Sir Billy Connolly has declared he's "not dead or broken" as he basks in his US retirement joy. Speaking out on living the good life at 81, the Scottish comedy legend feels blessed despite a tough run that included a rough childhood and battles with alcoholism.
The Big Yin is finding serenity in drawing and angling in the Florida Keys, as revealed in his latest memoir 'The Accidental Artist'. Even with Parkinson's, he reckons he dodged worse fates after dodging dangers in Glasgow's lethal shipyards.
In his candid autobiography, Sir Billy admits: "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. 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."
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He discusses unknown welding diseases and asbestos ignorance of yesteryears, emphasising survival from both work hazards and a scary plunge off a ship. With typical Connolly candour, he concludes: "I'm a lucky bugger. I survived a lot of s*** - 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," reports the Mirror.
"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 hanging up his stand-up mic, Connolly has turned his attention to his newfound passion for art, which he discovered while killing time in a Montreal hotel room. His book, released on Thursday, showcases his artwork from the past 12 years, intertwined with tales from his life and career.
In the introduction, Connolly shares his astonishment at his unexpected success as an artist. Exhibitions of the Glaswegian's work have been hosted in galleries across the UK and Australia.
He pens: "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."
Connolly received a Parkinson's disease diagnosis 12 years ago after a doctor noticed his unusual gait in a Los Angeles hotel lobby.
He relocated to Florida from his former residence in New York following medical advice to live in a warmer climate.
English (US) ·