Billy Connolly's Real Name: William Connolly

Quick answer: Billy Connolly's real name is William Connolly. He was born on November 24, 1942, in Anderston, Glasgow, Scotland. "The Big Yin" is a nickname; he was later knighted as Sir William Connolly.

Birth name and the Big Yin

Royal Albert Hall records and his official site identify William / Billy Connolly of Glasgow (Royal Albert Hall; billyconnolly.com; Guardian extracts). Billy is the short form of William. A shipyard welder and folk musician before stand-up, he became Scotland's defining observational comic—the Big Yin—with marathon storytelling sets.

Comedy, acting, and knighthood

Connolly conquered UK television and international tours, acted in films such as Mrs. Brown and The Last Samurai, and documented Parkinson's disease publicly after his diagnosis. He was knighted in 2017 for services to entertainment and charity. He has largely retired from live stand-up while remaining a cultural icon.

Billy Connolly live DVD/Blu-ray specials Connolly memoirs / biographies Mrs. Brown DVD