Billy Connolly

Billy Connolly

Date of birth: 24-11-1942

Born in a poor tenement block, Connolly was abandoned by his mother, Mamie, at the age of three and brought up by his aunt, Mona, who used to beat him, and his father, William, who sexually abused him - a background explored in his 2001 biography Billy.

As a teenager, he joined the Clyde shipyards, where he served his apprenticeship as a welder. While working there, he bought a banjo for £2 10s after seeing blues singer Pete Seger on the TV, and started performing on Scotland's folk circuit as part of a band called the Humblebums, which counted Gerry Rafferty among its members.

While performing, Connolly noticed that audiences warmed to the banter between his songs, which built up his confidence. In 1970, the band split up and he started performing solo.

Also during his time at the shipyards, he met his first wife, Iris, with whom he had a son and a daughter.

His big break was on the Parkinson show in 1975, which made him a star and led to his first UK tour: The Big Wee Tour.

He spent many years on the road, the lifestyle taking its toll, and he became a heavy drinker, until he gave up alcohol in 1986.

His reputation grew and grew, and he eventually moved to California to try to break into the US, with varying degrees of success.

In 1989, he married Pamela Stephenson, who he met while recording a sketch for Not The Nine O'Clock News.

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Cheeky!

Glasgow gets a new street art tribute to Billy Connolly

comedyHe may be an 82-year-old knight of the realm, but Sir Billy Connolly is still baring his bum to the people of Glasgow.

A piece of street art showing the Big Yin, naked except for his trademark banana boots, has appeared in Nelson Mandela Place.

It has been created by artists Conzo Throb and Ciaran Globel.

Throb said: ‘I've had this as a loose idea in my mind and sketchbook for two years now.  It was recently on my morning commutes that I saw a massive blank wall erected at Nelson Mandela Place by workers. I knew it was the wall for this idea, so I acted immediately.

‘It's an ode to the late great John Byrne and his 2002 painting of his friend Billy. In the corner of this painting was a small wild mischievous streaking man in his banana boots.  I also have a strange imprinted memory of seeing a giddy, giggly Billy streaking on the TV when I was a kid too.

‘We have fine and beautiful portrait murals of him in town. But I wanted to make a fun and silly one for a fun and silly man.  It would never have got approved by the council or a client for an official commission. So it was a cheeky self-permitted mission for the locals who would love and get a laugh from it.’

There are already three official  Connolly murals in the city, which were put up to mark his 75th birthday.

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Published: 15 Apr 2025

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Agent

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