
Billy Connolly
Biography
Billy Connolly (born November 24, 1942) is a Scottish comedian, musician, presenter and actor. He is sometimes known, especially in his native Scotland, by the nickname The Big Yin (The Big One). 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 to pursue a career as a folk singer in the Humblebums and subsequently as a soloist. In the early 1970s he made the transition from folk-singer with a comedic persona to fully-fledged comedian, a role in which he continues. He also became an 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 Man Who Sued God (2001); Water (1985);The Last Samurai (2003); Timeline (2003); Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004); Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties (2006); and The X-Files: I Want to Believe (2008). Connolly reprised his role as Noah "Il Duce" MacManus in Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day. Connolly appears as the King of Lilliput in the 2010 remake of Gulliver′s Travels.
Known For

TV
The Daily Show
Self
1996

TV
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self
1962

TV
House
Thomas Bell
2004

TV
The Graham Norton Show
Self
2007

TV
Columbo
Findlay Crawford
1971

TV
Real Time with Bill Maher
Self
2003

TV
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
Self - Guest
1993

TV
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
Himself
1992

TV
Minder
Tick Tack
1979

TV
Parkinson
Self
1998

TV
Play for Today
1970

TV
Play for Today
Jody
1970

TV
3rd Rock from the Sun
Inspector Macaffery
1996

TV
An Audience with...
Self
1978

Film
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
Dain Ironfoot
2014

TV
Who Do You Think You Are?
Self
2004

TV
The BAFTA Awards
Host
1949

TV
Veronica's Closet
Campbell
1997
TV
The Heaven and Earth Show
1998

TV
The Russell Howard Hour
Self
2017
Filmography
2024TVIn My Own Wordsas Self2024FilmThe Story of Microdisney: The Clock Comes Down the Stairsas Self (archive footage)2022FilmOoh the Banter!as Self2022FilmKids' TV: The Surprising Storyas Self (archive footage)2022FilmBilly Connolly: 30 Funniest Momentsas Self2022TVBilly Connolly Does...as Self2021FilmBilly Connolly: My Absolute Pleasureas Themselves2021FilmBilly Connolly: In His Own Wordsas Self2021FilmParkinson at 50as Self (archive footage)2020FilmBilly Connolly: It’s Been a Pleasure...as Self2020TVBilly and Usas Self2020FilmScotland: Contains Strong Languageas Himself (archive footage)2020FilmBilly Connolly: Life, Death and Laughteras Himself - Interviewed Guest2019FilmBilly Connolly: The Sex Life of Bandagesas Himself2019TVBilly Connolly's Great American Trailas Himself2018TVBilly Connolly: Made in Scotlandas Self2018FilmBilly Connolly's Ultimate World Touras Himself2017TVThe Russell Howard Houras Self2017FilmBilly Connolly: Portrait of a Lifetimeas Himself2017TVTate Britain's Great Art Walksas Self2017FilmBilly Connolly And Meas Self2017FilmDying Laughingas Self2016FilmJudi Dench: All the World's Her Stageas Self2016FilmBilly Connolly: High Horse Tour Liveas Himself2016FilmWild Oatsas Chandler2016TVBilly Connolly's Tracks Across Americaas Hinself - Host2014FilmThe Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armiesas Dain Ironfoot2014FilmWhat We Did on Our Holidayas Gordie McLeod2014TVBilly Connolly's Big Send Offas Presenter2014TVFive Fablesas Himself - Narrator2013TVGreat Bear Stakeoutas Narrator2012FilmQuartetas Wilf Bond2012FilmWhat About Dick?as Inspector McGuffin2012FilmBraveas Fergus (voice)2011FilmBilly Connolly: You Asked for Itas Himself2011TVBilly Connolly's Route 66as himself2011FilmGerry Rafferty: Right Down the Lineas Self2011FilmThe Ballad of Nessieas Narrator (voice)2010FilmGerard Kelly: A Celebrationas Self2010FilmGulliver's Travelsas King Theodore2010FilmBilly Connolly: Live in London 2010as self2010FilmFishing for Poetry - A Celebration of Norman MacCaigas Self2009FilmNot Again: Not the Nine O'Clock Newsas Self2009FilmThe Boondock Saints II: All Saints Dayas Poppa2009TVBilly Connolly: Journey to the Edge of the Worldas Self2008FilmStanley Baxter: Now and Thenas Self2008FilmGaybo Laughs Backas Self2008FilmWisdom2008FilmOpen Season 2as McSquizzy (voice)2008FilmThe X Files: I Want to Believeas Father Joseph Crissman2008FilmRonnie Drew: September Song2007FilmBilly Connolly: Was It Something I Said?as Himself2007TVShrink Rapas Self2007FilmTop Gear of the Popsas Self (Comic Relief VT)2007TVThe Graham Norton Showas Self2006FilmFuckas Self2006FilmOpen Seasonas McSquizzy (voice)2006FilmFidoas Fido2006FilmGarfield: A Tail of Two Kittiesas Dargis2006TVWhere My Dogs At?2005FilmBilly Connolly: Live in New Yorkas Billy Connolly2005FilmThe Aristocratsas Self2005FilmLive Aid: 20 Years Ago Todayas Self2005FilmLive Aid Against All Oddsas Self2005FilmIvor Cutler: Looking For Truth With a Pinas Self2004FilmLemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Eventsas Dr. Montgomery Montgomery2004FilmRemember the Secret Policeman's Ball?as Self2004TVBilly Connolly's World Tour of New Zealand2004TVHouseas Thomas Bell2004TVWho Do You Think You Are?as Self2004FilmBilly Connolly - One Night Standas Himself2004FilmJimmy Johnstone: Lord of the Wing2003FilmThe Last Samuraias Zebulon Gant2003FilmTimelineas Professor E.A. Johnston2003FilmBilly Connolly: Live - The Greatest Hitsas Himself2003FilmCan't Buy Me Lunch: Another Look at The Rutlesas Self - Interviewee2003FilmOvernightas Self2003TVReal Time with Bill Maheras Self2003FilmRichard Thompson: Solitary Life2002FilmBilly Connolly: A BAFTA Tributeas Self2002FilmWhite Oleanderas Barry Kolker2002FilmUltimate Fights from the Moviesas Frankie (Crossing the Line) (archive footage)2002TVBilly Connolly's World Tour of England, Ireland and Wales2002FilmBilly Connolly: Live in Dublin 2002as Billy Connolly2001FilmThe Man Who Sued Godas Steve Myers2001FilmWho Is Cletis Tout?as Dr Savian2001FilmGabriel & Meas Gabriel2001FilmPrince Charmingas Hamish2001FilmGentlemen's Relishas Kingdom Swann2001FilmAn Evening In Australia With Billy Connollyas Self2000FilmAn Everlasting Pieceas Scalper2000FilmBeautiful Joeas Joe1999FilmThe Debt Collectoras Nickie Dryden1999FilmBilly Connolly's World Tour of Televisionas Self1999FilmThe Boondock Saintsas Il Duce1999FilmBilly Connolly: Erect for 30 Yearsas Billy Connolly1998FilmStanley Baxter in Personas Self1998FilmStill Crazyas Hughie1998FilmThe Impostorsas Mr. Sparks, the Tennis Pro1998FilmIntimate Portrait: Sean Conneryas Self1998TVThe Heaven and Earth Show1998TVParkinsonas Self1998FilmMiddleton's Changeling1997FilmRetying the Knot: The Incredible String Band1997FilmPawsas PC (voice)1997TVVeronica's Closetas Campbell1997FilmMrs Brownas John Brown1997FilmDeacon Brodieas Deacon Brodie1997FilmBeverly Hills Ninjaas Japanese Antique Shop Proprietor (uncredited)1997FilmBilly Connolly: Two Night Standas Himself1996TVBilly Connolly's World Tour of Australia1996TVThe Daily Showas Self1996TVDennis the Menace and Gnasheras Captain Trout (voice)1996FilmMuppet Treasure Islandas Billy Bones1996TV3rd Rock from the Sunas Inspector Macaffery1995FilmBilly Connolly: A Scot in the Arcticas Himself1995FilmBilly Connolly Live At Usher Hallas Himself1995FilmPocahontasas Ben (voice)1995FilmIn the Best Possible Taste: A Tribute to Kenny Everettas Sketch Performer (Archive Footage)1995FilmTwo Bites of Billy Connollyas Himself1994FilmAn Audience with Jimmy Tarbuckas Self - Audience Member1994FilmBilly Connolly: Live at the Apolloas Himself1994FilmBilly Connolly's World Tour of Scotlandas Self1994TVWorld Tour of Scotland1993FilmDown Among the Big Boysas JoJo Donnelly1993TVDown Among the Big Boysas JoJo1993TVLate Night with Conan O'Brienas Self - Guest1993FilmIndecent Proposalas Auction M.C.1992TVThe Tonight Show with Jay Lenoas Himself1992FilmAcoustic Routesas Self1992TVBilly1991FilmBilly Connolly - Live at the Odeon Hammersmith Londonas Himself1991FilmBilly Connolly: Pale Blue Scottish Person1991FilmDreamingas Game Show Host/Busker1990FilmThe Big Manas Frankie1989FilmWhoopi Goldberg Presents: Billy Connollyas Himself1989FilmThe Return of the Musketeersas Caddie1989FilmThe Movie Life of Georgeas Self1989TVSaturday Night Clive1988FilmNelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tributeas Self1988FilmBarry Humphries: This is Your Lunchas Self1987FilmBilly Connolly: Billy and Albert (Live at the Royal Albert Hall)as Billy Connolly1987FilmThe Hunting of the Snarkas The Bellman1986TVHead of the Classas Billy MacGregor1986FilmThe Comic Relief Utterly Utterly Rude Video Liveas Self1986TVOmnibus Presents Comic Relief1985FilmAn Audience with Billy Connollyas Self1985FilmLive Aidas Self1985FilmBlue Moneyas Des1985TVSuper Granas Angus McSporran1985FilmWateras Delgado Fitzhugh1984FilmAndrocles and the Lionas Androcles1983FilmBullshotas Hawkeye McGillicuddy1982FilmBilly Connolly: Hand Picked by Billyas Himself1982FilmThe Secret Policeman's Other Ballas Self1982TVRiversideas Self1982FilmBilly Connolly: The Pick of Billy Connollyas Billy Connolly1981FilmConcerts for the People of Kampucheaas Self1981FilmBilly Connolly: Billy Bites Yer Bumas Billy Connolly1980FilmA Cup O' Tea An' A Slice O' Cake - Worzel Gummidge Christmas Specialas Bogle McNeep1979FilmThe Secret Policeman's Ballas Himself1979TVMinderas Tick Tack1979TVWorzel Gummidgeas Bogle McNeep1978TVThe Kenny Everett Video Show1978FilmAbsolutionas Blakey1978FilmBilly Connolly: In Concert1978TVAn Audience with...as Self1977FilmBilly Connolly: Big Banana Feetas Self1976FilmThe Elephants' Graveyardas Jody1976TVThe Secret Policeman's Ballas Self1975FilmJust Another Saturdayas Paddy1974FilmClydescopeas Jefferson Jofferson1971TVColumboas Findlay Crawford1970TVPlay for Today1962TVThe Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carsonas Self1949TVThe BAFTA Awardsas Host—FilmMcGinn of the Caltonas Self—FilmLaughs and Larrikins—TVBilly & Albert