Glaswegian Actors - Part 2

So here we are at part 2 of 3 of our Glaswegian actors. Our next actor is often forgot about, usually because many people forget that he is also an actor as well as a comedian. Can you guess who it is?

If you said "the Big Yin" aka the legend that is Billy Connolly, then you are correct! 
Billy Connolly was born in Anderston in Glasgow on the 24 November 1942. He attended St Peter's Primary School and St Gerard's Secondary School where he discovered that he wanted to become a comedian but at the time he thought he should be more "windswept and interesting" in order to do this. 

Connolly left school at age 15 where he became a delivery boy until he turned age 16 and got a job in the shipyards.

Connolly received his big break as a comedian on BBC's Parkinson. Since then Connolly's profile has only increased through the years mainly due to his edgy comedy, which people either love or hate.

A young Billy Connolly.

However, people often forget the comedian is also an actor in TV and some fairly big films. His television appearances include things like "Down Among the Big Boys" and also in TV where he played himself like in "Billy Connolly's World Tour of New Zealand". 
His movie appearances include one of the first movies I ever remember seeing was where Billy Connolly was the voice of the dog from the movie "Paws". Also, more recently he has been seen in "Quartet" and has been confirmed to play Dain II Ironfoot in "the Hobbit: There and Back Again"... Yassss!

Here's a short clip of Billy Connolly doing some stand up comedy:

Full link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zml2OmjjwP8

So now you know who "the Big Yin" is, here are a few interesting facts about the man himself.

- Billy Connolly is a long time supporter of Glasgow Celtic Football Club.

- Connolly is a former reserve soldier for Britain's parachute regiment.

- In July 2001, he received an honorary doctorate from Glasgow University and in July 2006 he received an honorary Performing Arts degree from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (now the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland)... not bad for leaving school at the age of 15.

So there you are, the legend himself. Who has proved he is very talented in Comedy, Music and Acting. Billy Connolly is definitely an example of someone who has worked their way to the top, and quite right too. From watching Mr Connolly in film from a young age and now watching his absolutely hilarious stand up, it's no wonder that he is an idol to so many people, not only from Glasgow but globally.