Here's everything you need to know about the star and his recent health battles…
Who is Billy Connolly?
William "Billy" Connolly, CBE was born on 24 November 1942 and is a Scottish comedian, musician and actor.
He is sometimes known, especially in his native Scotland, by the nickname The Big Yin, meaning The Big One.
His first trade, in the early 1960s, was as a welder in the Glasgow shipyards, but he gave it up towards the end of the decade to pursue a career as a folk singer, firstly in the Humblebums alongside friend Gerry Rafferty until 1971, and subsequently as a solo artist.
In the early 1970s he made the transition from folk-singer with a comedic persona to fully fledged comedian and actor.
In 2018 he returned to TV with the travelogue series Billy Connolly's Ultimate World Tour on ITV – a show which sees him travel through his home state of Florida while recounting tales of past journeys.
What stand-up comedy has Bill Connolly done?
Billy is best known as a stand-up comedian.
His observational comedy is “idiosyncratic” and often “off-the-cuff”.
Over the years he has offended some audiences, critics and the media with his free use of the word "f***" and he his choice of topics
In 2007 and again in 2010, he was voted the greatest stand-up comic on Channel 4's 100 Greatest Stand-Ups.
What films has Billy Connolly starred in?
Since the 80s Billy has carved a career for himself as an actor.
He has appeared in such films including Indecent Proposal (1993), Pocahontas (1995), Muppet Treasure Island (1996), The Last Samurai (2003), Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events
(2004), Brave (2012), Quartet (2012) and The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014)
The last film he starred in was the 2016 American comedy Wild Oats alongside Demi Moore and Shirley MacLaine.
When was Billy Connolly diagnosed with Parkinson's and Prostate Cancer?
In 2012 Billy was diagnosed with Parkinson's and Prostate cancer on the same day.
However, Billy has said the double-diagnosis has not dented his good humour.
He said: "Aye, it just happened. I think they're very closely related, deep despair and laughing. And I wasn't in any pain."
Billy added: "When he said 'First of all, you're not gonna die,' I was shocked. I said, 'Of course I'm not going to f******die.' It never crossed my mind."
In August 2018, Sir Michael Parkinson said that Billy now had trouble recognising even his oldest friends after the pair had dinner together.
Sir Michael said: "The sadness of Billy now is that wonderful brain is dulled.
"I saw him recently – he's now living in America – and it was very sad, because I was presenting him with a prize at an award ceremony. We had an awkward dinner together, because I wasn't quite sure if he knew who I was or not."
However Billy later slammed these "Sh****y" comments and revealed that he hasn't spoken to Parkinson since.
In 2016 he moved to Florida as he couldn't cope with the harsh winters in New York but he has revealed that he'd like to be laid to rest at Loch Lomond.
Billy has been married to Pamela Stephenson since the 80s
Is Billy Connolly married? Does he have children?
Billy has been married to his second wife, comedian and psychologist Pamela Stephenson, since 1989.
He has five children in total.
Jamie and Cara, from his first marriage, to Iris Pressagh, and Scarlett, Amy and Daisy, with Pamela.
Billy and Pamela won custody of Jamie and Cara in 1983.
What are the Billy Connolly Glasgow murals?
The three portraits became giant murals – each of which are more than 50ft high – and were painted onto the sides of buildings in his native Glasgow.
When he saw them Billy said: "I'm truly amazed at the effect these have had on me. They've just completely stunned me.
"I thought I'd be all light-hearted on seeing them and jokey – but they're so big – the effect on me is so profound.
"You know, people going to that length for me, it's just taken my breath away.
"I'm just flabbergasted, overjoyed, it's been a brilliant experience – being painted and otherwise by these genius people taking the time to do it. It just takes my breath away, I love it."
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