BILLY CONNOLLY (Barry), best known to U.S. audiences for his comedic work, gave a moving performance as the loyal servant John Brown in the highly acclaimed Mrs. Brown, starring with Dame Judi Dench. He will next be seen in Timeline and Who is Cletis Tout?

A stand-up comedian who has toured the world, Connolly's previous feature film credits include Troy Duffy's The Boondock Saints; Stephen Metcalfe's Beautiful Joe; Barry Levinson's An Everlasting Piece; Stanley Tucci's The Impostors; Absolution, with Richard Burton; Bullshot And Water, with Michael Caine; Crossing The Line, with Liam Neeson; the Muppet movie version of Treasure Island and the acclaimed BBC production Down Among The Big Bad Boys. His voice is also featured on the Disney animated film Pocahontas. Most recently, Connolly starred in the BBC drama The Life and Crimes of Deacon Brodie.

Connolly is also widely recognized from his hit television series Head of the Class, which was later spun off into his own series Billy. His other television work includes appearances on the sitcom Pearl, with Rhea Pearlman and Malcolm MacDowell; comedy specials for HBO and BBC; Billy Connolly's World Tour of Scotland, a six-part series documenting a tour of his beloved homeland, and The Bigger Picture, a series on Scottish art. Connolly has also released numerous home videos, including 25 BC, Billy And Albert, An Audience With Billy Connolly, Billy Connolly Live and Live '94.

Connolly's career also includes performances in the BBC's Androcles and the Lion, the Scottish Opera production of Die Fleidermaus, and his own play The Red Runner, which performed to packed houses at the Edinburgh Festival.

He began his career as a musician, touring with Gerry Rafferty and the folk band The Humblebums. Connolly's humorous introduction soon became an audience favorite and in 1971 he played his first solo concert. This led to The Great Northern Welly Boot Show, a mixture of music and talk that established his talent as a popular entertainer. He went on to release a double album and a number one hit single, D.I.V.O.R.C.E. Since then, he has released numerous hit comedy records and published several comedic books.