Billy Connolly

Profession: Comedian and Actor
Place/Date of Birth: Glasgow, 24 November 2020

Billy to team up with Mulder and Scully? - Dec 13 2007
Veteran comedian Billy Connolly is rumoured to be starring in the new X Files film.

The 65-year-old Scot will apparently appear alongside X Files stalwarts David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson in the movie, reports the Daily Express.

"Billy is certainly on board and will begin filming shortly," a source is quoted as saying.

And it seems the actor, who appeared in the 1997 film Mrs Brown with Dame Judi Dench, is more than happy to be starring in the sci-fi flick.

The source revealed: "Apparently he's always liked the X Files so he was keen to be involved."

But for the moment little is known about Billy's rumoured role, as the movie's producers are determined to keep the plot a mystery.

The film will reportedly be hitting the big screen next year, a decade after Mulder and Scully last graced the silver screen.

Billy’s bad interview - Oct 20 2007
He may be one of Scotland’s best known exports, but Billy Connolly has revealed that one interview didn’t quite go to plan when a journalist failed to recognise him.

Speaking at the red carpet premiere of Steve Buscemi’s new flick Interview, he recalled: "It was the New York premiere of Lemony Snicket and she said, ’Are you in the movie?’ and I said, ’Yes’ and then she said, ’What’s your name?’ and I said ’F*** off’."

Billy explained that he was on the carpet to support Steve because they have been pals for a long time.

"He invited me up because he’s got two days here and I’ve got two days off so I thought I’d come and support him. We’re going out for dinner afterwards," he smiled.

Commenting on the production, which sees Sienna Miller playing a celebrity interviewed by Steve’s character Pierre, he added: "I love to see unlikely pairings in films. It always works, except when you get two pretty people. I start to get irritated at how beautiful they are. I like guys that look like guys and they do tend to fall in love with beautiful women, I did it myself once."

Comic backs charity foundation - Aug 3 2007
Billy Connolly is lending his support to the charitable work of his favourite football team.

The stand-up comic has been appointed patron of the Celtic Foundation, which runs community projects in his native Glasgow.

The foundation has programmes including football in the community, anti-drugs campaigns, employment support projects, and social inclusion programmes.

Billy is a staunch Celtic fan, and organisers hope his backing will raise the foundation’s profile.

"Billy’s international reputation will prove to be extremely useful in raising awareness of the club’s social dimension," said Celtic’s chief executive Peter Lawwell.

"His involvement will be crucial in motivating those people we are assisting and those who we would like to get involved in our work.

"To have him backing this community work is simply fantastic. He will be a tremendous ambassador for the club."

Glasgow rivals Rangers also have a foundation, which was established in 2002. The Rangers Charity Foundation focuses its efforts on three main charities every year, as well as supporting other local projects.

Billy, 64, was born in the Anderston area of Glasgow. He left school at 15 and became a welder in one of the city’s shipyards, and it wasn’t until 1965 he took his first step into the entertainment world.

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Biography

Billy Connelly was born 24 November 2020 in Partick and brought up in Drumchapel, He first started working in the Govan shipyards before earning a living as a folk musician in a band called The Humblebums, the band was successful but it was Billy’s jokes that people noticed and in the 70’s he continued telling jokes as a comedian on stage and television.

In the late seventies he lived in LA for a few years where there he starred in the sitcom, "Head of the Class." His first marriage, to interior designer Iris Pressagh, lasted twelve years, but fell apart due to his constant touring, they have two children.

When he appeared on the comedy show Not the Nine O’Clock News, he met actress Pamela Stephenson. In 1989, Pamela and Billy married in Fiji, with their three young daughters in attendance.

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 has also been recognised with several BAFTA awards while his film career has taken off thanks in main to a critically acclaimed role opposite Dame Judy Dench in Mrs Brown. Pamela has also written two biographys of her husband; Billy and Bravemouth, which shockingly detailed the abuse he suffered at the hands of his father.

He continues to tour his stand up comedy whilst also lending himself to both film and TV.
December 2007

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