"NO ONE'S HEARD OF HIM UNTIL HE APPEARS"
QUICK BIO
BIOGRAPHY
Billy Connolly was born on 24 November 1942 at 69 Dover Street ("on the linoleum, three floors up" "at six o'clock in the evening") in Anderston, Glasgow, to William Connolly and Mary "Mamie" Connolly, a hospital cafeteria worker. Connolly's grandfather was an Irish immigrant. This section of Dover Street, between Breadalbane and Claremont Streets, was demolished in the mid-1990s. Connolly refers to this in his 1983 song "I Wish I Was in Glasgow", with the lines "I would take you there and show you, but they've pulled the building down" and "They bulldozed it all to make a road".
When Connolly was barely four, his mother abandoned him and his siblings when their father was still in the army. They were then cared for by two Aunts, Margaret and Mona, his father’s sisters.
Sadly, Connolly was sexually abused between the ages of 10 and 15, by his father. He believes this was a result of the Catholic Church not allowing his father to divorce after his mother left the family. Because of this, Connolly has a ‘deep distrust and dislike of the Catholic Church and any other organization that, in his words, brainwashes people’
Connolly attended St. Peter’s Primary School in Partick, and St. Gerard’s Secondary School in Govan.
When Connolly was barely four, his mother abandoned him and his siblings when their father was still in the army. They were then cared for by two Aunts, Margaret and Mona, his father’s sisters.
Sadly, Connolly was sexually abused between the ages of 10 and 15, by his father. He believes this was a result of the Catholic Church not allowing his father to divorce after his mother left the family. Because of this, Connolly has a ‘deep distrust and dislike of the Catholic Church and any other organization that, in his words, brainwashes people’
Connolly attended St. Peter’s Primary School in Partick, and St. Gerard’s Secondary School in Govan.
When he was 12, he wanted to become a comedian but did not think that he would fit the mould, feeling he needed to become more ‘windswept and interesting’.
At 15, he left school with two engineering qualifications, one collected by mistake which belonged to a boy named Connell.
Connolly was a year too young to work in the shipyards. He became a bread-delivery boy, with Bilslands, until he was sixteen, when he was deemed overqualified (due to his J1 and J2 certificates) to become an engineer. Instead, he worked as a boilermaker at Alexander Stephen and Sons Shipyard in Linthouse. Connolly also joined the Territorial Army reserve unit 15th (Scottish) Battalion, the Parachute Regiment (15 PARA). He later commemorated his experiences in the song "Weekend Soldier".
Connolly has numerous discographies and DVD releases for his various comedic work.
At 15, he left school with two engineering qualifications, one collected by mistake which belonged to a boy named Connell.
Connolly was a year too young to work in the shipyards. He became a bread-delivery boy, with Bilslands, until he was sixteen, when he was deemed overqualified (due to his J1 and J2 certificates) to become an engineer. Instead, he worked as a boilermaker at Alexander Stephen and Sons Shipyard in Linthouse. Connolly also joined the Territorial Army reserve unit 15th (Scottish) Battalion, the Parachute Regiment (15 PARA). He later commemorated his experiences in the song "Weekend Soldier".
Connolly has numerous discographies and DVD releases for his various comedic work.
He has also written three plays: An’ Me Wi’ A Bad Leg Tree (1975), When Hair Was Long and Time Was Short (1977) and Red Runner (1979)
Connolly has had some pretty decent notable roles including: Water (1985), The Boondock Saints (1999), Timeline (2003), Garfield: A Tale of Two Kitties (2006), Gulliver’s Travels (2010) and Brave (2012)
Connolly has been married to his second wife, comedian and psychologist, Pamela Stephenson for the last 25 years.
He has worked with Frank Bruno and Ozzy Osborne when they sung ‘The War of the Urpneys’ in The Dreamstone (1990-1995)
Connolly has had some pretty decent notable roles including: Water (1985), The Boondock Saints (1999), Timeline (2003), Garfield: A Tale of Two Kitties (2006), Gulliver’s Travels (2010) and Brave (2012)
Connolly has been married to his second wife, comedian and psychologist, Pamela Stephenson for the last 25 years.
He has worked with Frank Bruno and Ozzy Osborne when they sung ‘The War of the Urpneys’ in The Dreamstone (1990-1995)
Sir Peter Jackson stated that "We could not think of a more fitting actor to play Dain Ironfoot, the staunchest and toughest of dwarves, than Billy Connolly, the Big Yin himself. We can't wait to see him on the battlefield."
Connolly is a big fan of Glasgow-based Celtic F.C. and has a seat for life at their Celtic Park Stadium. He is also a patron of the National Association for Bikers with a Disability, as well as the Celtic Football Clubs, The Celtic Foundation.
Connolly is a big fan of Glasgow-based Celtic F.C. and has a seat for life at their Celtic Park Stadium. He is also a patron of the National Association for Bikers with a Disability, as well as the Celtic Football Clubs, The Celtic Foundation.
AWARDS
YEAR
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WORK
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AWARD
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CATEGORY
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RESULT
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1993
1997 1998 1999 2002 2012 2013 |
Billy Connolly: Pale Blue Scottish Person
Mrs Brown Mrs Brown 30 Years of Billy Connolly Billy Connolly's World Tour of Ireland, Wales and England ---------------------------- Quartet Brave |
CableACE
BAFTAs, Scotland BAFTAs Satellite Awards Screen Actors Guild Awards BAFTAs National Television Awards, UK BAFTAs, Scotland British Independent Film Awards Online Film & Television Association Film Awards |
Writing An Entertainment Special
Best Actor - Film Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture - Drama Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role Best Light Entertainment Performance Most Popular Comedy Performance Outstanding Achievement Award Best Supporting Actor Best Voice-Over Performance |
Nominated
Nominated Nominated Nominated Nominated Nominated Nominated WON Nominated Nominated |
MOST NOTABLE MILESTONES
1979:
1986: 1987: 1989: 1993: 1996: 1998: 2011: 2012: 2013: 2014 |
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 show for Amnesty International.
Connolly visited Mozambique to appear in a documentary for Comic Relief. Completed his first world tour, including six nights at the Royal Albert Hall in London, which was documented in the Billy and Albert video He came to a standstill with the passing of his father, who passed with a stroke. Married his second wife, Pamela Stephenson His mother died four years later, of motor neurone disease Connolly was dealt with another blow when his close friend and fishing partner, Jimmy Kent, passed away Connolly starred in Muppet Treasure Island as Billy Bones Another blow to his life, his best friend Danny Kyle died. Connolly suffered a broken rib and a gashed knee when his motor trike rolled on top of him while filming for the ITV’s travel documentary Billy Connolly’s Route 66. He returned to filming a week later In recognition of Billy Connolly's enormous achievements as one of Scotland’s most successful talents, he was honored with the Outstanding Contribution to Television and Film Award this year. Connolly had undergone minor surgery for early stage prostate cancer. The announcement also stated that he is being treated for the initial symptoms of Parkinson's Disease. Connolly admitted earlier in 2013 that he had started to forget his lines during performances. Connolly will star in The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies as Dain II Ironfoot Starred in What We Do On Our Holiday as Gordy McLeod |
BILLY CONNOLLY PORTRAYS:
DAIN II IRONFOOT
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies