Billy Connolly facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Billy Connolly |
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Connolly at the premiere of Brave in 2012
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| Birth name | William Connolly |
| Born | 24 November 1942 Anderston, Glasgow, Scotland |
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| Years active | 1965–present |
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| Children | 5 |
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| Labels | Transatlantic Records |
Sir William Connolly (born 24 November 1942) is a famous Scottish actor, musician, artist, and retired stand-up comedian. In Scotland, he is often called by his nickname, the Big Yin, which means "the Big One." He is known for his unique style of comedy, where he would often make up stories on the spot. Many people consider him one of the greatest stand-up comedians of all time.
In 2017, he was knighted at Buckingham Palace for his work in entertainment and for helping charities. In 2022, he received the BAFTA Fellowship, a special award for his lifetime of work in movies and television.
Before becoming famous, Connolly worked as a welder in the shipyards of Glasgow. In the late 1960s, he decided to become a folk singer. He was part of a band called the Humblebums with musicians Gerry Rafferty and Tam Harvey. After the band split up, he started performing on his own.
In the early 1970s, Connolly shifted from being a folk singer who told funny stories to a full-time comedian. As an actor, he has appeared in many popular films. These include Muppet Treasure Island (1996), Mrs Brown (1997), The Last Samurai (2003), and The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014). He was also the voice of King Fergus in the Disney Pixar movie Brave (2012).
Connolly announced his retirement from stand-up comedy in 2018. Since then, he has become a successful artist, creating drawings and sculptures. He has said that art has given him "a new lease of life."
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Early Life and First Jobs
Billy Connolly was born on 24 November 1942, in Anderston, a part of Glasgow, Scotland. He grew up in a small apartment with his family. His childhood was difficult, and he and his older sister, Florence, were raised by their two aunts. He has said that his sister was his "great defender" when they were young.
At school, Connolly discovered he loved making people laugh. He remembered sitting in a puddle in the playground and enjoying the sound of other children laughing. This made him realize that bringing joy to others was something special.
At age 12, he decided he wanted to be a comedian. When he was 15, he left school and started working. He first delivered books on a bicycle and then drove a delivery van for a bakery. Later, he became a boilermaker, a type of welder, at the Alexander Stephen and Sons shipyard. He worked there for several years and said it was where he learned about Glasgow's unique sense of humor.
Rise to Fame as a Comedian
From Folk Singer to Funny Man
In the 1960s, Connolly decided to leave his job as a welder to become a folk singer. He bought a banjo and started performing in folk clubs. He formed a band called the Humblebums with Tam Harvey and later Gerry Rafferty. The band released a few albums before breaking up in 1971.
After the band split, Connolly began performing solo. He started telling long, funny stories to introduce his songs. Soon, the stories became more popular than the music itself. This was the beginning of his career as a stand-up comedian.
Becoming a Star
In 1975, Connolly appeared on the popular British TV chat show Parkinson. His funny stories and jokes made a huge impact on the audience. After the show, he became a household name in the UK. He became a good friend of the host, Michael Parkinson, and appeared on the show 15 times.
His comedy albums sold very well, and he even had a number one hit song in the UK with a funny version of the song "D.I.V.O.R.C.E.". He became famous for his energetic performances and his famous "banana boots," which were yellow boots shaped like bananas. These boots are now on display in a museum in Glasgow.
A Successful Acting Career
In the 1990s, Connolly became well-known in America. He starred in the TV show Head of the Class and its spin-off, Billy. He also began appearing in major Hollywood movies.
Some of his most famous movie roles include:
- Muppet Treasure Island (1996), where he played Billy Bones.
- Mrs Brown (1997), where he played John Brown, a servant to Queen Victoria. He was nominated for a BAFTA Award for this role.
- The Boondock Saints (1999), where he played a character named Il Duce.
- The Last Samurai (2003), as the loyal Sergeant Zebulon Gant.
- Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004), as the friendly reptile expert, Uncle Monty.
- Brave (2012), as the voice of the fun-loving King Fergus.
- The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014), as the tough dwarf warrior Dáin Ironfoot.
World Tours and Documentaries
Connolly was also famous for his travel shows for the BBC. He traveled around the world on his custom-made Harley Davidson tricycle, sharing his adventures with viewers.
His popular travel series include:
- World Tour of Scotland (1994)
- World Tour of Australia (1996)
- World Tour of England, Ireland and Wales (2002)
- Billy Connolly: Journey to the Edge of the World (2009), where he traveled through Canada.
These shows combined his love for travel, comedy, and meeting new people.
Personal Life
Connolly was first married to Iris Pressagh, and they had two children. He later married writer and performer Pamela Stephenson in 1989. They have three children together. Connolly has said that his marriage to Pamela was a very positive and important part of his life. He became a grandfather for the first time in 2001.
In 2013, it was announced that Connolly was being treated for the early symptoms of Parkinson's disease, a condition that affects movement. He also had successful surgery for prostate cancer. He has spoken openly about his health challenges. Because of his health, he decided to retire from live stand-up comedy in 2018.
He now lives in Florida with his wife and focuses on his work as an artist. He is a big fan of the Scottish football team Celtic.
Life as an Artist
After retiring from comedy, Connolly found a new passion in art. He creates drawings and sculptures. His art style is very free and imaginative. He often starts by drawing random lines and then sees what shapes and figures appear.
In 2017, three large murals of him were painted on buildings in his hometown of Glasgow to celebrate his 75th birthday. He has held several successful art exhibitions, and his work is very popular. He says that creating art has brought him a lot of joy in his later years.
Awards and Honors
Throughout his long career, Billy Connolly has received many awards for his work in comedy, film, and television.
- Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) (2003): An honor given for his services to entertainment.
- Freedom of the City of Glasgow (2010): The highest honor his hometown can give.
- Knighthood (2017): He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II for his services to entertainment and charity, becoming Sir Billy Connolly.
- BAFTA Fellowship (2022): A lifetime achievement award from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts.
