The 'Indecent Proposal' actor 'hates being dependent' so much on other people as he now needs help for such a simple task as putting on clothes everyday.
- Oct 13, 2023
AceShowbiz - Sir Billy Connolly is unable to dress himself any more. The 80-year-old comedian found out he had Parkinson's disease - which causes uncontrollable movements, such as shaking, stiffness, and difficulty with coordination - 10 years ago and he admitted his life has changed "radically" and he hates being "dependent" so much on other people, including wife Pamela Stephenson.
"My life has changed radically. I walk with a stick and at airports I have to get the wheelchair. I hate being dependent to that degree and I feel sorry for other people who are in wheelchairs and who have [it] worse than me," he said on BBC Radio 4's "Today" programme.
"But it's a thing I just have to put up with. My wife puts my clothes on in the morning. It's not very manly. Your mum puts your clothes on. I'm clumsy and I lose my balance. I'm out of balance a lot and I fall. I'm fed up with it."
And Billy admitted he has been having issues with his memory and even forgot the name of his pet dog. He said, "My memory is short. I forgot the name of one of my dogs, which is really awkward when you're shouting to it in the street. You have to say 'hey doggy doggy,' which is terrible. I felt embarrassed for the dog. You could tell it knew."
But despite his struggles, the Scottish star has retained a positive attitude. He said, "I think I have a good attitude to it. I say to the disease 'I'll give you a break if you give me a break'. We're nice to each other... I shake a bit. I don't shake every day, all the time. But for about an hour or two I'll shake and when I'm drawing it spoils it. Then I conquered it. I draw with shakes in it and it works."
"I think most things can be conquered and especially the depression. Depression is such a complex affair, but you have to conquer it, take it on face-to-face and refuse to be part of it. I've always been easily made to laugh. I am a lucky man with my sense of humour. I can laugh myself out of most things."
