Billy Connolly is a Scottish actor, comedian, and media personality. His sharp wit and lilting accent are unlike any other, often immediately recognisable and undeniably laugh-out-loud funny.
He has performed in countless comedy festivals, created a solo album (Billy Connolly Live!), and starred in numerous films, from The Boondock Saints to Mrs Brown and The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies.
Not to mention, Billy Connolly is a published author. In Windswept & Interesting, Connolly details his life’s story, from being essentially orphaned at age four, to suffering abuse, to finding fame. In Rambling Man, he shares his travel writing about life on the road and exploring all corners of the earth, including his time in Australia where he ate witchetty grubs. He has also authored Tall Tales and Wee Stories, Journey to the Edge of the World, Billy Connolly’s Route 66, and Made in Scotland.
From autobiography to story collections, every release is rich with his genuine – and genuinely hilarious – style.
Meet Billy Connolly
William Connolly was born in Glasgow, Scotland in 1942. His father was fighting overseas in Burma, and his mother left when he was just four, leaving him to be raised by his two aunts. When his father did eventually return, it only brought abuse and heartbreak for Billy.
The tough times continued as Billy entered school with strict, physically abusive nuns. It was at this time that he discovered how much he loved to make other people laugh. However, he first needed to earn, so he became a boilermaker (like a welder) at 16. He started there until he was 24, where he also honed his comedic abilities.
In the following years, Billy got married and had two children, travelled, became a folk singer, played the Edinburgh Festival Fringe for the first time, and created a solo album. By the time he turned 30, he was selling out theatres for his comedy shows, appearing on television chat shows, and becoming a household name.
He has won the BAFTA Fellowship for lifetime achievement from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, has topped polls as the greatest stand-up comedian of all time, and was knighted by Prince William at Buckingham Palace for his services to entertainment and charity.
He writes primarily autobiographical and travel books plus collections of stories and humorous essays. His work blends personal memoir, travel writing and comic storytelling rooted in Scottish life and his road experiences.
For his life story, start with Windswept & Interesting. For travel-focused writing and anecdotes from the road, try Rambling Man (My Life on the Road).
Most are nonfiction: memoirs, travel writing and story collections based on his life and experiences, though some books present anecdotal or tall-tale material in a storytelling style.
There’s no formal series or required order,his books are generally standalone. Choose by theme: read his memoirs for life story, and his travel titles (Rambling Man, Billy Connolly’s Route 66, Journey to the Edge of the World) for road writing.
Yes. He has received the BAFTA Fellowship for lifetime achievement, has topped polls as a leading stand-up comedian, and was knighted for services to entertainment and charity.
