Biography

Billy Connolly

Introduction

William "Billy" Connoly was born on 24th November 1942 in Anderston, Glasgow, United Kingdom. He is a Scottish actor, musician, comedian, and presenter known by his nickname ‘The Big Yin’ or Billy. He was born to William, an engineer in the Royal Air Force and Mary Connoly. His mother left the family when William was four years old and was raised by his two aunts. He has an older sister named Florence.

Education and Career

Billy Connoly attended St. Peter’s Primary School in Glasgow and St. Gerard’s secondary School in Govan. When he was only 12 years old Billy decided to become a comedian. He left school at the age of 15 by collecting engineering qualification. By the age of 16, he became a delivery boy as he was regarded deemed overqualified to become an engineer for having two certificates.  He also joined the Territorial Army Reserve 15th Battalion, The Parachute Regiment.

Billy Connoly attended the Edinburgh Festival Fringe for the first time in the early 1960s. After spending some time on the city’s Rose Street, he was delighted by some long-haired musicians and he decided to model himself on them. In 1972 Billy made his theatrical debut at the Cottage Theatre in Cumbernauld.

Nat Joseph produced Billy’s first solo album named Billy Connolly Live! In the year 1972. The following year, another album got released that raised Billy to British stardom. He signed with Polydor Records in 1975 to release his live albums and recorded several other comedic songs. In 1976, Billy’s first play was opened in Irvine named An’ Me wi' a Bad Leg and the play was toured in London.

Billy Connoly recorded BBC special program, ‘A Scot in the Arctic’ in 1995, in which he spent a week by himself in the Arctic Circle. In the year 2000, Billy featured in the movie Beautiful Joe alongside Sharon Stone. He voiced in Pixar’s animated film Brave in 2012. He has also appeared in a film The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies in 2014.

 

Personal life

Billy Connoly was married to Iris Pressagh on 27th June 1969. The couple has two children, a son named Jamie Connolly and a daughter named Cara Connolly. Due to some reason, the relation did not last longer and the couple got separated on 1st August 1985. In 1989, he married to Pamela Stephenson. His wife is a comedian as well as a psychologist. He has three children from his current wife named Scarlett, Amy, and Daisy.

Net worth and body measurements

Billy Connoly has the net worth estimated to be $20 million. He has been actively appearing in the movies. His acting career is the main source of his huge net worth. Billy is a tall man with the height of 6 ft.