Most Famous Billys in the World
The name Billy spans generations of entertainment, touching film, television, and music across genres and cultures. From stage and screen to stadium tours and streaming-era breakthroughs, these Billies have shaped pop culture through hit songs, acclaimed performances, and genre-defining films.
Below is a curated look at notable celebrities named Billy. You’ll find brief career overviews along with key works, awards, and roles that made each person widely recognized around the world.
Billy Joel
Billy Joel is an American singer-songwriter and pianist known for a catalog of charting singles and multi-platinum albums. He has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and he has received multiple Grammy Awards across categories including record and performance honors.
Signature songs include ‘Piano Man’, ‘Uptown Girl’, ‘We Didn’t Start the Fire’, and ‘Vienna’. Joel’s long-running residency at New York’s Madison Square Garden set records for consecutive headlining shows, and his tours continue to draw international audiences.
Billy Idol
Billy Idol is a British-born rock vocalist who helped bring punk attitude into mainstream rock. Emerging from the London scene before moving to the United States, he became known for a distinctive vocal style and a string of global radio staples.
His best-known tracks include ‘White Wedding’, ‘Rebel Yell’, ‘Eyes Without a Face’, and ‘Dancing with Myself’. Idol’s music videos were in heavy rotation on early music television, helping propel his albums to strong sales and cementing his status as a live headliner.
Billy Wilder
Billy Wilder was an Austrian-American filmmaker credited with classics that appear on major “best films” lists and film-school syllabi worldwide. He worked as both director and screenwriter, earning multiple Academy Awards in writing and directing categories.
His filmography includes ‘Sunset Boulevard’, ‘Some Like It Hot’, ‘The Apartment’, ‘Double Indemnity’, and ‘Ace in the Hole’. Wilder’s collaborations with frequent co-writer I. A. L. Diamond produced influential screenplays noted for sharp dialogue, intricate plotting, and lasting critical acclaim.
Billy Bob Thornton
Billy Bob Thornton is an American actor, screenwriter, director, and musician. He gained major recognition as the writer and star of ‘Sling Blade’, which brought him awards attention and opened a diverse career across film and television.
Thornton’s screen credits span ‘A Simple Plan’, ‘Fargo’, ‘Monster’s Ball’, and ‘Bad Santa’, along with the series ‘Goliath’. In music, he fronts The Boxmasters and has toured extensively, releasing albums that showcase Southern rock and Americana influences.
Billy Crystal
Billy Crystal is an American actor, comedian, writer, and producer known for film, television, and stage. He has hosted the Academy Awards multiple times, earned Primetime Emmy Awards, and received a Tony Award for his one-man show ‘700 Sundays’.
Crystal’s films include ‘When Harry Met Sally…’, ‘City Slickers’, and ‘Analyze This’, and he voices Mike Wazowski in Disney-Pixar’s ‘Monsters, Inc.’ and ‘Monsters University’. He has been a frequent presence on ‘Saturday Night Live’ and in high-profile live television specials.
Billy Dee Williams
Billy Dee Williams is an American actor and visual artist widely recognized for playing Lando Calrissian in the ‘Star Wars’ franchise. His portrayal spans films, animated series, and video games, making him a recurring figure across the saga’s eras.
Beyond ‘Star Wars’, Williams appeared in ‘Brian’s Song’ and portrayed Harvey Dent in ‘Batman’. He has contributed voice roles to projects such as ‘Star Wars Rebels’ and participated in fan events and documentaries tied to the franchise’s ongoing legacy.
Billy Ray Cyrus
Billy Ray Cyrus is an American country singer and actor. His debut era produced international chart success, and he later expanded into television, appearing in family-oriented series and reality formats.
His single ‘Achy Breaky Heart’ became a crossover hit, while a high-profile collaboration on ‘Old Town Road (Remix)’ with Lil Nas X topped charts in dozens of markets. On television, he co-starred in ‘Hannah Montana’, contributing songs to soundtrack releases tied to the show.
Billy Corgan
Billy Corgan is an American musician, songwriter, and producer best known as the frontman of The Smashing Pumpkins. He has also released solo work, pursued side projects, and performed in collaborative bands.
With The Smashing Pumpkins, Corgan wrote and produced albums such as ‘Siamese Dream’, ‘Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness’, and ‘Adore’. Outside music, he has served as an executive in professional wrestling, leading the National Wrestling Alliance and developing live event properties.
Billy Ocean
Billy Ocean is a Trinidadian-British recording artist whose blend of pop, soul, and R&B earned major chart success. He has received Brit and Grammy recognition and toured extensively across Europe, North America, and beyond.
His hit singles include ‘Caribbean Queen (No More Love on the Run)’, ‘When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going’, ‘Suddenly’, and ‘Get Outta My Dreams, Get into My Car’. Ocean’s music remains a staple of adult contemporary and classic hits radio formats.
Billy Gibbons
Billy Gibbons is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter, best known as a founding member of ZZ Top. He is widely cited by fellow musicians for his tone, blues phrasing, and distinctive stage presence.
With ZZ Top, Gibbons recorded albums including ‘Tres Hombres’, ‘Eliminator’, and ‘Afterburner’, generating rock and pop crossover singles and large-scale tours. Outside the band, he has released solo albums, produced sessions, and appeared in television programs such as ‘Bones’.
Billy Porter
Billy Porter is an American actor, singer, writer, and director across stage and screen. He won a Tony Award for lead performance in ‘Kinky Boots’ and a Grammy Award for the show’s original cast recording.
On television, Porter starred in ‘Pose’, earning major acting honors from top industry organizations. His discography includes solo albums and cast recordings, and his directing credits span theater productions and screen projects.
Billy Connolly
Billy Connolly is a Scottish comedian, actor, and presenter. He rose from folk music and club performances to international stand-up tours and prime-time television specials.
On screen, Connolly’s roles include ‘Mrs Brown’, ‘The Last Samurai’, and the voice of King Fergus in Pixar’s ‘Brave’. He has fronted travelogue series such as ‘Billy Connolly’s World Tour of Scotland’ and has been recognized with major UK honors for services to entertainment.
Share your favorite Billy and the roles or songs you think define their careers in the comments!