Birthday wishes have poured in for Billy Connolly who turned 82 today

The Glasgow legend was born in Anderston in 1942 before shooting to fame and becoming known as the Big Yin.

Known for his distinctive and often improvised observational comedy, the renowned comic has been making the nation laugh for decades with his 'relatable' and Glaswegian humour.

READ MORE: Man dressed as Grinch treated like 'shoplifter' at Braehead

Now super fans are sending Sir Billy, who now lives in America, well wishes on social media to mark the special day.

Members of The Billy Connolly Appreciation Society on Facebook were quick to send their support and kind words to the comedy hero.

Billy Connolly (Image: Sourced)

James Power said: “[Billy] is the funniest man ever, had 40+ years of side splitting laughter.”

Steven Rooke said: ”Happy 82nd birthday to world Legend Mr Billy Connolly.”

Vanessa Jones said: “Happy Birthday Billy. Hope you have a blast.”

Richard Smart said: “Happy birthday to the greatest stand up comedian I have ever seen second to absolutely no one, keep on trucking Big Yin.”

Professional bagpiper Graham McAvoy said: “Happy Birthday Billy from the bagpiper at your concert in Rothesay. You said you would never forget me.

“You didn't as you bought me a Guinness in the Scotia and had a wee chat, 'Jimmy wasn't in the bar'.”

Lorraine Coles said: “Happy birthday to the man I turn to, in trouble times too make me laugh.”

We previously reported how Sir Billy opened up about facing death and living with Parkinson's.

The Scottish star revealed that he has seen the funny side to death and has come to terms with his illness.

Sir Billy was diagnosed with prostate cancer and Parkinson's on the same day in 2013 and has since recovered from cancer.

Speaking on BBC show 'In My Own Words', Sir Billy shares how he laughed off his diagnosis: "Yes, it was a funny week I had.

"On the Monday, I had hearing aids. On the Tuesday I got pills for heartburn, which I have to take all the time, and on the Wednesday I got news that I had prostate cancer and Parkinson's.

"The doctors told me on the phone, ‘Look we have had the results and it is cancer.’ I said ‘Oh, nobody has ever said that to be me before’."

Revealing the first thing his wife did, Sir Billy added: "My wife Pamela (Stephenson) was standing behind me and gave me a cuddle. I was not unduly worried."

Sir Billy had previously joked in an interview with The Mirror that his Parkinson's must have been caused by appearing on Michael Parkinson's chat show so much.

Telling the paper: "I just thought ‘I have got Parkinson's. I wish he (Michael) had kept it to himself!’ It was easy (making fun if it).

"You just confront it and make decisions based on it. You just have to think ‘Don't think you are being badly treated (in life) or you have the bad pick of the straws. You are one of millions’. Just behave yourself and relax.

"You then realise it (death) is not the big thing everyone has made it out to be. It is nothing. It is just a sudden nothing."