Scots comedian Billy Connolly who has stopped touring after contracting Parkinson’s says art is now his life as he opens a new collection of his drawings in Glasgow. Originally a folk singer he moved with great success into stand-up comedy, touring all over the globe and has performed in several films, notably Mrs Brown with Judi Dench.
Born 24 November 1942 4.30am Glasgow, Scotland, he had an appalling childhood with his mother abandoning the family when he was four, unkind aunts who were forced to act as caretaker parents; and an abusive father after he returned from the war.
He has a charmingly outspoken Sun Venus in Sagittarius in an erratic opposition to Uranus Saturn in Gemini in a talented Half Grand Sextile to Neptune and Pluto in his 10th – so he would become, as often happens with Pluto in the 10th, something of a legend. He’s also got the blessing of Jupiter in his 10th which would help his progress towards success.
He was diagnosed with Parkinsons in 2013 along with prostate cancer though the latter has now cleared. That was when his Solar Arc Midheaven was conjunct his Neptune, making his direction uncertain. Tr Saturn was then moving downwards through his First Quadrant which would pull him back from an overly busy, high profile lifestyle. He’s got tr Neptune moving through his 6th now along with his Progressed Moon, so he takes it easy living in Florida with his second wife Pamela Stephenson and sketching which he says he finds very liberating.
His creative, ‘seeking soul’ 7th harmonic is strong. Even more so is his genius/breakthrough 13H which as I recollect Peter Sellers also had. And his super-star 22H is challenging, angry and highly communicative. Not an easy start but he made the most of his abilities.
I really like his travel shows, and not only because they have this querky, Uranian undertone, but also because he is really good at talking to people. In “Tracks Across America”, he talks to people as diverse as coach’s wife at a Texan football town and black civil rights activists who were arrested as children in the 1960’s. And he just seems to make them feel accepted. There are very few people like this. Undoubtably product of not only Sun/Venus in Sadgittarius opposing Gemini Uranus, but also that out of sign Scorpio Mercury. Scorpio Mercury people tend to just “get” people instictively.
And he’s a grass-roots Glaswegian which also helps enormously.