Born: 24th November 1942

In the 60's, Billy played banjo in a popular folk band called The Humblebums. The group was successful, but it soon became evident that his jokes were the best part of the show. In the 70's, he continued to tell jokes, both as a writer, and as a comedian on stage and television.

By this time, he was a star in Scotland, one of a select group that was raising the international profile of Scottish entertainers. When he released the album, Solo Concert, Connolly raised the ire of religious officials who objected to his brand of humor, but the protests didn't succeed in slowing down sales of his records or tickets to his shows.

In the late seventies, Connolly dabbled in play-writing, but wasn't successful enough as a writer to justify leaving acting and comedy. Wooed to American television, he worked in LA for several years, starring in the sitcom, "Head of the Class."

During his rise to stardom, Connolly's personal life was marked with as many ups and downs. His first marriage, to interior designer Iris Pressagh, lasted twelve years, but was strained by the amount of time he spent touring. They have two children.

At a job on the Britcom, Not the Nine O'Clock News, he met actress Pamela Stephenson, and tabloid-style coverage of his subsequent divorce and remarriage served to antagonize an already difficult relationship between Connolly and the Scottish press.

In 1989, Pamela and Billy married in Fiji, with their three young daughters in attendance. Since then, he and his family have lived in London, and become friends with the young royals, a lifestyle that has sometimes drawn more criticism from his home country.

In 1993, Connolly returned to Scotland to film Down Among The Big Boys in Glasgow, and in 1994 he created a variety-show tour of Scotland, "World Tour of Scotland," which was part music, part comedy, and part information. The quality of his recent work was recognized in 1995, when three of his projects won British Academy of Film and Television Arts Awards: "World Tour of Scotland" won Best Entertainment Program; "Down Among the Big Boys" won Best Drama; and the BBC program, "The Bigger Picture," hosted by Billy, won the award for Best Arts Program.

Mrs. Brown will is now available on video. The critically-acclaimed film is based on a scandalous relationship between Queen Victoria and John Brown, "the purest - and most stubborn - of all bravehearts" (Detroit Free Press).

Billy Connolly film and television credits:

1. Paws (1997) .... Voice of PC
2. Her Majesty, Mrs. Brown (1997) .... John Brown
   ... aka Mrs. Brown (1997)
3. Muppet Treasure Island (1996) .... Billy Bones
4. "Billy Connolly's World Tour of Australia" (1996) TV Series
5. Pocahontas (1995) (voice) .... Ben
6. Indecent Proposal (1993) .... Auction Emcee
7. "Billy" (1992) TV Series .... Billy MacGregor
8. Big Man, The (1990) .... Frankie ... aka Crossing the Line (1990) (US title)
9. "Head of the Class" (1986) TV Series .... Billy MacGregor (1990-1991)
10. Return of the Musketeers, The (1989) .... Caddie
11. To the North of Katmandu (1986)
12. Water (1985/I) .... Delgado
13. Bullshot (1983) .... Hawkeye McGillicuddy
14. Blue Money (1982) (TV) .... Des
15. Secret Policeman's Other Ball, The (1982) .... Himself
16. Absolution (1981) .... Blakey
    ... aka Murder by Confession (1981)
17. Secret Policeman's Ball, The (1981) .... Himself