Sir Billy Connolly has spoken out about his life, insisting he’s “not dead or broken” and is enjoying his retirement in the US.
The 81-year-old comedian feels fortunate to have reached this age, given his tumultuous past, and is now content with his quiet life in the Florida Keys, where he spends his time drawing and fishing. In his new book, The Accidental Artist, Connolly reflects on his life, including his traumatic childhood, struggles with alcohol addiction, and his hazardous first job as a welder in the Glasgow shipyards, reports the Mirror.
Despite being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and prostate cancer, Connolly remains optimistic, writing: “I got diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and prostate cancer the same week. I got treated for the cancer and now I seem to be OK.
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“The Parkinson’s just rumbles along, doing its thing. It bothered me for a while but when I think about it I suppose I’m lucky I didn’t get something worse because I was a welder.”
Connolly acknowledges the risks he faced in his early career, including the dangers of asbestos and accidents, recalling his own 40-foot fall into the Clyde, which left him with a broken ankle.
He concludes: “I’m a lucky bugger. I survived a lot of s**t – much of it brought on by myself.
“I probably shouldn’t have escaped but I did. Maybe what doesn’t kill you f**ks you up for life but at least I’m still here. I’m fishing happily in Florida and I’m not yet dead or broken.”
Recalling an encounter with writer Ian La Frenais, the comedian recounted: “I once ran into the Geordie writer Ian La Frenais in Tramp nightclub in London. I was wearing my leather jodhpurs and a leather jacket, pink socks and mules.
“He said, ‘You know what you look like? ‘ I said ‘What? ‘ He said ‘A welder who got away with it.'” After retiring from stand-up comedy, Connolly has devoted himself to his burgeoning career as an artist. Home-bound boredom in a Montreal hotel room first sparked his interest in drawing.
His new book, released on Thursday, showcases his artworks from the past 12 years, coupled with anecdotes from his robust life and career. In the preface, Connolly talks about how his artistic success has astonished him.
His work has been exhibited in both UK and Australian galleries. Connolly reveals his feelings towards his art exhibits: “I can’t quite handle it when I go to one of my exhibitions.”
“I’ve met people who collect my stuff, which is a serious compliment, but I still can’t get my head round it. Maybe you shouldn’t dwell on that kind of thing. I find it extraordinarily wonderful that people want to buy my drawings. Biggest surprise of my life.”
It was 12 years ago that Connolly received a Parkinson’s diagnosis after a physician observed his unusual gait in a Los Angeles hotel lobby.
He relocated to Florida from his former residence in New York following medical advice to reside in a more temperate climate.
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