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Billy Connolly has cancer surgery | Billy Connolly has cancer surgery |
(35 minutes later) | |
Comedian and actor Billy Connolly has had surgery for prostate cancer and has been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. | Comedian and actor Billy Connolly has had surgery for prostate cancer and has been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. |
"The operation was a total success, and Billy is fully recovered," his spokeswoman said. | |
The 70-year-old began working as a welder in the Glasgow shipyards but quit in the late 1960s to become a folk singer before turning to stand-up. | |
He has also starred in films including the Oscar-nominated Mrs Brown. | |
"Billy Connolly recently underwent minor surgery in America after being diagnosed with the very early stages of prostate cancer," his spokeswoman said. | |
"In addition, Billy has been assessed as having the initial symptoms of Parkinson's disease, for which he is receiving the appropriate treatment." | |
She added the star would continue to work throughout his treatment. | |
"Billy has been assured by experts that the findings will in no way inhibit or affect his ability to work, and he will start filming a TV series in the near future, as well as undertaking an extensive theatrical tour of New Zealand in the new year," she said. | |
Other recent films in which Connolly has starred include the Oscar-winning film Brave where he voiced the lead male character and Quartet, which saw him play a womanising former opera star. | |
In an interview with the BBC earlier this year, he said he wanted to stay young at heart: "Stay young. Me? I'm 37! I haven't changed my attitude to things since I was 37." | |
He was also a dwarf warrior in the second part of Peter Jackson's The Hobbit franchise and finished filming the third film at the end of last year. | |
In December 2012, Connolly was given the Bafta Scotland award for outstanding contribution. |