Billy Connolly turns 80
The actor and comedian was born in the Anderston area of Glasgow in 1942.
Last updated 24th Nov 2022
Scottish comedian, actor and artist Sir Billy Connolly is celebrating turning 80 years old.
He was born in the Anderston area of Glasgow in 1942 before gaining worldwide fame for his comedy routines.
Early years
Connolly had a difficult start to life. His mother left when he was just four years old, and while his father was away fighting in the war, young Connolly and his sister were left in the care of their abusive aunts.
After a stint working in the Glasgow shipyards as a boilermaker, Connolly left the industry to pursue a career as a folk singer.
His performances were interspersed with comical intros, which eventually sparked the beginning of his career in stand-up comedy.
A glittering career
Billy Connolly has been credited with influencing comedians around the world, mainly due to his ability to connect and relate to his audience.
Fellow comedian Al Murray once even compared him to the Beatles, saying: “He’s a bit like the Beatles: everything since him is because of him and a reaction to him.”
He has been named as Number 1 in a list of 100 Greatest Stand-Ups on more than one occasion and in 2012 he received a BAFTA Scotland Award for Outstanding Achievement in Television and Film.
More recently, at the start of this year, he was given the highest accolade, the BAFTA fellowship.
His illustrious life in pictures:
Billy Connolly began his showbiz career in the 60s as the frontman of local folk-rock group, the Humblebums. They released one album as a trio, and then after one band member left, two more albums as a duo.
In 1968, Billy married local gal Iris Pressagh, an interior designer, who he moved out of Glasgow when his fame started to climb. They had two children together.
In 1971, The Humblebums broke up and Billy went on to have some success as a solo singer, but it was soon clear his hilarious on stage persona was driving the crowds and he gradually turned his attentions to comedy.
By the mid 70s Billy had mostly completed the crossover to stand up and was doing well on the Scottish scene. In 1975 he was invited to appear on the BBC's premier talk show at the time - Parkinson, and his career took off.
Billy and Iris separated in 1981 and divorced in 1985. In 1989, Billy married writer and performer Pamela Stephenson, with whom he has three children. They are still married and Billy praises her for being 'patient' during his illness, saying last year, "I sleep like a wild animal. Laughing and singing or having fights. Pamela has to sleep in another bed.
"So far, she has never tutted. And she's a rather attractive nurse."
Billy has an impressive filmography, starring in both big budget blockbusters like The Hobbit and Disney's Brave, as well as indie productions. In 2004 he starred as Dr Monty Montogomery in Lemony Snicket's a Series of Unfortunate Events.
For Billy's 75th birthday, the City of Glasgow gifted him three enormous murals on buildings around town in honour of one of their best-loved entertainers.
"I'm truly amazed at the effect these have had on me. They've just completely stunned me," he told the BBC.
"I thought I'd be all light-hearted on seeing them and jokey - but they're so big - the effect on me is so profound."
In 2017, Billy was awarded a knighthood by Prince William at Buckingham Palace for his services to entertainment and charity.
Mr Connolly has even visited the Radio Clyde studios.
In 2008, he discussed his fame and cult following with Tom Ferrie and Jim Symone in 2008 - as they revived their annual Hogmanay show for one last time.
He retired from live performing in 2018 and now lives in Florida with his family, although he makes regular visits to his home city.