Billy Connolly has shared his unique approach to managing Parkinson's. The cherished actor and former stand-up performer was diagnosed with the condition in 2013 and went public the same year.
Humour as a coping mechanism
Earlier this year, the Scottish comedy icon offered a rare health update while revealing the unconventional approaches he employs to manage his condition and maintain positive spirits. The iconic entertainer disclosed that he relies on humour to handle his symptoms. "I suffer from Parkinson's disease, and comedy has helped me to deal with it," he revealed while speaking on BBC Maestro.
He continued: "It has given me a very light look at it. I invented a way to stop shaking by pointing a gun at it and I would stop shaking. It's taught me to deal with today, it's taught me to not bother about the future, the future will take care of itself."
Avoiding fellow sufferers
The comedian explained: "It's taught me to avoid meetings with people who also suffer from it, you all sit and talk about the disease, and you look at them and think, 'f*** am I going to be like that?'" He concluded: "None of that happens to me, I have a very fresh outlook on it, and it's massively good for me."
Earlier struggles
However, back in 2021, Billy was not quite so positive. "Parkinson's disease has taken a lot from me," he divulged. "I can't play the banjo anymore. It's just a noise." He added: "As (Parkinson's) goes along, it has taken more and more of what I like. It's kind of painful. But you have to have a [Glaswegian] attitude and say, well you think you've got me there, try this for size. I just deal with it. If I fall, I fall."
The beloved entertainer is keen for his family not to pity him; rather, he hopes they believe "he does well with what he's got".
Retirement from stand-up
Following the diagnosis he decided to step away from performing live comedy. Billy previously explained his condition had deteriorated to such an extent that he felt unable to carry on. Billy said: "[The illness] made my brain work differently – and you need a good brain for comedy". He continued: "I'm finished with stand-up – it was lovely and it was lovely being good at it. It was the first thing I was ever good at."
The performer said that while he'd had to walk away from the live stage permanently, he refused to allow his condition to dominate his existence. Billy told Sky News at the time: "I'm always being asked to go to Parkinson's things and spend time with Parkinson's people, having lunch or something like that. And I don't approve of it. I don't think you should let Parkinson's define you and all your pals be Parkinson's people. I don't think it's particularly good for you. So I don't do it."
Treatment options
To date, there remains no cure for Parkinson's, though a range of treatments exist to help manage its symptoms. The NHS has outlined that treatment options can include: physiotherapy, medication, and surgery.
