Still Crazy is a 1998 British comedy movie from late director Brian Gibson, also known for titles like The Juror, Breaking Glass and What’s Love Got to Do with It.
The last film Gibson made before passing from bone cancer at the age of 59 in 2004, it tells the story of a fictional 1970s rock band called Strange Fruit.
After they split two decades before, the band members are convinced to reunite to perform once more.
The only thing is, the concert is to be held at the same venue Strange Fruit had the final disastrous gig that spelled the end of their career.
The movie focuses on the personal lives of the band members and those around them, played by Stephen Rea, Billy Nighy, Jimmy Nail, Timothy Spall, and Billy Connolly.
Life has been far from kind to this disparate bunch of ageing rockers, with one living (and hiding from the tax man) in a trailer in his mum’s garden, a second servicing condom machines in Ibiza, and a third long thought to be dead.
But has life been any kinder to the Still Crazy cast members? Scroll down to find out…
Stephen Rea
(Image: 1998 – Columbia Pictures, Inc.)
After his Still Crazy role as Tony Costello, the condom machine guy who suggests the Strange Fruit’s reunion in the first place, Stephen Rea, 74, went on to star in a string of titles.
These include 2005 dystopian action film V For Vendetta, BBC historical drama series War & Peace, and 2018 psychological thriller Greta.
The Northern Irish actor, who lives in County Donegal, hasn’t made any movies since 2018, instead choosing to focus on his stage and telly career.
Now a UNICEF Ireland ambassador, he’s set to star in upcoming Western mini-series The English alongside Emily Blunt and Chaske Spencer.
Billy Nighy
(Image: 1998 – Columbia Pictures, Inc.)
In Still Crazy, Billy Nighy, 71, portrayed pallid poseur Ray Simms, who lives in opulence with his bossy Swedish wife (Helena Bergstrom).
Since then, the Surrey-born actor has gone on to take a slew of high-profile roles in the likes of comedy-drama film The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, rom-com movie About time, and BBC political thriller series Page Eight.
But fans will perhaps always know and love the star best as washed-up crooner Billy Mack in Christmas flick Love Actually.
Bill went through a split with his ex wife of 27 years, actress Diana Quick with, who he shares daughter Mary with.
Mary is also an actress, and has appeared in films Marie Antoinette, , Tormented and TV series Rosemary & Thyme.
Nighy, who was voted one of the Guardian’s 2013 best-dressed over-50s and one of GQ’s 2015 50 best-dressed British men, lives in London.
Jimmy Nail
(Image: 1998 – Columbia Pictures, Inc.)
Geordie actor Jimmy Nail starred in Still Crazy as roofer Les Wickes, who Tony tracks down on top of a church.
Still Crazy was the last movie the 67-year-old made, and despite not doing loads in terms of film and telly since then, he’s appeared in a couple of titles.
These include fairytale fantasy mini-series The 10th Kingdom and comedy series Parents of the Band, where he played the parent of a band member instead of an actual band member!
Nail, who is an avid Newcastle United fan, is now retired and living in London.
Timothy Spall
(Image: 1998 – Columbia Pictures, Inc.)
British icon Timothy Spall, 64, wowed fans with his Still Crazy performance as David “Beano” Baggot.
Beano lived in a trailer in his mother’s garden and feared being caught by the taxman, but thankfully Spall lives a more pleasant existence as an award-winning actor.
He has had more roles than hot dinners since his Still Crazy time, starring in films such as biopic Mrs Lowry & Son and rom-com Finding Your Feet.
He’s also poised to appear alongside Kristen Stewart as Equerry Major Alistair Gregory in upcoming Princess Diana biopic Spencer.
The London-born star and his wife Shane have three children, including actor Rafe Spall, and love to bob around on their canal boat.
Billy Connolly
(Image: 1998 – Columbia Pictures, Inc.)
Scotsman Billy Connolly, 78, was Strange Fruit’s lead roadie Hughie Case in Still Crazy, and continued to delight fans with performances after then.
His most recent film role was as forgetful dapper gent in comedy movie Wild Oats alongside Shirley MacLaine and Jessica Lange.
But the comedian has also been in a host of other titles, most recently as himself in documentary series including Billy Connolly: Made in Scotland.
Funnyman Connolly, who has five kids from two marriages, discovered he has Indian ancestry when he appeared on Who Do You Think You Are? in 2014.
Billy is battling Parkinson’s disease after being diagnosed back in 2013, sparking his retirement from live performances five years later.
He also revealed that he has lost his ability to write, saying on Graham Norton: “I have lost the ability to write, and it breaks my heart as I used to love writing letters to people.
“My writing went down the Swanee and is totally illegible, so I had to find a way to record everything, but then the recorder didn’t understand my accent so it kept collapsing and my family would have to sort it – it was a club effort!”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
