
Age: 83
male
Billy Connolly (born November 24, 1942) is a Scottish comedian, musician, presenter and actor. He is sometimes known, especially in his native Scotland, by the nickname The Big Yin (The Big One). His first trade, in the early 1960s, was as a welder (specifically a boilermaker) in the Glasgow shipyards, but he gave it up towards the end of the decade to pursue a career as a folk singer in the Humblebums and subsequently as a soloist. In the early 1970s he made the transition from folk-singer with a comedic persona to fully-fledged comedian, a role in which he continues. He also became an actor, and has appeared in such films as Indecent Proposal (1993); Mrs. Brown (1997), for which he was nominated for a BAFTA; The Boondock Saints (1999); The Man Who Sued God (2001); Water (1985);The Last Samurai (2003); Timeline (2003); Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004); Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties (2006); and The X-Files: I Want to Believe (2008). Connolly reprised his role as Noah "Il Duce" MacManus in Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day. Connolly appears as the King of Lilliput in the 2010 remake of Gulliver′s Travels.

Billy Connolly

The Sorting Hat
for The Sorting Hat in Harry Potter
Suggested by elijahvanderkwast

The upcoming Max series is a multi-season, faithful adaptation of J.K. Rowling's seven "Harry Potter" books, promising a deeper dive into the wizarding world than the films. Targeting a 2026 or 2027 HBO/Max premiere, the decade-long series plans roughly one season per book. It follows orphan Harry Potter, who discovers he's a wizard on his 11th birthday and attends Hogwarts. The story centers on Harry's Hogwarts years and his fight against Lord Voldemort, who seeks immortality and control. Viewers will see Harry, Ron, and Hermione's adventures in detail as they face school, friendship, and Voldemort's rising threat. Producers stress a "faithful adaptation," meaning more screen time for book elements previously cut or condensed, possibly including Peeves and S.P.E.W. Featuring an all-new cast, J.K. Rowling executive produces to ensure alignment with her vision. Francesca Gardiner is showrunner, with Mark Mylod directing. The series aims to offer a fresh, authentic, and immersive experience for both long-time fans and new audiences.

