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Billy Connolly
Connolly in 2005
Connolly in 2005
Born 24 November 1942 (1942-11-24) (age 65)
Anderston, Glasgow, Scotland
Medium Stand-up, television, film, music
Nationality Scottish
Years active 1960s–present
Genres Comedy, Drama, Folk
Spouse Iris Pressagh (1969–1985)
Pamela Stephenson (1989–present)
Website BillyConnolly.com

William "Billy" Connolly, CBE (born 24 November 1942) is a Scottish comedian, musician, presenter and actor. Events 380 - Theodosius I makes his adventus, or formal Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Anderston is a well-known district in the Scottish city of Glasgow. Glasgow (ˈglæzgoʊ is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. Stand-up comedy is a style of comedy where the performer speaks directly to the audience with the absence of the theatrical " Fourth wall " Television ( TV) is a widely used Telecommunication medium for sending ( Broadcasting) and receiving moving Images, either monochromatic Music is an Art form in which the medium is Sound organized in Time. Nationality is a relationship between a Person and their State of Origin, Culture, association Affiliation and/or Loyalty Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. Comedy may be divided into multiple Genres based on the source of humour the method of delivery and the context in which it is delivered Comedy (from the Greek κωμωδίαkomodia has a popular meaning (any discourse generally intended to amuse especially in Television, Film, and Drama is the specific mode of Fiction represented in Performance. Folk music can have a number of different meanings including Traditional music: The original meaning of the term "folk music" was synonymous Pamela Stephenson also known as Pamela Stephenson Connolly, The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British Order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by King George V. Events 380 - Theodosius I makes his adventus, or formal Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience primarily by making them laugh A musician is a person who plays or writes Music. Musicians can be classified by their roles in creating or performing music An instrumentalist plays a A presenter, or host (sometimes hostess, in feminine form is a Person or Organization responsible for running an event An actor, actress, player or thespian (see terminology) is a person who Acts in a Dramatic production and who works He is sometimes known, especially in his native Scotland, by the nickname The Big Yin (The Big One). [1] His first trade, in the early 1960s, was as a welder (specifically a boilermaker) in the Glasgow shipyards, but he gave it up towards the end of the decade in favour of being a folk singer. A welder (also weldor, which term distinguishes the Tradesman from the equipment used to make welds is a Tradesman who specialises in Welding A boilermaker is a trained craftsman who produces steel fabrications from plates and sections Glasgow (ˈglæzgoʊ is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom Shipyards and dockyards are places which repair and build ships These can be Yachts military Folk music can have a number of different meanings including Traditional music: The original meaning of the term "folk music" was synonymous In the mid-1970s he changed career again, this time becoming a comedian, a role in which he continues. He is also a sometime actor, and has appeared in such films as Indecent Proposal (1993); Mrs. Brown (1997), for which he was nominated for a BAFTA; The Boondock Saints (1999); The Last Samurai (2003); Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004); and The X-Files: I Want to Believe (2008)

Contents

Background

Birth and early years

Connolly was born at 65 Dover Street ("on the linoleum, three floors up")[2] in Anderston, Glasgow, to Mary "Mamie" McLean, a hospital cafeteria worker, and William Connolly, Sr. Indecent Proposal is a 1993 film Drama directed by Adrian Lyne. For the song by Herman's Hermits see Mrs Brown You've Got a Lovely Daughter "Mrs The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA is a British charity that hosts annual awards shows for film television television craft video games and forms of animation The Boondock Saints is a 1999 action Crime drama film written and directed by Troy Duffy. The Last Samurai is a 2003 Drama film / War film directed and co-produced by Edward Zwick, who also co-wrote the Screenplay based on Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events is a 2004 Academy Award winning Film, directed by Brad Silberling The X-Files I Want to Believe is a 2008 Science fiction film directed by Chris Carter, and written by Carter and Frank Spotnitz Anderston is a well-known district in the Scottish city of Glasgow. Glasgow (ˈglæzgoʊ is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom , an instrument technician[3] and the son of an Irish immigrant. [4] In 1946, with their son barely four years old, Connolly's mother abandoned him and his sister while his father was away for the war. He and his sister, Florence ("Flo"), were then looked after by two aunts, Margaret and Mona, his father's sisters. In her biography of him, Connolly's wife, Pamela Stephenson, documented Billy's years of sexual abuse by his father which began when he was ten and lasted until he was fifteen or sixteen. Pamela Stephenson also known as Pamela Stephenson Connolly, [5]

"Twice in my life, two birds have flown in and made a huge difference," explained Connolly in 1996. [6] When he was seven years old, the Connolly family went to Rothesay on holiday. The town of Rothesay (Baile Bhòid is the principal town on the Isle of Bute, in the council area of Argyll and Bute, Scotland. He was sent out to get some milk and bread rolls. Milk is an opaque white liquid produced by the Mammary glands of female Mammals (including Monotremes. A bread roll is a piece of Bread, usually small and round and is commonly considered a side dish On his way back, with his hands full, a bird landed on his head. Being a city boy, Connolly immediately thought God had summoned him and, as a result, "nearly had a coronary". God is the principal or sole Deity in Religions and other belief systems that worship one deity. [6] "It was a jackdaw, and I didn't know you could teach jackdaws to speak. The Jackdaw ( Corvus monedula) sometimes known as the Eurasian Jackdaw, European Jackdaw or caddow, is one of the smallest species (34–39  But I was walking along, and this thing landed on my head and said hello. I nearly passed away. I learned subsequently that it was a tame bird, and we became friends and I got used to the idea: the bird would land on me and I was quite happy. Domestication (from Latin domesticus) refers to the process whereby a Population of Animals My life had changed forever. "[6] Connolly went on state that the second "bird" was Brett Whiteley, the Australian artist, who he met through Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits in the 1980s. Brett Whiteley AO (7 April 1939 – 15 June 1992 was an Australian artist For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. Mark Knopfler OBE (born August 12 1949 Glasgow, Scotland) is a British Guitarist, Singer, Songwriter, Dire Straits was a British rock band, formed in 1977 by Mark Knopfler (guitar and vocals his brother David Knopfler (guitar The 1980s was the decade spanning from January 1 1980 to December 31 1989.

Connolly was brought up in the Anderston and, later, Partick districts of Glasgow. Partick ( Partaig in Gaelic) (formerly Perdyc or Perthick) is an area of Glasgow on the north bank of the River Clyde He attended St. Peter's Primary School in Glasgow and St. Gerard's Secondary School in Govan. Govan ( Scottish Gaelic: Baile a' Ghobhainn) is a district and former Burgh in the southwestern part of the City of Glasgow, [4] At the age of 12, he decided he wanted to become a comedian but felt he didn't fit the mould; he felt he needed to become more "windswept and interesting". Instead, at the age of 15, he left school and became a welder (a boilermaker, to be precise)[6] at Stephens Shipyard. A welder (also weldor, which term distinguishes the Tradesman from the equipment used to make welds is a Tradesman who specialises in Welding A boilermaker is a trained craftsman who produces steel fabrications from plates and sections Alexander Stephen and Sons Limited, often referred to simply as Alex Stephens or just Stephens, was a Scottish shipbuilding company based in Shipyards and dockyards are places which repair and build ships These can be Yachts military Around the same time he joined the Territorial Army Reserve 15th (Scottish) Battalion, The Parachute Regiment (15 PARA), which became part of the 4th Battalion, The Parachute Regiment (he later commemorated his TA experiences in his song, "Weekend Soldier"). The Territorial Army ( TA) is the principal and Volunteer reserve force of the British Army, the land armed forces branch of the United Kingdom The 4th (Volunteer Battalion The Parachute Regiment (4 PARA is a Territorial Army (TA unit of the British Army.

Origin of The Big Yin

Connolly's The Big Yin nickname was first used during his adolescent years to differentiate between himself and his father. [1] "My father was a very strong man. Broad and strong. He had an 18½-inch neck collar. Inches redirects here To see the Les Savy Fav album see Inches. Huge, like a bull. He was "Big Billy" and I was "Wee Billy". And then I got bigger than him, and the whole thing got out of control. And then I became The Big Yin in Scotland. So, we'd go into the pub and someone would say, 'Billy Connolly was in. ' 'Oh, Big Billy or Wee Billy?' 'The Big Yin. ' 'Oh, Wee Billy?' If you were a stranger, you'd think, 'What are these people talking about?'"[6]

1960s

In 1965, after he had completed a five-year apprenticeship as a boilermaker, Connolly accepted a ten-week job building an oil rig in Nigeria. A boilermaker is a trained craftsman who produces steel fabrications from plates and sections An oil platform or oil rig is a large structure used to house workers and machinery needed to drill and/or extract oil and Natural gas through wells Nigeria, officially named the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal Constitutional republic comprising thirty-six states and one Federal Upon his return to Scotland, he focused on being a folk singer. Folk music can have a number of different meanings including Traditional music: The original meaning of the term "folk music" was synonymous

On 27 June 1969, a 26-year-old Connolly married his first wife, Iris Pressagh. Events 1358 - Republic of Dubrovnik is founded 1709 - Peter the Great defeats Charles XII of Sweden Year 1969 ( MCMLXIX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. In December 1969 his first child, Jamie, was born. He has four more children, all girls — one (Cara, born 1973) with Iris, and three with his second wife, Pamela: Daisy (31 December 1983), Amy (7 July 1986), and Scarlett (28 July 1988). Events 406 – Vandals, Alans and Suebians cross the Rhine, beginning an invasion of Gallia. Year 1983 ( MCMLXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar) Events 1456 - A retrial verdict acquits Joan of Arc of heresy 25 years after her death Year 1986 ( MCMLXXXVI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar) Events 1540 - Thomas Cromwell is executed at the order of Henry VIII of England on charges of Treason. Year 1988 ( MCMLXXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar)

Connolly's career as a folk singer led to him forming a folk-pop duo called The Humblebums with a fellow musician Tam Harvey. The Humblebums were a Scottish folk band based in Glasgow. Its members included Billy Connolly, who later became a renowned stand-up comic and actor guitarist After recording one album, Harvey left the partnership and was replaced by future rock star Gerry Rafferty. Gerry Rafferty (born Gerald Rafferty 16 April 1947 in Paisley) is a Scottish Singer and Songwriter. Connolly’s time with Rafferty possibly influenced his future comedy as years later he would recall how Rafferty’s expert prank telephone calls, made while waiting to go on stage, used to make him “scream” with laughter. The Connolly-Rafferty version of The Humblebums recorded two more albums for independent record label Transatlantic Records. Transatlantic Records was a British Independent record label. The albums were not big commercial successes but enjoyed cult status and critical acclaim. Connolly's contributions were primarily straight-forward pop-folk with quirky and whimsical lyrics — but he had not especially focused on comedy at this point.

In 1970, the Humblebums broke up with Rafferty going on to record a solo album for Transatlantic Records: Can I Have My Money Back (1971). Connolly returned to being a folk singer. His live performances featured folk songs with humorous introductions that became increasingly long in duration.

The head of Transatlantic Records, Nat Joseph, who had signed the Humblebums and had nurtured their career, was concerned that Connolly find a way to develop a distinctive solo career just as his former bandmate Gerry Rafferty was doing. Nathan "Nat" Joseph ( 23 July, 1939 - 30 August, 2005) was a noted force in the British Music industry, a theatrical producer Joseph saw several of Connolly's performances and noted his comedic skills. Joseph had successfully nurtured the recording career of another Scottish folk entertainer, Hamish Imlach, and Joseph saw potential in Connolly following a similar path. Hamish Imlach ( 10 February 1940 - 1 January 1996) was a folksinger. He suggested to Connolly that he drop the folk-singing and focus primarily on becoming a comedian. It was a life-changing suggestion.

1970s

In 1972 Joseph produced Connolly's first solo album, Billy Connolly Live!, a mixture of comedic songs and short monologues that hinted at what was to follow. In late 1973, Joseph produced the breakthrough album that propelled Connolly to British stardom. Recorded at a small venue, The Tudor Hotel in Airdrie, the record was a double album titled Solo Concert. Airdrie ( Gaelic An Àrd Ruigh / An Àrd Àirighe) is a town within North Lanarkshire, Scotland. Releasing a live double-album by a comedian who was virtually unknown (except to a cult audience in Glasgow) was an unusual gambit by Joseph but his faith in Connolly's talent was justified. Joseph and his Transatlantic Records marketing team, which included publicist Martin Lewis, successfully promoted the album to chart success on its release in 1974. This article is about Martin Lewis - the British-born humorist/writer/producer/TV and radio host It featured one of Connolly's most famous comedy routines: "The Crucifixion", in which he likens Christ's Last Supper to a drunken night out in Glasgow. Christ is the English term for the Greek ( Khristós) meaning "the anointed " In the Christian Gospels the Last Supper (also called the Lord's Supper or Mystical Supper) was the last meal Jesus shared with his Glasgow (ˈglæzgoʊ is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom The recording was banned by many radio stations at the time. Building on his cult Scottish following, Transatlantic broke Connolly throughout the UK — an unusual development for a regional comedian.

In 1975, Transatlantic used the rapidity and extent of Connolly's breakthrough to secure him a booking on Britain's premier TV talk show, the BBC's Parkinson. Parkinson was a British television Chat show presented by Sir Michael Parkinson. Connolly made the most of the opportunity and told a bawdy joke about a man who had murdered his wife and buried her bottom-up so he'd have somewhere to park his bike. This ribald humour was unusually forthright on a primetime Saturday night on British television in the mid-1970s and his appearance made a great impact. He became a good friend of the host, Michael Parkinson, and now holds the record for appearances on the programme, having been a guest on fifteen occasions. Sir Michael Parkinson, CBE (born March 28 1935) is an English broadcaster and Journalist. [7] Referring to that debut appearance, he later said: "That programme changed my entire life. " Parkinson, in the documentary Billy Connolly: Erect for 30 Years, stated that people still remember Connolly telling the punchline to the 'bike joke' three decades after that TV appearance. When asked about the material, Connolly stated, "Yes, it was incredibly edgy for its time. My manager, on the way over, warned me not to do it, but it was a great joke and the interview was going so well, I thought, oh fuck it! I don't know where I got the courage in those days, but Michael did put confidence in me. "[7] Connolly's UK success spread to other English-speaking countries: Australia, New Zealand and Canada. However, his broad Scottish accent and British cultural references made success in the U. S. improbable. His road manager at this time was Eddie Tobin. [8]

His popularity in Britain endeared him to many other British entertainers including musicians such as Elton John. Sir Elton Hercules John CBE (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight on 25 March 1947 is an English pop / rock Singer, Composer John at that time was trying to assist British performers whom he personally liked to achieve success in the U. S. (He had released records in the US by veteran British pop singer Cliff Richard on his own Rocket Records label. Sir Cliff Richard, OBE, (born Harry Roger Webb on 14 October 1940 is an English Singer, Actor and Businessman. The Rocket Record Company was a Record label founded by Elton John, with Bernie Taupin, Gus Dudgeon and Steve Brown among others ) John tried to give Connolly a boost in America by using him as the opening act on his 1976 US tour. But the well-intentioned gesture was a failure. Elton John's American fans had no interest in being warmed-up by an unknown comedic performer — especially a Scotsman whose accent was incomprehensible to most Americans. "In Washington, some guy threw a pipe and it hit me right between my eyes", he told Michael Parkinson two years later. "It wasn't my audience. They made me feel about as welcome as a fart in a spacesuit. "

Connolly continued to grow in popularity in the UK. In 1975 he signed with Polydor Records and the label built on Transatlantic's groundwork. Polydor Records is a Record label currently headquartered in the UK, and is a subsidiary of Universal Music Group. Connolly continued to release live albums and he also recorded several comedic songs that enjoyed commercial success as novelty singles including parodies of Tammy Wynette's song "D.I.V.O.R.C.E." and the Village People's "In the Navy" (titled "In the Brownies"). Virginia Wynette Pugh, known professionally as Tammy Wynette ( May 5, 1942 - April 6, 1998) was an American country music singer-songwriter "DIVORCE" is a 1975 UK number-one single by Scottish folk singer-come- Comedian Billy Connolly. Village People are a concept Disco group formed in the late 1970s For the 1941 Abbott & Costello film see In the Navy (film. " In the Navy " is a 1979 hit song (U

In 1979, Connolly was invited by producer Martin Lewis to join the cast of The Secret Policeman's Ball, the third in the series of the Secret Policeman's Ball fundraising shows for Amnesty International. This article is about the iconic 1979 Amnesty International benefit show directed by John Cleese This article is about the entire series of Secret Policeman's Ball benefit shows for Amnesty International (1976-2008 For the original 1979 show that gave Amnesty International (commonly known as Amnesty or AI) is a Western based international Non-governmental organization which defines its mission as "to Connolly was the first comedic performer in the series who was not an alumnus of the Oxbridge school of middle-class university-educated entertainers and he made the most of his appearance. Oxbridge was originally a fictional composite of the University of '''Ox'''ford and the University of Cam'''bridge''' in England, and the term is now His performance was considered to be one of the highlights of the show's comedy album (released by Island Records in December 1979) and feature film (released by ITC Films in 1980). Island Records is a Record label that was founded by British record producers in Jamaica. Appearing in the company of long-established talents such as John Cleese and Peter Cook helped elevate the perception of Connolly as one of Britain's leading comedic talents. John Marwood Cleese (ˈkliːz born 27 October, 1939) is a British Actor, Comedian, Writer, Film producer Peter Edward Cook (17 November 1937 &ndash 9 January 1995 was an English Satirist, Writer and Comedian. Lewis also teamed Connolly with Cleese and Cook to appear in the television commercial for the album.

1980s

In 1981, John Cleese and Martin Lewis invited Connolly to appear in that year's Amnesty show, The Secret Policeman's Other Ball. John Marwood Cleese (ˈkliːz born 27 October, 1939) is a British Actor, Comedian, Writer, Film producer This article is about Martin Lewis - the British-born humorist/writer/producer/TV and radio host * This article is about the 1981 Amnesty International benefit show (and resulting movies and albums &mdash the sequel to the original 1979 show Connolly's performance was again reported as one of the highlights of the show and he was prominently featured in the subsequent comedy album (Springtime!/Island Records 1981) and UK film (UIP 1982). United International Pictures (or UIP; now known as Paramount Pictures International) is a Joint venture of Paramount Pictures (owned by The commercial success of the special U. S. version of the The Secret Policeman's Other Ball film (Miramax Films 1982) introduced Connolly to a wider American audience, who were attracted to the film because of the presence of Monty Python members. Monty Python (sometimes known as The Pythons) is the collective name of the six creators of Monty Python's Flying Circus, a British Television His on-screen presence alongside these performers — who were already familiar to Anglophile comedy buffs — helped lay down a marker for Connolly's eventual return to America in his own right eight years later.

In 1985, he divorced his wife of sixteen years (they had separated four years earlier). He was awarded custody of their two children. That same year, he recorded An Audience with... which was broadcast in front of a celebrity audience on ITV. An Audience with (usually followed by the name of the featured Comedian or Singer) is a popular British variety Television Independent Television (generally known as ITV) is a public service network of British commercial television broadcasters set up under the Independent The uncut, uncensored version was subsequently released on video. In July 1985 he performed at the Wembley leg of Live Aid, immediately preceding Elton John. original Wembley Stadium was a football Stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the Live Aid was a multi-venue rock music concert held on. The event was organized by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure to raise funds for famine relief in Ethiopia

In 1986 he visited Mozambique to appear in a documentary for Comic Relief. Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique (Moçambique or República de Moçambique, ʁɛ'publikɐ d musɐ̃'bik is a country in southeastern Africa Comic relief is the inclusion of a humorous character or scene or witty dialogue in an otherwise serious work often to relieve tension He also featured in the charity's inaugural live stage show, both as a stand-up and portraying a willing 'victim' in his partner Pamela Stephenson's act of sawing a man in half to create two dwarves. Pamela Stephenson also known as Pamela Stephenson Connolly, DWARF is a widely used standardized Debugging data format. DWARF was originally designed along with ELF, although it is independent of Object file

Connolly completed his first world tour in 1987, including six nights at the Royal Albert Hall in London, which was documented in the Billy and Albert video. The Royal Albert Hall is an Arts venue situated in the Knightsbridge area of the City of Westminster, London, England, best known

When the Fox Network aired Freedomfest: Nelson Mandela's 70th Birthday Celebration in 1988, Connolly was still virtually unknown in the States, but his performance drew attention, particularly from producers, and interest in him grew. Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (xolíɬaɬa mandéːla born 18 July 1918 is a former President of South Africa, the first to be elected in fully representative

In 1989, Connolly's father died after a stroke, the eighth of his life. [2] His mother died four years later of motor neurone disease. The motor neurone diseases (or motor neuron diseases) (MND are a group of progressive neurological disorders that destroy Motor neurones the cells that control voluntary She was living in Dunoon at that point. Dunoon ( Dùn Omhain in Gaelic) is a resort town situated on the Cowal peninsula in Argyll, Scotland. [9]

On December 20, 1989, in Fiji, Connolly married Pamela Stephenson, the New Zealand-born comedy actress he had met when making a cameo appearance on the BBC sketch show Not the Nine O'Clock News, in which she was one of four regular performers. Events 69 - Vespasian, formerly a general under Nero, enters Rome to claim the title of Emperor. Year 1989 ( MCMLXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar) Fiji (Matanitu ko Viti फ़िजी officially the Republic of the Fiji Islands (Matanitu Tu-Vaka-i-koya ko Viti फ़िजी द्वीप समूह गणराज्य Pamela Stephenson also known as Pamela Stephenson Connolly, New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island Not the Nine O'Clock News is a Comedy Television programme shown on the BBC from 1979 to 1982 He had been living with her since 1981. "Marriage to Pam didn't change me, it saved me," he later said. "I was going to die. I was on a downwards spiral and enjoying every second of it. Not only was I dying, but I was looking forward to it. "

Earlier in 1989 Connolly shaved off his trademark shaggy beard for a film role and he remained clean-shaven for several years.

1990s

Although Connolly had performed in North America as early as the 1970s, and had appeared in several movies that played in American theatres, he nonetheless remained relatively unknown until 1990 when he was featured in the HBO special Whoopi Goldberg and Billy Connolly in Performance, produced by New York's Brooklyn Academy of Music. Whoopi Goldberg (born Caryn Elaine Johnson; November 13, 1955) is an American actress, comedienne, and television Brooklyn Academy of Music ( BAM) is a major performing arts venue in Brooklyn, a borough of New York City, known as a center for progressive and avant garde Goldberg introduced Connolly, and his performance has been cited as the moment that officially launched his career in the States. Soon after, Connolly succeeded Howard Hesseman as the star of the sitcom Head of the Class for the 1990–1991 season, but the series was cancelled during his tenure. Howard Hesseman (born February 27, 1940) is an American actor Head of the Class is an American sitcom that ran from 1986 to 1991 on the ABC television network

The following year saw Connolly and Stephenson move to Los Angeles, and the family won green cards in the Morrison Visa Lottery. Los Angeles (lɑˈsændʒələs los ˈaŋxeles in Spanish) is the largest City in the state of California and the American West A United States Permanent Resident Card, also known as a green card, is an Identification card attesting to the Permanent resident status of an Alien Bruce Andrew Morrison (b October 8, 1944 in New York City) is a former U In 1991, Connolly received his first (and, to date, only) leading television role as the star of Billy, another sitcom and a spin-off of Head of the Class. Billy is the name of a short-lived television Situation comedy that aired on ABC for half a season during 1992 in the United States It lasted only a half-season.

On June 4, 1992, Connolly performed his 25th-anniversary concert in Glasgow. Events 781 BC - The first historic Solar eclipse is recorded in China. Year 1992 ( MCMXCII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar) Parts of the show, and its build-up, were documented in The South Bank Show, which aired later in the year. The South Bank Show is an award-winning Television arts magazine show made by London Weekend Television, presented by Melvyn Bragg, broadcast [10]

Connolly was dealt a blow in 1993 when his close friend and fishing partner, Jimmy Kent, died.

In early January 1994, Connolly began a 40-date World Tour of Scotland, which would be broadcast by the BBC later in the year as a six-part series. World Tour of Scotland is a six-part television series — the first of Billy Connolly 's (thus far four "world tours" — originally broadcast by the It was so well received that the BBC signed him up to do a similar tour two years later, this time in Australia. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. The eight-part series followed Connolly on his custom-made Harley Davidson trike. Harley-Davidson Motor Company ( formerly HDI is an American manufacturer of Motorcycles based in Milwaukee Wisconsin.

Also in 1996, Connolly recorded a BBC special, entitled A Scot in the Arctic, in which he spends a week by himself in the Arctic Circle. The Arctic Circle is one of the five major circles of latitude that mark maps of the Earth. A notable feature of these shows is that he strips naked in one scene in each of them, usually in some remote wilderness area where no one is likely to complain, although for Comic Relief he once danced naked around Piccadilly Circus. Nudity is the state of wearing no Clothing. The term' "nudity" can also occasionally be used to refer to wearing significantly less clothing than expected Comic relief is the inclusion of a humorous character or scene or witty dialogue in an otherwise serious work often to relieve tension Piccadilly Circus is a famous road junction and public space of London 's West End in the City of Westminster,built in 1819 to connect Regent

1997 saw Connolly star alongside Dame Judi Dench in Mrs. Brown in which he played John Brown, a favoured Scottish servant of Queen Victoria. Dame Judith Olivia Dench, CH, DBE, FRSA, (born 9 December, 1934) usually known as Judi Dench, is an English For the song by Herman's Hermits see Mrs Brown You've Got a Lovely Daughter "Mrs John Brown ( December 8, 1826 – March 27, 1883) was a Scottish personal servant and Favourite of Queen Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901 was from 20 June 1837 the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland He was nominated for a BAFTA for Best Supporting Actor in a Film.

In 1998, Connolly's best friend, Danny Kyle, died. "He was me dearest, dearest, oldest friend," Connolly explained to an Australian audience on his Greatest Hits compilation, released in 2001.

In November 1998, Connolly was the subject of a two-hour retrospective entitled Billy Connolly: Erect for 30 Years, which included tributes from Dame Judi Dench, Sean Connery, Whoopi Goldberg, Robin Williams, Dustin Hoffman, and Eddie Izzard. Dame Judith Olivia Dench, CH, DBE, FRSA, (born 9 December, 1934) usually known as Judi Dench, is an English Sir Thomas Sean Connery (born August 25 1930) is an Academy Award - Golden Globe - and BAFTA Award -winning Scottish Whoopi Goldberg (born Caryn Elaine Johnson; November 13, 1955) is an American actress, comedienne, and television Robin McLaurim Williams (born July 21 1951 or 1952 is an American television stage and film actor and Comedian who has won an Academy Award for his performance Dustin Lee Hoffman (born August 8 1937 His brother Ronald is a lawyer and economist Edward John "Eddie" Izzard (born February 7, 1962) is a British stand-up comedian and Dramatic Actor. The special was released on DVD in North America in 2004. DVD (also known as " Digital Versatile Disc " or " Digital Video Disc " - see Etymology)is

The following year, Connolly undertook a four-month, 59-date sellout tour of Australia and New Zealand. New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island Later in the year, he completed a five-week, 25-date sellout run at London's Hammersmith Apollo. The Hammersmith Apollo is a major entertainments and concert venue located in Hammersmith, London, England. In 2000 he travelled to Canada for two weeks on a 13-date tour. Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page

2000s

In 2000 Connolly starred in Beautiful Joe alongside Sharon Stone. Sharon Vonne Stone (born March 10, 1958) is an American Golden Globe - and Emmy -winning Actress, producer, and former The following year he completed the third in his "World Tour" BBC series, this time of England, Ireland and Wales, which began in Dublin and ended in Plymouth. Billy Connolly's World Tour of England Ireland and Wales is the third of Scottish comedian Billy Connolly 's "world tours" commissioned by Dublin (ˈdʌblɨn/ /ˈdʊblɨn or /ˈdʊbəlɪn/, bˠalʲə aːha klʲiəh or cliə(ɸ is both the largest city and capital of Ireland. Plymouth ( is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England about south west of London. It was broadcast the following year.

Also in 2001, Pamela Stephenson's first biography of her husband, Billy, was published. It outlines his career and life, including the sexual abuse by his father that lasted from his tenth to his fourteenth years. Sexual abuse, also referred to as molestation, is the forcing of undesired sexual acts by one person upon another Much of the book is about Connolly the celebrity but the account of his early years provides a context for his humour and point of view. A follow-up, Bravemouth, was published in 2003.

Connolly has also written several books, including Billy Connolly (late 1970s) and Gullible's Travels (early 1980s), both based upon his stage act, as well as books based upon some of his "World Tour" television series. He has stated that his comedy does not work on the printed page.

A fourth BBC series, World Tour of New Zealand, was filmed in 2004 and aired that winter. Billy Connolly's World Tour of New Zealand is the fourth of Billy Connolly 's decade-spanning ‘world tours’ that follow the Comedian on his various Also in his 63rd year, Connolly performed two sold-out benefit concerts at the Oxford New Theatre in memory of Malcolm Kingsnorth, who for twenty-five years was Connolly's tour manager and sound engineer. A benefit concert is a Concert, show or gala featuring musicians comedians or other performers that is held for a charitable purpose often directed at a specific A tour manager is the person who organises a schedule of appearances of a musical group at a sequence of venues The tour manager has responsibilities to the band Audio engineering is a part of audio science dealing with the recording and reproduction of Sound through mechanical and electronic means

In October 2004, during an 18-night stint at London's Hammersmith Apollo, he was criticised for making jokes about the hostage Kenneth Bigley. The Hammersmith Apollo is a major entertainments and concert venue located in Hammersmith, London, England. Kenneth John Bigley ( April 22, 1942 - October 7, 2004) Liverpool, England, who was kidnapped in the al-Mansour district [11] Shortly after Connolly joked about the future killing of the hostage, Bigley was beheaded in Iraq. Connolly claims he was misquoted. He has declined to clarify what he actually said, claiming that the context was as important as the precise words used.

He has continued to be a much in demand character actor, appearing in several films such as White Oleander (2002), The Last Samurai (2003) and Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004). A character actor is an Actor who predominantly plays a particular type of role rather than leading ones White Oleander is a 1999 novel by American author Janet Fitch. See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. The Last Samurai is a 2003 Drama film / War film directed and co-produced by Edward Zwick, who also co-wrote the Screenplay based on Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events is a 2004 Academy Award winning Film, directed by Brad Silberling "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " He has also played an eclectic collection of leading roles in recent years, including a lawyer who undertakes a legal case of Biblical proportions in The Man Who Sued God (2001), and a young boy's pet zombie in Fido (2006). The Man Who Sued God is a 2001 Australian movie in which Billy Connolly plays Steve Myers an ex-lawyer who sues God because his Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. zombie is a reanimated human corpse Stories of zombies originated in the Afro-Caribbean spiritual belief system of Vodou, which told of the people being controlled Fido is a Canadian Zombie comedy film released in 2006 It was directed by Andrew Currie and written by Robert Chomiak Andrew Currie and Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar.

In January 2005, Connolly came 8th in The Comedian's Comedian, a poll voted for by fellow comedians and comedy insider and embarked on a major UK tour with 15 sold-out nights in Glasgow. Glasgow (ˈglæzgoʊ is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom

Also in 2005, Connolly and Stephenson announced, after fourteen years of living in Hollywood, they were returning to live in the former's native land. They purchased a 120-foot yacht with the profits from their house-sale, and split the year between Malta and Candacraig House in Aberdeenshire. Malta, officially the Republic of Malta (Repubblika ta' Malta is a European Microstate, comprising an Archipelago of three islands Aberdeenshire (Siorrachd Obar Dheathain is one of the 32 unitary Council areas in Scotland. [12]

Later in the year, Connolly topped an unscientific poll of "Britain's Favourite Comedian" conducted by TV network Five, placing him ahead of performers such as John Cleese, Ronnie Barker, Dawn French, and Peter Cook. John Marwood Cleese (ˈkliːz born 27 October, 1939) is a British Actor, Comedian, Writer, Film producer Ronald William George Barker, OBE (25 September 1929 &ndash 3 October 2005 was an English actor and Comedian, best known for his roles as Norman Stanley Fletcher Dawn Roma French (born 11 October 1957 is a Welsh actress and Comedian. Peter Edward Cook (17 November 1937 &ndash 9 January 1995 was an English Satirist, Writer and Comedian.

On December 30, 2007, Connolly escaped uninjured from a single-car accident on the A939 near the Scottish town of Ballater, Aberdeenshire. Events 1460 - Wars of the Roses: Battle of Wakefield. 1816 - The Treaty of St Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. The A939 'Lecht Road' connects the A96 at Nairn on the Moray Coast with the A95 Grantown on Spey, then it continues to the A93 at Ballater is a Burgh in Aberdeenshire, Scotland on the River Dee, immediately east of the Cairngorm Mountains. [13]

In late February it was announced that Connolly would play ten shows in early April at the Post Street Theatre in San Francisco, California. The City and County of San Francisco is the fourth most populous city

On March 10, 2008, tickets went on sale for Connolly's Irish tour, set to take place in May, June and July. Events 241 BC - First Punic War: Battle of the Aegates Islands - The Romans sink the Carthaginian fleet bringing 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common He will perform three shows in University Concert Hall, Limerick, ten shows at the Olympia Theatre, Dublin, five shows at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast and three shows at the Cork Opera House. The Irish Chamber Orchestra was founded in 1963 by Hungarian-born conductor János Fürst. The Olympia Theatre is a concert hall in Dublin Ireland, located in Dame Street Waterfront Hall is Concert hall and Exhibition centre in Belfast, Northern Ireland, designed by local architecture firm Robinson McIlwaine Cork Opera House is a theatre and opera house in Cork in the Republic of Ireland. They all sold out in a matter of hours. The tour will also travel to Kerry (two shows) and Mayo (two shows).

Career

Folk music

In 1965, together with Tam Harvey, Connolly started a group called the Humblebums. The Humblebums were a Scottish folk band based in Glasgow. Its members included Billy Connolly, who later became a renowned stand-up comic and actor guitarist At their first gig, Connolly reportedly introduced them both to the audience by saying, "My name's Billy Connolly, and I'm humble. This is Tam Harvey, he's a bum. " The band would later include Gerry Rafferty. Gerry Rafferty (born Gerald Rafferty 16 April 1947 in Paisley) is a Scottish Singer and Songwriter. Connolly sang, played five-string banjo, guitar and autoharp, and entertained the audience with his humorous introductions to the songs. The banjo is a Stringed instrument developed by enslaved Africans in the United States, adapted from several African instruments The guitar is a Musical instrument with ancient roots that is used in a wide variety of musical styles The Autoharp is a musical String instrument having a series of chord bars attached to dampers which when depressed mute all the strings other than those that form the

In his World Tour of Scotland, Connolly reveals that at a trailer show during the Edinburgh Festival, the Humblebums took to the stage just before the late Yehudi Menuhin. Edinburgh Festival is a collective term for several simultaneous arts and cultural Festivals which take place during August each year in Edinburgh, Yehudi Menuhin Baron Menuhin, OM, KBE (April 22 1916 – March 12 1999 was an American -born Violinist and conductor who spent

The trio broke up in 1971, at which point Connolly went solo. His first solo album in 1972, Billy Connolly Live! on Transatlantic Records, features Connolly as a singer, songwriter, and musician. Transatlantic Records was a British Independent record label.

His early albums were a mixture of comedy performances with comedic and serious musical interludes. Among his best known musical performances were "The Welly Boot Song", a comical ode to the working class which became his theme song for several years; "In the Brownies", a parody of the Village People classics "Y.M.C.A." and "In the Navy" (for which Connolly filmed a music video); "Two Little Boys in Blue", a tongue-in-cheek indictment of police brutality done to the tune of Rolf Harris' "Two Little Boys"; and the ballad "I Wish I Was in Glasgow" which Connolly would later perform in duet with Malcolm McDowell on a guest appearance on the 1990s American sitcom Pearl (which starred Rhea Perlman). Village People are a concept Disco group formed in the late 1970s The Young Men's Christian Association (" YMCA " or " the Y " was founded on June 6, 1844 in London England by a young man For the 1941 Abbott & Costello film see In the Navy (film. " In the Navy " is a 1979 hit song (U A music video is a Short film or video that accompanies a complete piece of music most commonly a Song with lyrics Rolf Harris CBE, AM (born 30 March 1930) is an Australian Musician, Singer, Composer, painter Malcolm McDowell (born Malcolm John Taylor; 13 June 1943 is an English Actor. Rhea Perlman (born March 31, 1948) is an American four-time Emmy Award -winning actress, known for her role as Carla Tortelli He also performed the occasional Humblebums-era song such as "Oh, No!" as well as straightforward covers such as a version of Dolly Parton's "Coat of Many Colors" which was included on his Get Right Intae Him! album. Dolly Rebecca Parton (born January 19, 1946) is an American Country music Singer / Songwriter, Author, actress

In November 1975, his spoof of the Tammy Wynette song "D-I-V-O-R-C-E" had a one-week spell as the UK's No. " D-I-V-O-R-C-E " is an American Country music song written by Bobby Braddock and Curly Putman, and made famous in 1968 by Tammy Wynette 1 single. Wynette's original was about parents spelling out words of an impending marital split to avoid traumatizing their young child. Connolly's version of the song, on the other hand, played on the fact that many dog owners use the same tactic when they do not wish their pet to become upset about an impending trip to the vet. A veterinary surgeon is a Veterinarian qualified in the UK and some other English -speaking countries (See Commonwealth of Nations and Commonwealth His song is about a couple whose marriage is ruined by a bad vet visit (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 of J. J. Barrie's "No Charge".

In 1985 he sang the theme song to Supergran, which was released as a single and in 1996 he performed a cover of Ralph McTell's "'In the Dreamtime" as the theme to his World Tour of Australia. Supergran is a Children's television Programme, about a Grandmother with super powers played by Gudrun Ure. Ralph McTell (born Ralph May in Farnborough, England, 3 December, 1944) is an English singer/songwriter and acoustic guitar player who has been By the late 1980s, Connolly had all but dropped the music from his act, though he still records the occasional musical performance, such as a 1980s recording of his composition "Sergeant, Where's Mine?" with The Dubliners. The Dubliners are an Irish folk band founded in 1962. Formation and history The Dubliners formed in 1962 In 1998 he covered The Beatles' "Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!" on the George Martin tribute, In My Life. The Beatles were a pop and rock band from Liverpool, England formed in 1960 " Being for the Benefit of Mr Kite! " (also known as " Being for the Benefit of Mr Sir George Henry Martin CBE (3 January 1926 is a British record producer arranger and Composer. Most recently, he sang a song during the film Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events. Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events is a 2004 Academy Award winning Film, directed by Brad Silberling And in 1995 and 2005, he released two albums of instrumental performances Musical Tour of Scotland and Billy Connolly's Musical Tour of New Zealand, respectively. Musical Tour of Scotland is a collection of traditional folk songs including some original tracks which accompanied Billy Connolly's 1994 television series Billy Connolly's Musical Tour of New Zealand is the soundtrack to the television series Billy Connolly's World Tour of New Zealand.

Connolly is among the artists featured on Banjoman, a tribute to American folk musician Derroll Adams, released in 2002. Derroll Adams ( November 27 1925 &ndash February 6 2000) was an American Folk musician Adams was born Derroll He plays one song, "The Rock".

Stand-up comedy

It is as a stand-up comedian that Connolly is best known. His observational comedy is idiosyncratic and often off-the-cuff. Observational comedy is a style of Humor based on making remarks about various facets of Everyday life. Idiosyncrasy, from Greek ιδιοσυγκρασία idiosunkrasia, "a peculiar temperament" "habit of body" ( idios "one's own" He talks about himself, who he is, where he's been, what he thinks and how he reacts to the world around him. He has outraged certain sectors of audiences, critics and the media with his free use of the word "fuck". Fuck is an English Word that as a Verb, means "to have Sexual intercourse " He has used masturbation, blasphemy, defecation, flatulence, haemorrhoids, sex, his father's illness and his aunts' cruelty to entertain. Masturbation refers to Sexual stimulation especially of one's own genitals ( self masturbation) and often to the point of Orgasm, which Blasphemy is the disrespectful use of the name of one or more gods. Defecation is the final act of Digestion by which organisms eliminate solid semisolid or liquid Waste material ( Faeces) from the Digestive tract Flatulence is the production of a mixture of gases in the digestive tract of Mammals that are byproducts of the digestion process Hemorrhoids ( AmE) haemorrhoids ( BrE) emerods, or piles are varicosities or swelling and Inflammation By exploring these subjects with humour, Connolly has done much to strip away the taboos surrounding them. Yet he does not tell jokes in the conventional way. At the end of a concert the audience can be convulsed with laughter, though few can remember a specific "funny" line.

Playwright

Connolly has written three plays:

Film actor

Connolly has often joked about the regularity of the deaths of the characters he portrays in movies. "If you want to see me in a movie, you have to hurry to the theatre, because I usually die in the first fifteen minutes. I'm never in the sequel. "[14] Connolly also believes himself to be the only man to ever die in a Muppet movie. The Muppets are a group of Puppet characters created by Jim Henson. [15]

Filmography

Year Title
1975

Television Movies
1976
  • Connolly as Himself

Television Movies

  • The Elephants' Graveyard as Jody

Documentaries/Specials

  • Big Banana Feet as Himself
1978
  • Absolution as Blakey
  • Billy Connolly in Concert as Himself
1980
1981

Documentaries/Specials
1982

Television Movies

  • Blue Money as Des
1983
1984

Television

Television Movies

  • Weekend in Wallop as Himself
1985
  • Water as Delgado
  • An Audience with Billy Connolly as Himself

Television

  • Supergran composer/singer of the theme song

Television Special
1986
  • To the North of Katmandu
1987
1988

Documentaries/Specials
1989
1990
  • Whoopi Goldberg Presents Billy Connolly (HBO Standup Performance) as Himself
  • Crossing the Line (known in the UK as The Big Man) as Frankie (for which he shaved off his trademark goatee)

Television

Television Movies

  • Dreaming (movie)
1991
1992
  • 25 B. Just Another Saturday was a TV Movie made by the BBC about the Orange Walk culture Billy Connolly Bites Yer Bum! is a recording of a 1981 performance by Comedian Billy Connolly, filmed in London. The Kingdom of Cambodia ( formerly known as Kampuchea (, transliterated: Preăh Réachéanachâkr Kâmpŭchea) is a country in South East * This article is about the 1981 Amnesty International benefit show (and resulting movies and albums &mdash the sequel to the original 1979 show Bullshot is a Film, based on the stage play " Bullshot Crummond " Tickle On The Tum was a series of ten minute programmes for young children produced by Granada Television and aired on the ITV network from 1983 Water is a 1985 comedy film scripted by Dick Clement and Ian Le Frenais, directed by Clement and starring Michael Caine. Supergran is a Children's television Programme, about a Grandmother with super powers played by Gudrun Ure. Live Aid was a multi-venue rock music concert held on. The event was organized by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure to raise funds for famine relief in Ethiopia " The Hunting of the Snark (An Agony in 8 Fits " is a nonsense Poem written by Lewis Carroll (Charles Lutwidge Dodgson in 1874 when he was 42 years Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (xolíɬaɬa mandéːla born 18 July 1918 is a former President of South Africa, the first to be elected in fully representative The Return of the Musketeers is a 1989 film loosely based on the novel Twenty Years After by Alexandre Dumas père. Head of the Class is an American sitcom that ran from 1986 to 1991 on the ABC television network Live at the Odeon Hammersmith London is the title of a 1991 comedy album release and a videotaped performance by Billy Connolly. C. : The Best of 25 Years of Billy Connolly as Himself

Television

  • Billy as Billy MacGregor
1993

Television Movies

  • Down Among the Big Boys as Jo Jo Donnelly
1994
  • Billy Connolly Live 1994 as Himself

Television
1995
  • Pocahontas as Ben (voice)
  • Two Bites of Billy Connolly as Himself
1996

Television

Video Games

  • Muppet Treasure Island as Billy Bones (voice)

Documentaries/Specials

  • A Scot in the Arctic as Himself
1997
  • Beverly Hills Ninja as Japanese Antique Shop Proprietor
  • Mrs. Brown as John Brown (for which he was nominated for a BAFTA)
  • Paws as PC (voice)
  • Billy Connolly: Two Night Stand as Himself

Television Movies

Documentaries/Specials

  • Sean Connery, an Intimate Portrait as Himself
  • Sean Connery Close Up as Himself
  • Whatever Happened to. Billy is the name of a short-lived television Situation comedy that aired on ABC for half a season during 1992 in the United States Indecent Proposal is a 1993 film Drama directed by Adrian Lyne. World Tour of Scotland is a six-part television series — the first of Billy Connolly 's (thus far four "world tours" — originally broadcast by the Pocahontas is the thirty-third Animated feature in the Disney animated features canon. Muppet Treasure Island is the fifth Feature film to star The Muppets. Billy Connolly's World Tour of Australia is the second in a line of ‘world tours’ that follow comedian Billy Connolly on his various travels across the globe Beverly Hills Ninja is a 1997 comedy Film starring Chris Farley as a bumbling Ninja in Beverly Hills. For the song by Herman's Hermits see Mrs Brown You've Got a Lovely Daughter "Mrs The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA is a British charity that hosts annual awards shows for film television television craft video games and forms of animation William Brodie ( September 28, 1741 - October 1, 1788) more commonly known by his prestigious title of Deacon Brodie, was a Scottish Sir Thomas Sean Connery (born August 25 1930) is an Academy Award - Golden Globe - and BAFTA Award -winning Scottish . . Clement and La Frenais? as Himself
1998
  • Still Crazy as Hughie
    • also the composer of "Stealin'"
  • The Impostors as Mr. Still Crazy is a 1998 Comedy film about a fictional 1970s Rock band named "Strange Fruit" who after being split up for several See also The Impostors (Thunderbirds episode The Impostors is a 1998 Farce motion picture written and directed by Stanley Sparks
  • Middleton's Changeling as Alibius
1999
2000

Television Movies

  • Columbo: Murder with Too Many Notes as Findlay Crawford
2001
  • Gabriel and Me as Gabriel
  • The Man Who Sued God as Steve Myers
  • Who is Cletis Tout? as Dr. The Boondock Saints is a 1999 action Crime drama film written and directed by Troy Duffy. The Debt Collector is a 1999 thriller written and directed by Scottish dramatist Anthony Neilson and starring Billy Connolly, Ken Stott An Everlasting Piece is a Comedy film released in 2000. It was directed by Barry Levinson and written by and starring Barry McEvoy Gabriel and Me is a 2001 Film starring Iain Glen and Billy Connolly as the Angel Gabriel. The Man Who Sued God is a 2001 Australian movie in which Billy Connolly plays Steve Myers an ex-lawyer who sues God because his Who is Cletis Tout? is a 2001 crime / comedy film starring Christian Slater, Richard Dreyfuss and Tim Allen. Savian
  • Billy Connolly Live: The Greatest Hits as Himself

Television Movies

  • Prince Charming as Hamish
  • Gentlemen's Relish as Kingdom Swann

Documentaries/Specials

  • Comic Relief: Say Pants to Poverty as Himself
  • Comic Relief Short Pants as Himself
2002

Documentaries/Specials

  • Ultimate Fights from the Movies as Frankie from Crossing the Line
  • Billy Connolly: A BAFTA Tribute as Himself
  • Judi Dench: A BAFTA Tribute as Himself
  • The Rutles 2: Can't Buy Me Lunch
2003
  • The Last Samurai as Zebulon Grant
  • Timeline as Prof. White Oleander is a 1999 novel by American author Janet Fitch. Billy Connolly's World Tour of England Ireland and Wales is the third of Scottish comedian Billy Connolly 's "world tours" commissioned by The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA is a British charity that hosts annual awards shows for film television television craft video games and forms of animation Dame Judith Olivia Dench, CH, DBE, FRSA, (born 9 December, 1934) usually known as Judi Dench, is an English The Rutles was a fictional band created by Eric Idle and Neil Innes as a Pastiche of The Beatles. The Last Samurai is a 2003 Drama film / War film directed and co-produced by Edward Zwick, who also co-wrote the Screenplay based on Timeline is a 2003 Film directed by Richard Donner, director of Lethal Weapon. E. A. Johnston

Documentaries/Specials

  • Billy Connolly: Erect for 30 Years as Himself
  • Julie Walters: A BAFTA Tribute as Himself
  • The Importance of Being Famous as Himself
  • Overnight as Himself
  • Comic Relief 2003: The Big Hair Do as Himself
2004

Television

Documentaries/Specials

  • Comedy Central Presents: 100 Greatest Stand-Ups of All Time as #73
2005

DVD

  • Billy Connolly: Live in New York

Documentaries
2006

DVD

Documentaries
2007

DVD

  • Billy Connolly Live: Was it Something I Said? as Himself
2008

Television guest appearances

Awards

Connolly was awarded an honorary Doctor of Letters degree by the University of Glasgow on 11 July 2001. Events 306 - Maxentius is proclaimed Roman Emperor. 312 - Battle of Milvian Bridge: Constantine Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Enough Rope with Andrew Denton (often shortened to Enough Rope) is a television Talk show broadcast on ABC1 in Australia Events 1472 - Orkney and Shetland are left by Norway to Scotland, due to a Dowry payment Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. The Daily Show (known in its current incarnation as The Daily Show Events 1291 - Scottish Nobles recognize the authority of Edward I of England. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson is an American late-night Talk show hosted by Scottish - American comedian Events 48 BC - Pompey the Great is assassinated on orders of King Ptolemy of Egypt after landing in Egypt. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Late Night with Conan O'Brien is an Emmy Award -winning American late-night Talk show hosted by Conan O'Brien on NBC Events 53 - Roman Emperor Nero marries Claudia Octavia 62 - Claudia Octavia commits Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa ( Latin: 'for the sake of the honour' is an Academic degree for which a university (or other degree-awarding Doctor of Letters ( Latin: Litterarum doctor; DLitt; or Litt D The University of Glasgow (Oilthigh Ghlaschu was founded in 1451 in Glasgow, Scotland and along with its contemporary institutions the University of St Andrews Events 911 - Signing of the Treaty of Saint-Clair-sur-Epte between Charles the Simple and Rollo of Normandy. Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. 2003 saw him presented with a BAFTA Lifetime Achievement award and a CBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours List. The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA is a British charity that hosts annual awards shows for film television television craft video games and forms of animation The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British Order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by King George V. The British honours system is a means of rewarding individuals' personal bravery achievement or service to the United Kingdom.

On 4 July 2006, Connolly was awarded an honorary doctorate by Glasgow's Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (RSAMD) for his service to performing arts [1]. Events 836 - Pactum Sicardi, peace between the Principality of Benevento and the Duchy of Naples Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar.

On 18 March 2007, Connolly was named Number One in Channel 4's "100 Greatest Stand Ups". Events 37 - The Roman Senate annuls Tiberius ' will and proclaims Caligula emperor Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Channel 4 is a public-service Television and Radio broadcaster in the United Kingdom centred around a television channel of the same name which began [16]

Discography

A partial list of musical and comedic recordings:

The above list does not include at least two albums recorded with the Humblebums prior to 1972, and only includes a sampling of the many reissues and compilations released over the years. Live at the Odeon Hammersmith London is the title of a 1991 comedy album release and a videotaped performance by Billy Connolly. Musical Tour of Scotland is a collection of traditional folk songs including some original tracks which accompanied Billy Connolly's 1994 television series Billy Connolly's Musical Tour of New Zealand is the soundtrack to the television series Billy Connolly's World Tour of New Zealand.

Further reading

References

  1. ^ a b Stephenson, Pamela. Billy, HarperCollins, 2001
  2. ^ a b World Tour of Scotland (1994), Connolly, Billy
  3. ^ Billy Connolly Biography (1942-)
  4. ^ a b Biographical Notes. World Tour of Scotland is a six-part television series — the first of Billy Connolly 's (thus far four "world tours" — originally broadcast by the Comedy-zone. net. Retrieved on 20 January, 2007.
  5. ^ "Billy Connolly reveals childhood abuse" - BBC website, September 23, 2001
  6. ^ a b c d e Billy Connolly's World Tour of Australia, 1996
  7. ^ a b Radio Times 15–21 December 2007: Goodnight. Billy Connolly's World Tour of Australia is the second in a line of ‘world tours’ that follow comedian Billy Connolly on his various travels across the globe . . and Thank You
  8. ^ "Nightclub businessman shot on doorstep" - The Scotsman
  9. ^ "Billy Connolly: The interview" - The Guardian, September 23, 2001
  10. ^ The South Bank Show episode guide at TV.com
  11. ^ BBC News: Connolly blasted over Bigley joke
  12. ^ "Connolly sells Hollywood home to live the good life in Scotland" - The Scotsman
  13. ^ "Billy Connolly in car accident, unhurt" - United Press International
  14. ^ Billy Connolly: Live in New York, 2005
  15. ^ Billy Connolly Live 2002, 2002
  16. ^ 100 Greatest Stand-Ups - Channel 4.com

External links

The Guardian (until 1959 The Manchester Guardian) is a British Newspaper owned by the Guardian Media Group. The Guardian (until 1959 The Manchester Guardian) is a British Newspaper owned by the Guardian Media Group.
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