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
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962
The Daily Show
1996
House
2004
Conan
2010
The Graham Norton Show
2007
Real Time with Bill Maher
2003
Columbo
1971
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
1993
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
1992
Play for Today
1970
Play for Today
1970
3rd Rock from the Sun
1996
Filmography
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
as Self · 1962
The Daily Show
as Self · 1996
House
as Thomas Bell · 2004
Conan
as Self · 2010
The Graham Norton Show
as Self · 2007
Real Time with Bill Maher
as Self · 2003
Columbo
as Findlay Crawford · 1971
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
as Self - Guest · 1993
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
as Self - Guest · 1992
Play for Today
· 1970
Play for Today
as Jody · 1970
3rd Rock from the Sun
as Inspector Macaffery · 1996
Minder
as Tick Tack · 1979
The South Bank Show
· 1978
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
as Dain Ironfoot · 2014
Screen Two
as Game Show Host · 1985
Parkinson
as Self · 1998
An Audience with...
as Self · 1978
Brave
as Fergus (voice) · 2012
The Heaven and Earth Show
· 1998
Who Do You Think You Are?
as Self · 2004
The Last Samurai
as Zebulon Gant · 2003
Parkinson
as Self - Guest · 2004
Parkinson
as Self - Guest / Performer (archive footage) · 2004
Parkinson
as Self - Guest (archive footage) · 2004
Veronica's Closet
as Campbell · 1997
Head of the Class
as Billy MacGregor · 1986
Screen One
as JoJo Donnelly · 1989
The BAFTA Awards
as Host · 1949
Open Season 2
as McSquizzy (voice) · 2008
The Russell Howard Hour
as Self · 2017
Indecent Proposal
as Auction M.C. · 1993
Open Season
as McSquizzy (voice) · 2006
Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events
as Dr. Montgomery Montgomery · 2004
Worzel Gummidge
as Bogle McNeep · 1979
Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties
as Dargis · 2006
Pocahontas
as Ben (voice) · 1995
The Boondock Saints
as Il Duce · 1999
Gulliver's Travels
as King Theodore · 2010
Super Gran
as Angus McSporran · 1985
The X-Files: I Want to Believe
as Joseph Crissman · 2008
Timeline
as Professor E.A. Johnston · 2003
Billy Connolly's World Tour of New Zealand
· 2004
The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day
as Poppa · 2009
Beverly Hills Ninja
as Japanese Antique Shop Proprietor (uncredited) · 1997
The Kenny Everett Video Show
· 1978
The Secret Policeman's Ball
as Self · 1976
Shrink Rap
as Self · 2007
Muppet Treasure Island
as Billy Bones · 1996
Dennis the Menace and Gnasher
as Captain Trout (voice) · 1996
White Oleander
as Barry Kolker · 2002
Prince Charming
as Hamish · 2001
Riverside
as Self · 1982
What We Did on Our Holiday
as Gordie McLeod · 2014
The Aristocrats
as Self · 2005
Tate Britain's Great Art Walks
as Self · 2017
Where My Dogs At?
· 2006
Saturday Night Clive
· 1989
Who Is Cletis Tout?
as Dr Savian · 2001
Quartet
as Wilf Bond · 2012
Mrs Brown
as John Brown · 1997
Billy
· 1992
Omnibus Presents Comic Relief
· 1986
Gay Byrne's Late Late Moments
as Self - Guest (archive footage) · 2020
Open Space
· 1983
Fido
as Fido · 2006
The Return of the Musketeers
as Caddie · 1989
Live Aid
as Self · 1985
Still Crazy
as Hughie · 1998
The Impostors
as Mr. Sparks, the Tennis Pro · 1998
Billy Connolly's Big Send Off
as Presenter · 2014
Water
as Delgado Fitzhugh · 1985
Dying Laughing
as Self · 2017
Beautiful Joe
as Joe · 2000
In My Own Words
as Self · 2024
Remember the Secret Policeman's Ball?
as Self · 2004
Ultimate Fights from the Movies
as Frankie (Crossing the Line) (archive footage) · 2002
Fuck
as Self · 2006
Wild Oats
as Chandler · 2016
The Big Man
as Frankie · 1990
Billy Connolly: Made in Scotland
as Self · 2018
Down Among the Big Boys
as JoJo Donnelly · 1993
Och Around the Clock
· 1998
The Man Who Sued God
as Steve Myers · 2001
What About Dick?
as Inspector McGuffin · 2012
The Ballad of Nessie
as Narrator (voice) · 2011
Intimate Portrait: Sean Connery
as Self · 1998
Absolution
as Blakey · 1978
Parkinson at 50
as Self (archive footage) · 2021
Stanley Baxter: Now and Then
as Self · 2008
Overnight
as Self · 2003
Wisdom
as Self · 2008
Billy Connolly's Tracks Across America
as Hinself - Host · 2016
Billy Connolly: A BAFTA Tribute
as Self · 2002
Kids' TV: The Surprising Story
as Self (archive footage) · 2022
Concerts for the People of Kampuchea
as Self · 1981
The Movie Life of George
as Self · 1989
An Audience with Billy Connolly
as Self · 1985
Gerard Kelly: A Celebration
as Self · 2010
Billy Connolly: It’s Been a Pleasure...
as Self · 2020
Ivor Cutler: Looking For Truth With a Pin
as Self · 2005
Five Fables
as Himself - Narrator · 2014
Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute
as Self · 1988
Billy Connolly: Journey to the Edge of the World
as Self · 2009
The Secret Policeman's Ball
as Himself · 1979
Gentlemen's Relish
as Kingdom Swann · 2001
Androcles and the Lion
as Androcles · 1984
Whoopi Goldberg Presents: Billy Connolly
as Himself · 1989
Top Gear of the Pops
as Self (Comic Relief VT) · 2007
Can't Buy Me Lunch: Another Look at The Rutles
as Self - Interviewee · 2003
Billy Connolly: High Horse Tour Live
as Himself · 2016
Billy Connolly: Billy and Albert (Live at the Royal Albert Hall)
as Billy Connolly · 1987
Billy Connolly's Route 66
as himself · 2011
Billy Connolly Does...
as Self · 2022
Billy Connolly - Live at the Odeon Hammersmith London
as Himself · 1991
Billy Connolly Bites Yer Bum!
as Billy Connolly · 1981
The Hunting of the Snark
as The Bellman · 1987
Acoustic Routes
as Self · 1992
Gerry Rafferty: Right Down the Line
as Self · 2011
The Comic Relief Utterly Utterly Rude Video Live
as Self · 1986
Billy Connolly's World Tour of Australia
· 1996
Live Aid Against All Odds
as Self · 2005
Scotland: Contains Strong Language
as Himself (archive footage) · 2020
Gabriel & Me
as Gabriel · 2001
Judi Dench: All the World's Her Stage
as Self · 2016
An Everlasting Piece
as Scalper · 2000
Not Again: Not the Nine O'Clock News
as Self · 2009
The Secret Policeman's Other Ball
as Self · 1982
Stanley Baxter in Person
as Self · 1998
Billy Connolly: Portrait of a Lifetime
as Himself · 2017
Ooh the Banter!
as Self · 2022
Billy Connolly's Great American Trail
as Himself · 2019
Billy Connolly's World Tour of England, Ireland and Wales
· 2002
Paws
as PC (voice) · 1997
In the Best Possible Taste: A Tribute to Kenny Everett
as Sketch Performer (Archive Footage) · 1995
Live Aid: 20 Years Ago Today
as Self · 2005
World Tour of Scotland
· 1994
Billy Connolly: Erect for 30 Years
as Billy Connolly · 1999
Billy Connolly And Me
as Self · 2017
Gaybo Laughs Back
as Self · 2008
The Story of Microdisney: The Clock Comes Down the Stairs
as Self (archive footage) · 2024
An Audience with Jimmy Tarbuck
as Self - Audience Member · 1994
An Evening In Australia With Billy Connolly
as Self · 2001
Middleton's Changeling
· 1998
A Cup O' Tea An' A Slice O' Cake - Worzel Gummidge Christmas Special
as Bogle McNeep · 1980
Billy Connolly: Life, Death and Laughter
as Himself - Interviewed Guest · 2020
Billy Connolly's Ultimate World Tour
as Himself · 2018
The Debt Collector
as Nickie Dryden · 1999
Laughs and Larrikins
Billy Connolly: Live in New York
as Billy Connolly · 2005
Ronnie Drew: September Song
· 2008
Jimmy Johnstone: Lord of the Wing
· 2004
Billy Connolly: Live in London 2010
as self · 2010
The Elephants' Graveyard
as Jody · 1976
Bullshot
as Hawkeye McGillicuddy · 1983
Barry Humphries: This is Your Lunch
as Self · 1988
Down Among the Big Boys
as JoJo · 1993
Billy and Us
as Self · 2020
Billy Connolly: Hand Picked by Billy
as Himself · 1982
Billy Connolly's World Tour of Television
as Self · 1999
McGinn of the Calton
as Self
Billy Connolly: Big Banana Feet
as Self · 1977
Billy Connolly Live At Usher Hall
as Himself · 1995
Deacon Brodie
as Deacon Brodie · 1997
Great Bear Stakeout
as Narrator · 2013
Billy Connolly: In His Own Words
as Self · 2021
Blue Money
as Des · 1985
Billy Connolly: Pale Blue Scottish Person
· 1991
Billy Connolly: A Scot in the Arctic
as Self · 1995
Richard Thompson: Solitary Life
· 2003
Billy Connolly: Live in Dublin 2002
as Billy Connolly · 2002
Billy & Albert
Billy Connolly: In Concert
· 1978
Billy Connolly - One Night Stand
as Himself · 2004
Fishing for Poetry - A Celebration of Norman MacCaig
as Self · 2010
Just Another Saturday
as Paddy · 1975
Billy Connolly: My Absolute Pleasure
as Themselves · 2021
Billy Connolly: Live at the Apollo
as Himself · 1994
Dreaming
as Game Show Host/Busker · 1991
Retying the Knot: The Incredible String Band
· 1997
Billy Connolly: Two Night Stand
as Himself · 1997
Billy Connolly: Was It Something I Said?
as Himself · 2007
Billy Connolly: 30 Funniest Moments
as Self · 2022
Billy Connolly: The Sex Life of Bandages
as Himself · 2019
Billy Connolly: Live - The Greatest Hits
as Himself · 2003
Two Bites of Billy Connolly
as Himself · 1995
Billy Connolly: The Pick of Billy Connolly
as Billy Connolly · 1982
Billy Connolly's World Tour of Scotland
as Self · 1994
Billy Connolly: You Asked for It
as Himself · 2011
Clydescope
as Jefferson Jofferson · 1974