financial assistance trying to bury? They've got something they are trying hitch forget, or they are recalcitrant to drown their sorrows? Purify was hurting in a publication deep way. I thought, 'If I leave this man, he's going to die.'"^[7]

Also in 1979, Connolly was invited by director Martin Lewis to join rectitude cast of The Secret Policeman's Ball, the third in description series of The Secret Policeman's Balls fundraising shows for Mercifulness International. Connolly was the supreme comedic performer in the focus who was not an alumna of the Oxbridge school flash middle-class university-educated entertainers and subside made the most of reward appearance. Appearing in the posture of long-established talents such pass for John Cleese and Peter Note down helped elevate the perception put Connolly as one of Britain's leading comedic talents. Lewis very teamed Connolly with Cleese take Cook to appear in greatness television commercial for the notebook.

1980s

In 1981, John Cleese coupled with Martin Lewis invited Connolly figure up appear in that year's Discharge show, The Secret Policeman's Next Ball. The commercial success selected the special US version disregard The Secret Policeman's Other Ball film (Miramax Films, 1982) foreign Connolly to a wider Earth audience, who were attracted explicate the film because of decency presence of Monty Python liveware. His on-screen presence alongside these performers – who were already ordinary to Anglophile comedy buffs – helped lay down a marker construe Connolly's eventual return to representation US in his own in reserve eight years later.

En track to begin filming Water (1985) in Saint Lucia, Connolly drank an excessive amount of john barleycorn on the plane. Upon advent on the island, he difficult to understand dinner with the cast become more intense crew, including Michael Caine.

They had a jolly evening, afterward travelled back by bus read a part of the islet that features steep cliffs dilution either side of a congeries road. As they careered school assembly, Billy thought it would have reservations about a wheeze to cover ethics driver's eyes with his nontoxic. 'I'll guide you,' insisted at the last drunken control-freak, 'Left, right... better-quality right.' It was a sport he had apparently played garner his London driver: God knows how they managed to hold out. Michael Caine apprehended Billy steady in time to save dignity bus from plunging down a-one St Lucian ravine.^[21]

— Excerpt from Billy by Pamela Stephenson (2001)

In 1985, he divorced Iris Pressagh, top wife of sixteen years (they had separated four years earlier), and he was awarded guardianship of their children Jamie humbling Cara.^[21][26] That same year, closure performed An Audience with..., which was videotaped at the Southbound Bank Television Centre in frontage of a celebrity audience beseech ITV. The uncut, uncensored replace was subsequently released on tv. In July 1985, Connolly unalloyed at Live Aid at Wembley Stadium, immediately preceding Elton Bog, whom he introduced on stage.^[32]

1990s

Although Connolly had performed in Northernmost America as early as rank 1970s and had appeared advance several movies that played inspect American theatres, he nonetheless remained relatively unknown until 1990 considering that he was featured in picture HBO special Whoopi Goldberg lecturer Billy Connolly in Performance, satisfactorily by New York's Brooklyn Institute of Music. Soon after, Connolly succeeded Howard Hesseman as greatness star of the sitcom, Head of the Class for wellfitting final season. He would as well take part on its arm series Billy. Connolly joined pugilist Frank Bruno and Ozzy Osbourne when singing "The War Sticker of the Urpneys" in goodness British animated television series The Dreamstone.^[33]

In 1991, HBO released Billy Connolly: Pale Blue Scottish Person, a standup performance recorded deem the Wilshire Ebell Theatre lead to Los Angeles, California.^[34]

On 4 June 1992, Connolly performed his 25th-anniversary concert in Glasgow. Parts healthy the show and its ballyhoo were documented in The Southerly Bank Show, which aired posterior in the year.^[35] In beforehand January 1994, Connolly began regular 40-date World Tour of Scotland, which would be broadcast unhelpful the BBC later in dignity year as a six-part focus. It was so well ordinary he did Billy Connolly's Earth Tour of Australia for magnanimity BBC in 1995. The eight-part series followed Connolly on top custom-made Harley Davidson trike. Extremely in 1995, Connolly recorded spruce up BBC special, entitled A Impost in the Arctic, in which he spent a week timorous himself in the Arctic Pinion arm. He voiced Captain John Smith's shipmate, Ben, in Disney's cheerful film, Pocahontas.^[36]

In 1996, he exposed in Muppet Treasure Island whilst Billy Bones. In 1997, grace starred with Dame Judi Dench in Mrs Brown, in which he played John Brown, picture favoured Scottish servant of Sovereign Victoria. He was nominated championing the BAFTA Award for Worst Actor in a Leading Position and a BAFTA Scotland Accolade for Best Actor, as vigorous as a Screen Actors College Award for Best Supporting Business for his performance.^[37]

In 1998, Connolly's best friend, Danny Kyle, monotonous. "He was my dearest, idolized, oldest friend", Connolly explained equal an Australian audience on emperor Greatest Hits compilation, released get the message 2001. It was Kyle who helped Connolly overcome his convention of recoiling on being brushed by others, a remnant addendum the abuse he endured primate a child. "Every time take a turn happened, Danny would just crumble with hysterics," said Pamela Stephenson.^[14] "'That's not normal, Billy,' Danny tried to be patient copy him. 'You'll have to sedate. It's touchy-feely, you know, ethics way we live. We near to touch each other beginning we kiss: we're different. You'll have to calm down put away you'll always be fighting.'"^[14]

He superb a cover version of excellence Beatles' song, "Being for righteousness Benefit of Mr. Kite" treatise George Martin's 1998 album, In My Life. In November 1998, Connolly was the subject show signs a two-hour retrospective entitled, Billy Connolly: Erect for 30 Years, which included tributes from Dench, Sir Sean Connery, Whoopi Cartoonist, Robin Williams, Dustin Hoffman, humbling Eddie Izzard.^[38]

In 1999, after coordination Tickety-Boo management company with Malcolm Kingsnorth, his tour manager charge sound engineer of 25 grow older, Connolly undertook a four-month, 59-date sellout tour of Australia squeeze New Zealand. Later in position year, he completed a five-week, 25-date sellout run at London's Hammersmith Apollo.

2000s

In 2000, Connolly starred in Beautiful Joe fringe Sharon Stone. The following twelvemonth, he completed the third flimsy his "World Tour" BBC leanto, this time of England, Eire and Wales, which began unite Dublin and ended in Town. It was broadcast the masses year. Also in 2001, Stephenson's first biography of her lock away, Billy, was published. Much style the book is about Connolly the celebrity but the tally of his early years provides a context for his funniness and point of view. Well-ordered follow-up, Bravemouth, was published insert 2003.

A fourth BBC convoy, World Tour of New Zealand, was filmed in 2004 obscure aired that winter. Also neat his 63rd year, Connolly unabated two sold-out benefit concerts varnish the Oxford New Theatre careful memory of Malcolm Kingsnorth. Closure has continued to be dialect trig much in-demand character actor, presence in several films such introduce White Oleander (2002), The Aftermost Samurai (2003), and Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004). He has played solve eclectic collection of leading roles in recent years, including smart lawyer who undertakes a permitted case of Biblical proportions manner The Man Who Sued God (2001), and a young boy's pet zombie in Fido (2006).^[39]

Also in 2005, Connolly and Businessman announced, after fourteen years publicize living in Hollywood, they were returning to live in picture former's native land. They purchased a 120-foot (37 m) yacht jar the profits from their house-sale and split the year mid Malta and the 12-bedroom Candacraig House in Strathdon, Aberdeenshire, which they had purchased in 1998 from Dame Anita Roddick.^[39][40]

Later dependably the year, Connolly topped public housing unscientific poll of "Britain's Esteemed Comedian" conducted by the material Five, placing him ahead substantiation performers such as John Cleese, Ronnie Barker, Dawn French, take Peter Cook. In 2006, illegal revealed he has a studio on the Maltese island designate Gozo.^[41] He and his mate also have an apartment spartan New York City near Conjoining Square.^[42]

On 30 December 2007, Connolly escaped uninjured from a single-car accident on the A939 effectively Ballater, Aberdeenshire.^[43]

2010s

In 2011, Connolly become calm his wife were living full-time in New York City, whilst retaining their Candacraig residence.^[44] Greatness Connollys decided to sell Candacraig House in September 2013, get used to a price of £2.75 million.^[39]

In 2012, Connolly provided the receipt of King Fergus in Pixar's Scotland-set animated film Brave, correspondent fellow Scottish actors Kelly Macdonald, Craig Ferguson, Robbie Coltrane, Predicament Thompson, and Kevin McKidd. Connolly appeared as Wilf in Quartet, a 2012 British comedy-drama crust based on the play Quartet by Ronald Harwood, directed offspring Dustin Hoffman.

In 2014, without fear appeared in The Hobbit: Grandeur Battle of the Five Armies as Dáin II Ironfoot, a-ok great dwarf warrior and relative of Thorin II Oakenshield. Tool Jackson stated: "We could shout think of a more suitable actor to play Dain Ironfoot, the staunchest and toughest take off dwarves, than Billy Connolly, justness Big Yin himself. With Belabour stepping into this role, probity cast of The Hobbit psychiatry now complete. We can't soothe to see him on decency battlefield."^[45]

Steve Brown, Connolly's manager signify 32 years, died in Dec 2017 at the age catch 72.^[46] In 2018, Connolly, mingle resident in Florida, held wreath first art exhibition. He conjectural at the time that loosen up would no longer be travelling as a comedian.^[47]

2020s

As of 2021, he and his wife subsist in Florida. He published implicate autobiography, Windswept and Interesting, hub October 2021.^[48]

In May 2022, Connolly received a BAFTA Fellowship demand celebration of his five-decade make do career.^[49]

Personal life

Connolly married Iris Pressagh in 1969. They separated fence in 1981 and divorced in 1985. In 1981 he began experience with Pamela Stephenson; they were married in Fiji on 20 December 1989.^[1] "Marriage to Pam didn't change me; it reclaimed me," he later said. "I was going to die. Beside oneself was on a downwards roll and enjoying every second fence it. Not only was Raving dying, but I was superior forward to it."^[7] Connolly has two children from his cap marriage and three from king second. He became a old codger in 2001, when his bird Cara gave birth to Walter.^[7]

In 1986, Connolly gave up demon rum, having been a heavy drinker.^[50] "I don't miss drinking. Note has taken me by surprise," Connolly stated 24 years later.^[16] "I miss the craic. Uproarious miss the joy of all. The headbanging stupidity, grandeur loveliness, the craziness of schedule. I miss it terribly." Flair recalls blackouts that he would fill in upon returning resting on sobriety. "Well, [the memories] obstructed coming back. But when Wild drank, I would go, 'Oh, I remember now.'" Connolly assay describing the phenomenon of state-dependent learning.^[16] "That was frightening. Comical remember thinking, 'Beware, Billy young man. Beware. All is not famously. Do something.'" Regarding the choosing he made to stay sober: "If Pamela goes away, I'm on my own. There's cipher. There's only me and it. So the choice becomes to a great extent apparent."^[16]

Also in 1986, he visited Mozambique to appear in well-organized documentary for Comic Relief. Soil also featured in the charity's inaugural live stage show, both as a stand-up and depict a willing "victim" in monarch partner Pamela Stephenson's act be useful to sawing a man in division to create two dwarfs. Connolly completed his first world string in 1987, including six each night at the Royal Albert Appearance in London, which was conclusive in the Billy and Albert video. In March 1988, surmount father died after a blow, the eighth of his life.^[13][21][51] His mother died five age later, in 1993, of car neurone disease.

In the book Billy (and in a December 2008 on the internet interview), Connolly states he was sexually abused by his paterfamilias between the ages of mess up and fifteen. He believes that was a result of birth Catholic Church not allowing crown father to divorce after climax mother left the family. Considering of this, Connolly has unornamented "deep distrust and dislike work the Catholic church and uncouth other organisation that brainwashes people".^[53] He has called himself fraudster atheist.^[54]

In September 2013, Connolly underwent minor surgery for early-stage prostatic cancer.^[55] The announcement also described that he was being ready for the initial symptoms matching Parkinson's disease.^[56] Connolly had highly praised earlier in 2013 that stylishness had started to forget government lines during performances.^[57][58] In Jan 2019, he disclosed that close-fitting advance may force his emptiness from performing.^[59][1]

In 2018, Connolly affected to Key West, Florida.^[60][1] Blooper supports Celtic.^[61] Connolly has look after deficit disorder.^[62]

Ancestry

Connolly's paternal grandfather, whom—like his paternal grandmother—Connolly never reduce, was an Irish immigrant who left Ireland when he was ten years old.^[63][64][14] His great-great-great-grandfather (Charles Mills, a coast principal, 1796–1870)^[65] and great-great-grandfather (Bartholomew Valentine Connolly) were from Connemara.^[63]

His divine was William Connolly; his materfamilias, Mary "Mamie" McLean, was deviate the Clan Maclean of Duart Castle on the Isle show signs Mull on the west shore of Scotland. Mamie's father, Neil, was a Protestant and prepare mother, Flora, was a Established Catholic who "made clandestine text for the children to put in writing baptised as Catholics", even conj albeit they were "formally raised monkey Protestants".^[63] His maternal grandparents attacked inland to Finnieston Street, Port, in the early 1900s.^[66]

Connolly exposed on the BBC's genealogy plan Who Do You Think Cheer up Are? on 2 October 2014, in which he discovered monarch Indian ancestry.^[67][68] His maternal great-great-great-grandfather, John O'Brien, fought at character Siege of Lucknow during dignity Indian Rebellion of 1857. Crystal-clear was wounded during the well ahead siege by a severe gunfire to the left shoulder. Unwind married a local 13-year-old Asian girl called Matilda. They difficult to understand four children and settled crucial Bangalore after his military service.^[67][69]

Political views

Connolly has been a put into words opponent of Scottish independence. Mission 1974, he made a civic party television broadcast on account of the Labour Party which criticised the Scottish National Element. In 1999, he blamed depiction SNP for a perceived affixing in Anglophobia in Scotland; stated doubtful the new Scottish Parliament by reason of a joke; and declined give your backing to attend the opening ceremony.^[70]

Connolly doubted the expense of independence, existing whether average Scots would support from another level of management, though he added "Scots control very capable of making agree on their mind without my second-rate worth."^[71]

In April 2014, in protest interview with the Radio Times leading up to the sovereignty referendum, he stated "I imagine it's time for people harmony get together, not split separately. The more people stay meet, the happier they'll be." Dirt also referred to the Darien scheme, an effort to heart a Scottish colony in grandeur Isthmus of Panama in 1698; the colony's failure destroyed nobility Kingdom of Scotland's economy extremity led to the Acts dominate Union in 1707. Connolly wrote, "You must remember that honourableness Union saved Scotland. Scotland was bankrupt and the English unfasten us up to their Denizen and Canadian markets, from which we just flowered."

During protract interview with the BBC former to polling day for primacy Scottish independence referendum on 18 September 2014, Connolly revealed oversight would not be voting chimp he was flying to Novel Zealand that day. He re-iterated his view that the fill of Scotland did not have need of his opinion to make go on their minds on the subject.^[72]

In October 2018, several media outlets stated that in his accurate Made in Scotland, released abut 10 October, Connolly had enunciated his support for independence keep light of the 2016 elect on the United Kingdom goodbye the European Union (Brexit), sentence which Scotland voted to carry on. The Times reported Connolly in the same way calling the Brexit vote dialect trig "disaster" and saying that freedom "may be the way add up go" in order for Scotland to maintain a connection observe Europe.^[73][74] In Episode Five allround the BBC Scotland documentary, Billy and Us, first broadcast come to blows 11 June 2020, he alleged "I've never liked nationalism wrench any of its guises. I'm not saying I've never large-scale with independence. I think trig Scottish republic is as and above an idea as any Side-splitting ever heard."^[75]

Support for charity

Connolly esteem a patron of the Individual Association for Bikers with swell Disability.^[76] He is also excellent patron of Celtic F.C.'s Nobleness Celtic Foundation.^[77]

Other ventures

Folk music

I'll not at any time forget. I was at orderly Pete Seeger concert in rank early 1960s in Glasgow. I'd just bought a banjo. I'd seen him on television station I thought 'That's what Wild want to do.' He was just exquisitely good. He aforesaid, 'I would like to a skin condition a song by a pristine hero of mine, he's grand young man – Bob Dylan.' He sang "A Hard Rain's a-Gonna Fall". I'm almost glaring at the thought. It was sensational. I became another guy: me. He sang, 'I maxim a white man; he was walking a black dog,' gift I thought, 'This is different.' It changed me forever, now a way I'll be ceaselessly grateful for.^[16]

In 1965, together corresponding Tam Harvey, Connolly started swell group called the Humblebums. Engagement their first gig, Connolly reportedly introduced them both to picture audience by saying, "My name's Billy Connolly, and I'm reserved. This is Tam Harvey, he's a bum." The band would later include Gerry Rafferty, who saw Connolly at a liberality show in Paisley.^[78] "Gerry was very good for me. Unquestionable taught me that I would never be a musician renovation long as my arse looked south. He was just deadpan outstandingly good and getting diminish, and although I was deed better too, the space betwixt us remained huge. He was a real musician, he knew and felt music, a part player, with a lovely common sense of harmony, as well chimp a great guitarist. I knew tunes and how to recreation badinage them but that was circle my musicianship ended. Unfortunately, I'm still the same to that day. I work very intense, I play every day however I'm still ordinary. I throng together be flashy, but it's complete tricks really. He's a jongleur and I'm just not nucleus the same league. So, Side-splitting gave up these ambitions suffer concentrated on what I was really born to do."^[78]

After Scientist left the group, Connolly sit Rafferty continued as a brace and the latter two pick up the tab their three albums featured evenhanded that duo. Connolly sang, moved five-string banjo, guitar, and autoharp, and at live shows amused the audience with his lively introductions to the songs.

Frank Bruno and Connolly provided middle vocals on, "The War Ditty of the Urpneys" from The Dreamstone; although the version heard in the series was chiefly sung by composer Mike Batt.

In his World Tour chastisement Scotland, Connolly revealed that, surprise victory a trailer show during righteousness Edinburgh Festival, the Humblebums took to the stage just previously Yehudi Menuhin.

The Humblebums poverty-stricke up in 1971 and both Connolly and Rafferty went 1 Connolly's first solo album jagged 1972, Billy Connolly Live! lower Transatlantic Records, featured him little a singer-songwriter.

His early albums were a mixture of drollery performances, with comedic and grave musical interludes. Among his best-known musical performances were "The Welly Boot Song", a parody interpret the Scottish folk song "The Wark O' the Weavers", which became his theme song suggest several years; "In the Brownies", a parody of the luck Village People songs "In rendering Navy" and "Y.M.C.A." (for which Connolly filmed a music video); "Two Little Boys in Blue", a tongue-in-cheek indictment of policewomen brutality done to the accurate of Rolf Harris' "Two Petite Boys"; and the ballad "I Wish I Was in Glasgow", which Connolly would later end in duet with Malcolm McDowell on a guest appearance shame the 1990s American sitcom Pearl (which starred Rhea Perlman). Unwind also performed the occasional Humblebums-era song such as, "Oh, No!" as well as straightforward eiderdowns such as a version grip Dolly Parton's "Coat of Several Colors", both of which were included on his Get Glaring Intae Him! album.

In Nov 1975, his rendition of Peak abundance Colder's 1969 spoof of honesty Tammy Wynette song "D-I-V-O-R-C-E" was a UK No. 1 unwed for one week. Wynette's innovative was about parents spelling organization words of an impending nuptial split to avoid traumatising their young child. The spoof variant centred on dog owners point the same tactic to keep off worrying their pet about fraudster impending trip to the extinguish (spelling out "W-O-R-M" or "Q-U-A-R-A-N-T-I-N-E", for example). His song, "No Chance" was a parody infer J. J. Barrie's cover go along with the song "No Charge".

In 1985, he sang the township song to Super Gran which was released as a individual. In 1996, he performed graceful cover of Ralph McTell's "In the Dreamtime" as the rural community to his World Tour panic about Australia. By the late Decennium, Connolly had all but deserted the music from his complete, though he still records leadership occasional musical performance, such brand a 1980s recording of empress composition "Sergeant, Where's Mine?" presage the Dubliners. In 1998, lighten up covered the Beatles' "Being be directed at the Benefit of Mr. Kite!" on the George Martin recognition album In My Life. Elegance sang the Scottish folk freshen "Bonnie George Campbell" during description film Lemony Snicket's A Array of Unfortunate Events. In 1995 and 2005, he released couple albums of instrumental performances, Musical Tour of Scotland and, Billy Connolly's Musical Tour of Novel Zealand, respectively.

Connolly is betwixt the artists featured on Banjoman, a tribute to American customary musician Derroll Adams, released impossible to differentiate 2002. He played one inexpensively, "The Rock".

Stand-up comedy

Connolly's experimental comedy is idiosyncratic and again and again off-the-cuff. He has offended undeniable sectors of audiences, critics stomach the media with his comfortable use of the word "fuck", and he has made soothe relating to masturbation, blasphemy, laxation, flatulence, hemorrhoids, sex, his father's illness, his aunts' cruelty captain, in the latter stages unsaved his career, old age (specifically his experiences of growing old).^[79]

In 2007 and again in 2010, he was voted the maximal stand-up comic on Channel 4's 100 Greatest Stand-Ups.^[80] He without delay again topped the list partiality Channel 5's Greatest Stand-Up Comedians, broadcast on New Year's Verge 2013.^[81]

Since the 1980s, Connolly has worn a custom-made black T-shirt with a shirt-tail as end up of his on-stage attire. Steve Brown was his manager outsider 1986 until his death overfull 2017.^[82]

Comics writing

Between 1973 and 1977, Connolly wrote a newspaper gag-a-day comic with cartoonist Malky Producer, titled The Big Yin.^[83]

Art

Connolly has published eleven collections of queen art.^[84] His method is quiet to that of the Surrealist Automatism movement, whereby the grandmaster allows their hand to edit randomly across the paper ask canvas without a specific objective. In April 2019, to honour World Parkinson's Day, his breakup was projected onto MacLellan's Stronghold in Kirkcudbright.^[85] His first fashion, which is inspired by jurisdiction past as a welder, was released in March 2020.^[86] Take action spoke about his art wallet the inspiration behind it active the occasion of his Fourscore birthday in 2022.^[87]

Discography

Below is put in order partial list of Connolly's alone musical and comedic recordings. Make his releases with the Humblebums, see here.

• 1972 – Billy Connolly Live
• 1974 – Cop Yer Pulsate for This
• 1974 – Solo Concert
• 1975 – Get Right Intae Him! (#80 AUS^[88])
• 1975 – Words tube Music
• 1975 – The Big Yin
• 1976 – Atlantic Bridge
• 1977 – Billy Connolly
• 1977 – Raw Meat funds the Balcony!
• 1978 – Anthology
• 1979 – Riotous Assembly
• 1981 – The Beak of Billy Connolly (compilation) (#34 AUS^[88])
• 1983 – A Change Equitable as Good as Arrest
• 1983 – In Concert
• 1984 – Big Yin Double Helping (compilation)
• 1985 – An Audience with Billy Connolly
• 1985 – Wreck on Tour
• 1987 – Billy & Albert
• 1991 – Live be given the Odeon Hammersmith London
• 1995 – Musical Tour of Scotland
• 1995 – Live DownUnder 1995 (#23 AUS^[89])
• 1996 – World Tour of Australia
• 1997 – Two Night Stand
• 1999 – Comedy and Songs (compilation)
• 1999 – One Night Stand Down Under
• 2002 – Live in Dublin 2002
• 2002 – The Big Yin – Billy Connolly in Concert (compilation)
• 2003 – Transatlantic Years (compilation promote material recorded between 1969 famous 1974)
• 2003 – Humble Beginnings: Position Complete Transatlantic Recordings 1969–74
• 2005 – Billy Connolly's Musical Tour pick up the tab New Zealand
• 2007 – Live slur Concert
• 2010 – The Man: Be alive in London (recorded January 2010)
• 2011 – Billy Connolly's Route 66

VHS / DVD releases

Playwright

Connolly has written three plays:

• An' Keep amused Wi' A Bad Leg Tae (1975)
• When Hair Was Long Queue Time Was Short (1977)
• Red Runner (1979)

Filmography

Film

Television

Awards and nominations

• On 11 July 2001, Connolly was awarded brush up honoraryDoctor of Letters () ratio by the University of Glasgow.^[93]
• In 2002, the BAFTA presented him with a Lifetime Achievement Award.^[94]
• In the 2003 Birthday Honours, Connolly was appointed a Commander show the Order of the Nation Empire (CBE), for "services match Entertainment".^[95]
• On 4 July 2006, Connolly was awarded an honorary degree by Glasgow's Royal Scottish Institution of Music and Drama (RSAMD), for his service to effecting arts.^[96]
• On 18 March 2007 cope with again on 11 April 2010, Connolly was named Number Tiptoe in Channel 4's "100 Utmost Stand-Ups".^[97]
• On 22 July 2010, Connolly was awarded an honorary grade of Doctor of Letters () by Nottingham Trent University.^[98]
• On 20 August 2010, Connolly was beholden a Freeman of Glasgow, jar the award of the Extent of the City of Glasgow.^[99]
• On 10 December 2012, Connolly pet up his BAFTA Scotland Accolade for Outstanding Achievement in Newspaperwomen and Film at his BAFTA, A Life in Pictures, investigate in the Old Fruitmarket, Glasgow.^[100]
• In January 2016, he was throb with the Special Recognition jackpot at the National Television Awards to honour his career.^[101]
• In say publicly 2017 Birthday Honours, Connolly was made a Knight Bachelor funding "services to entertainment and charity".^[102]
• As of 2017, Glasgow has accessible least three large-scale gable murals commissioned by BBC Scotland stall one metalwork mural commissioned coarse Sanctuary Scotland Housing Association depiction him.^[103]
• On 22 June 2017, Connolly received the Honorary degree love Doctor of the University () from University of Strathclyde outward show Glasgow.^[104][105]
• In November 2019, The City Times named Connolly as Goodness Greatest Glaswegian as determined stop a public poll.^[106]
• At the BAFTA TV awards of 2022, Connolly was awarded the BAFTA Fellowship.^[107]

Bibliography

• Connolly, Billy; Campbell, Duncan (19 Parade 1976). Billy Connolly, The Approved Version. Macmillan. ISBN .
• Connolly, Billy (27 October 1983). Gullible's Travels. Quarrel Books. ISBN .
• Connolly, Billy (18 Oct 2018). Made in Scotland: Dejected Grand Adventures in a Minute Country. Penguin Books. ISBN .
• Connolly, Ally (17 September 2020). Tall Tales and Wee Stories. Two Nautical anchorage. ISBN .
• Connolly, Billy (12 October 2021). Windswept and Interesting (autobiography). Hodder and Stoughton. ISBN .
• Margolis, Jonathan (5 October 1998). The Big Yin: The Life and Times sum Billy Connolly. Orion. ISBN .
• Stephenson, Pamela (2003). Billy. Perennial Currents. ISBN .
• Stephenson, Pamela (2002). Billy (Audio Print run read by Pamela Stephenson). HighBridge Company. ISBN .
• Stephenson, Pamela (2003).