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

House

The Daily Show

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

Columbo

The Graham Norton Show

Real Time with Bill Maher

Conan

Minder

All Movies (131)

• The Story of Microdisney: The Clock Comes Down the Stairs2024 · as Self (archive footage)
• Ooh the Banter!2022 · as Self
• Kids' TV: The Surprising Story2022 · as Self (archive footage)
• Billy Connolly: 30 Funniest Moments2022 · as Self
• Billy Connolly: My Absolute Pleasure2021 · as Themselves
• Billy Connolly: In His Own Words2021 · as Self
• Parkinson at 502021 · as Self (archive footage)
• Billy Connolly: It’s Been a Pleasure...2020 · as Self
• Scotland: Contains Strong Language2020 · as Himself (archive footage)
• Billy Connolly: Life, Death and Laughter2020 · as Himself - Interviewed Guest
• Billy Connolly: The Sex Life of Bandages2019 · as Himself
• Billy Connolly's Ultimate World Tour2018 · as Himself
• Billy Connolly: Portrait of a Lifetime2017 · as Himself
• Billy Connolly And Me2017 · as Self
• Dying Laughing2017 · as Self
• Judi Dench: All the World's Her Stage2016 · as Self
• Billy Connolly: High Horse Tour Live2016 · as Himself
• Wild Oats2016 · as Chandler
• The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies2014 · as Dain Ironfoot
• What We Did on Our Holiday2014 · as Gordie McLeod
• Quartet2012 · as Wilf Bond
• What About Dick?2012 · as Inspector McGuffin
• Brave2012 · as Fergus (voice)
• Billy Connolly: You Asked for It2011 · as Himself
• Gerry Rafferty: Right Down the Line2011 · as Self
• The Ballad of Nessie2011 · as Narrator (voice)
• Gerard Kelly: A Celebration2010 · as Self
• Gulliver's Travels2010 · as King Theodore
• Billy Connolly: Live in London 20102010 · as self
• Fishing for Poetry - A Celebration of Norman MacCaig2010 · as Self
• Not Again: Not the Nine O'Clock News2009 · as Self
• The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day2009 · as Poppa
• Stanley Baxter: Now and Then2008 · as Self
• Gaybo Laughs Back2008 · as Self
• Wisdom2008
• Open Season 22008 · as McSquizzy (voice)
• The X-Files: I Want to Believe2008 · as Father Joseph Crissman
• Ronnie Drew: September Song2008
• Billy Connolly: Was It Something I Said?2007 · as Himself
• Top Gear of the Pops2007 · as Self (Comic Relief VT)
• Fuck2006 · as Self
• Open Season2006 · as McSquizzy (voice)
• Fido2006 · as Fido
• Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties2006 · as Dargis
• Billy Connolly: Live in New York2005 · as Billy Connolly
• The Aristocrats2005 · as Self
• Live Aid: 20 Years Ago Today2005 · as Self
• Live Aid Against All Odds2005 · as Self
• Ivor Cutler: Looking For Truth With a Pin2005 · as Self
• Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events2004 · as Dr. Montgomery Montgomery
• Remember the Secret Policeman's Ball?2004 · as Self
• Billy Connolly - One Night Stand2004 · as Himself
• Jimmy Johnstone: Lord of the Wing2004
• The Last Samurai2003 · as Zebulon Gant
• Timeline2003 · as Professor E.A. Johnston
• Billy Connolly: Live - The Greatest Hits2003 · as Himself
• Can't Buy Me Lunch: Another Look at The Rutles2003 · as Self - Interviewee
• Overnight2003 · as Self
• Richard Thompson: Solitary Life2003
• Billy Connolly: A BAFTA Tribute2002 · as Self
• White Oleander2002 · as Barry Kolker
• Ultimate Fights from the Movies2002 · as Frankie (Crossing the Line) (archive footage)
• Billy Connolly: Live in Dublin 20022002 · as Billy Connolly
• The Man Who Sued God2001 · as Steve Myers
• Who Is Cletis Tout?2001 · as Dr Savian
• Gabriel & Me2001 · as Gabriel
• Prince Charming2001 · as Hamish
• Gentlemen's Relish2001 · as Kingdom Swann
• An Evening In Australia With Billy Connolly2001 · as Self
• An Everlasting Piece2000 · as Scalper
• Beautiful Joe2000 · as Joe
• The Debt Collector1999 · as Nickie Dryden
• Billy Connolly's World Tour of Television1999 · as Self
• The Boondock Saints1999 · as Il Duce
• Billy Connolly: Erect for 30 Years1999 · as Billy Connolly
• Stanley Baxter in Person1998 · as Self
• Still Crazy1998 · as Hughie
• The Impostors1998 · as Mr. Sparks, the Tennis Pro
• Intimate Portrait: Sean Connery1998 · as Self
• Middleton's Changeling1998
• Retying the Knot: The Incredible String Band1997
• Paws1997 · as PC (voice)
• Mrs Brown1997 · as John Brown
• Deacon Brodie1997 · as Deacon Brodie
• Beverly Hills Ninja1997 · as Japanese Antique Shop Proprietor (uncredited)
• Billy Connolly: Two Night Stand1997 · as Himself
• Muppet Treasure Island1996 · as Billy Bones
• Billy Connolly: A Scot in the Arctic1995 · as Self
• Billy Connolly Live At Usher Hall1995 · as Himself
• Pocahontas1995 · as Ben (voice)
• In the Best Possible Taste: A Tribute to Kenny Everett1995 · as Sketch Performer (Archive Footage)
• Two Bites of Billy Connolly1995 · as Himself
• An Audience with Jimmy Tarbuck1994 · as Self - Audience Member
• Billy Connolly: Live at the Apollo1994 · as Himself
• Billy Connolly's World Tour of Scotland1994 · as Self
• Down Among the Big Boys1993 · as JoJo Donnelly
• Indecent Proposal1993 · as Auction M.C.
• Acoustic Routes1992 · as Self
• Billy Connolly - Live at the Odeon Hammersmith London1991 · as Himself
• Billy Connolly: Pale Blue Scottish Person1991
• Dreaming1991 · as Game Show Host/Busker
• The Big Man1990 · as Frankie
• Whoopi Goldberg Presents: Billy Connolly1989 · as Himself
• The Return of the Musketeers1989 · as Caddie
• The Movie Life of George1989 · as Self
• Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute1988 · as Self
• Barry Humphries: This is Your Lunch1988 · as Self
• Billy Connolly: Billy and Albert (Live at the Royal Albert Hall)1987 · as Billy Connolly
• The Hunting of the Snark1987 · as The Bellman
• The Comic Relief Utterly Utterly Rude Video Live1986 · as Self
• An Audience with Billy Connolly1985 · as Self
• Live Aid1985 · as Self
• Blue Money1985 · as Des
• Water1985 · as Delgado Fitzhugh
• Androcles and the Lion1984 · as Androcles
• Bullshot1983 · as Hawkeye McGillicuddy
• Billy Connolly: Hand Picked by Billy1982 · as Himself
• The Secret Policeman's Other Ball1982 · as Self
• Billy Connolly: The Pick of Billy Connolly1982 · as Billy Connolly
• Concerts for the People of Kampuchea1981 · as Self
• Billy Connolly Bites Yer Bum!1981 · as Billy Connolly
• A Cup O' Tea An' A Slice O' Cake - Worzel Gummidge Christmas Special1980 · as Bogle McNeep
• The Secret Policeman's Ball1979 · as Himself
• Absolution1978 · as Blakey
• Billy Connolly: In Concert1978
• Billy Connolly: Big Banana Feet1977 · as Self
• The Elephants' Graveyard1976 · as Jody
• Just Another Saturday1975 · as Paddy
• Clydescope1974 · as Jefferson Jofferson
• McGinn of the Calton— · as Self
• Laughs and Larrikins—

All TV Shows (55)

• In My Own Words2024 · as Self
• Billy Connolly Does...2022 · as Self
• Gay Byrne's Late Late Moments2020 · as Self
• Billy and Us2020 · as Self
• Billy Connolly's Great American Trail2019 · as Himself
• Billy Connolly: Made in Scotland2018 · as Self
• The Russell Howard Hour2017 · as Self
• Tate Britain's Great Art Walks2017 · as Self
• Billy Connolly's Tracks Across America2016 · as Hinself - Host
• Billy Connolly's Big Send Off2014 · as Presenter
• Five Fables2014 · as Himself - Narrator
• Great Bear Stakeout2013 · as Narrator
• Billy Connolly's Route 662011 · as himself
• Conan2010 · as Self
• Billy Connolly: Journey to the Edge of the World2009 · as Self
• Shrink Rap2007 · as Self
• The Graham Norton Show2007 · as Self
• Where My Dogs At?2006
• Billy Connolly's World Tour of New Zealand2004
• House2004 · as Thomas Bell
• Who Do You Think You Are?2004 · as Self
• Parkinson2004 · as Self - Guest
• Real Time with Bill Maher2003 · as Self
• Billy Connolly's World Tour of England, Ireland and Wales2002
• The Heaven and Earth Show1998
• Parkinson1998 · as Self
• Veronica's Closet1997 · as Campbell
• Billy Connolly's World Tour of Australia1996
• The Daily Show1996 · as Self
• Dennis the Menace and Gnasher1996 · as Captain Trout (voice)
• 3rd Rock from the Sun1996 · as Inspector Macaffery
• World Tour of Scotland1994
• Down Among the Big Boys1993 · as JoJo
• Late Night with Conan O'Brien1993 · as Self - Guest
• The Tonight Show with Jay Leno1992 · as Himself
• Billy1992
• Screen One1989 · as JoJo Donnelly
• Saturday Night Clive1989
• Head of the Class1986 · as Billy MacGregor
• Omnibus Presents Comic Relief1986
• Super Gran1985 · as Angus McSporran
• Screen Two1985 · as Game Show Host
• Open Space1983
• Riverside1982 · as Self
• Minder1979 · as Tick Tack
• Worzel Gummidge1979 · as Bogle McNeep
• The Kenny Everett Video Show1978
• An Audience with...1978 · as Self
• The Secret Policeman's Ball1976 · as Self
• Columbo1971 · as Findlay Crawford
• Play for Today1970
• Play for Today1970 · as Jody
• The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson1962 · as Self
• The BAFTA Awards1949 · as Host
• Billy & Albert—