Billy Connolly says he thinks about death ‘every day’ after Parkinson’s diagnosis
‘It’s kinda painful,’ he said. ‘I have to behave in a certain way so my children don’t think I’m a dead loss’
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Sir Billy Connolly has said he thinks about death every day after his Parkinson’s diagnosis in 2013.
The comedian, who eventually retired from stand-up comedy due to the condition, said: “I think about death a lot. Not an excessive amount. I think about it every day.”
He told The Sun: “I’ve seen people die and it’s OK. It’s not painful. You just go away. You exhale and it’s gone. It’s nothing to be frightened of. It’s just the next step.”
The comic, 79, added: “Parkinson’s has taken a lot from me. I can’t play the banjo any more. It’s just a noise. I can’t yodel any more – I used to like yodelling. I can’t smoke cigars.
“As it goes along it’s taken more and more of what I like. And it’s kinda painful. I have to behave in a certain way so my children don’t think I’m a dead loss. I want them to think, ‘He does well with what he’s got.’”
Earlier this month, Connolly disclosed the unusual tactic he has adopted to help keep his Parkinson’s under control: hypnotism.
The comedian said he has learned to hypnotise his hand to stop it shaking, which is a symptom of the condition.
“I glare at it and it kinda quivers,” he said. “I just stare at it, and eventually it stops. It’s quite a good trick. We love it.”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments