Having described his battle against Parkinson's disease an adventure, 'The Boondock Saints' actor admits that he finds it interesting to see himself slipping away.
- January 4, 2019
AceShowbiz - Billy Connolly has confessed he is "slipping away" and "near the end" amid his battle with Parkinson's disease.
The Scottish stand-up comedian and actor was diagnosed with the progressive neurological condition five years ago, and announced in early 2018 that he would no longer perform live.
However, in an interview undertaken as part of the "Billy Connolly: Made in Scotland" documentary, Billy explained that his illness means he is now "at the wrong end of the telescope of life".
"My life is slipping away and I can feel it and I should. I'm 75 and I'm a damn sight nearer the end than I am the beginning," he said in the chat, which airs on BBC2 in the U.K. on Friday, January 04, 2018. "But it doesn't frighten me - it's an adventure and it's quite interesting to see myself slipping away, as bits slip off and leave me, talents leave and attributes leave."
"It's as if I'm being prepared for something, some other adventure, which is over the hill. I've got all this stuff to lose first, and then I'll be at the shadowy side of the hill doing the next episode in the spirit world."
The documentary was filmed before Billy turned 76 in November. In the programme, the Glasgow-born comedy legend reflects on his life and career, and he shared he tries to find the humorous side of his illness whenever possible.
"Sometimes I get angry with it, but that doesn't last long. I just collapse in laughter," he noted. "You can volunteer to take life seriously, but it is going to get you. You know they're going to win over you. It's harsh. You can either break down and complain about how miserable your life is, or have a go at it and survive. I think that's the basis of it all."
In October, Billy wrote a piece for The Daily Mail in which he denied claims made by his longtime friend Michael Parkinson that his "wonderful brain" had been "dulled" by the disease. Instead, he explained that he has "learned to live" with his condition and that his doctor expects he will live until he is 90.
