Billy Connolly

From Philosopedia

Billy Connolly (24 November 1942 - )

The Scottish born comedian was born in Partick and brought up in Drumchapel, He first started working in the Govan shipyards before earning a living as a folk musician in a band called The Humblebums. The band was successful but it was Billy's jokes that people noticed and in the 70's he continued telling jokes as a comedian on stage and television.

In the late seventies he lived in Los Angeles for a few years where there he starred in the sitcom, "Head of the Class." His first marriage, to interior designer Iris Pressagh, lasted twelve years but fell apart due to his constant touring. The couple had two children.

When he appeared on the comedy show Not the Nine O'Clock News, he met actress Pamela Stephenson. In 1989, Pamela and Billy married in Fiji, with their three young daughters in attendance.

Some of his jokes:

• To a member of the audience who was heckling - "Don't tell me how to do my job, do I go to your job and tell you how to sweep up?”
• A woman's mind is as complex as the contents of her handbag; even when you get to the bottom of it, there is ALWAYS something at the bottom to surprise you!
• Marriage is a wonderful invention, but, then again, so is a bicycle repair kit!
• Before you judge a man, walk a mile in his shoes. After that who cares? . . . . He's a mile away and you've got his shoes!
• In Scotland, there is no such thing as bad weather - only the wrong clothes.

In 1993, Connolly returned to Scotland to film Down Among The Big Boys in Glasgow, and in 1994 he created a variety-show tour of Scotland, "World Tour of Scotland," which was part music, part comedy, and part information.

In 1995 three of his projects won British Academy of Film and Television Arts Awards: "World Tour of Scotland" won Best Entertainment Program; "Down Among the Big Boys" won Best Drama; and the BBC program, "The Bigger Picture," hosted by Billy, won the award for Best Arts Program.

Below are some of his TV and film credits:

Paws (1997) - Voice of PC

Her Majesty, Mrs. Brown (1997) - John Brown, aka Mrs. Brown (1997)

Muppet Treasure Island (1996) - Billy Bones

"Billy Connolly's World Tour of Australia" (1996) TV Series

Pocahontas (1995) (voice) - Ben

Indecent Proposal (1993) - Auction Emcee

"Billy" (1992) TV Series - Billy MacGregor

Big Man, The (1990) - Frankie, aka Crossing the Line (1990) (US title)

"Head of the Class" (1986) TV Series - Billy MacGregor (1990-1991)

Return of the Musketeers, The (1989) - Caddie

To the North of Katmandu (1986)

Water (1985/I) - Delgado

Bullshot (1983) - Hawkeye McGillicuddy

Blue Money (1982) (TV) - Des

Secret Policeman's Other Ball, The (1982) - Himself

Absolution (1981) - Blakey, aka Murder by Confession (1981)

Secret Policeman's Ball, The (1981) - Himself

Freethinker Dennis Middlebrooks found in The New York Post (12 May 2006, page 42) that Connolly is quoted as saying,

• I was born a Catholic, but I paid the fine and got out long ago.