Scotland's most famous comedian, Billy Connolly enjoyed years upon years of stardom in the U.K. before briefly cracking the U.S. market, and subsequently settling into a career as an accomplished character actor. Connolly actually discovered his penchant for comedy while pursuing a career as a folk musician, and even scored a British number one single just as his comedy career was beginning to take off.
Billy Connolly was born November 24, 1942, in Glasgow, into a poor and not altogether stable family; he left school at age 15 and served as (among other jobs) a shipyard worke...