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.
Gibson died in 2004 from bone cancer. This film tells the story about Strange Fruit, a fictional 1970s band.
The band split after two decades of separation. Now, they are determined to reunite and perform again.
Strange Fruit’s last gig was a disaster, and the concert will be at that venue.
The movie centers on the personal lives and relationships of the band members, as played by Stephen Rea and Billy Nighy and Jimmy Nail and Timothy Spall.
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.
Are the Still Crazy cast members happier? 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.
Still Crazy, Billy Nighy (71), portrays the stoic poseur Ray Simms who lives in luxury with his bossy Swedish wife Helena Bergstrom.
The actor, who was born in Surrey, has taken on a number of roles in comedy-drama film The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and rom-com movie About Time. He also appears in BBC political thriller series Page Eight.
Fans will always remember and love Billy Mack as the washed-up crooner in Love Actually.
Bill split from Diana Quick, his 27-year-old ex-wife, and he now shares Mary with Diana.
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 was the roofer Les Wickes who Tony finds 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.
He also appeared in the fairytale-fantasy mini-series The 10th Kingdom, and the comedy series Parents of the Band where he was the parent of a member of the band instead of the actual member.
Nail, an avid Newcastle United fan is now retired and residing in London.
Timothy Spall
(Image: 1998 – Columbia Pictures, Inc.
British icon Timothy Spall (64), won fans with his Still Crazy performance of 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.
Shane Spall is a London-born actor and Shane Spall is his wife. They have three children together, including Rafe Spall who plays the role of Rafe Spall.
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 movie role was that of forgetful dapper gentleman in Wild Oats, a comedy film with Shirley MacLaine & Jessica Lange.
The comedian has appeared in many other titles, including as himself in the documentary series Billy Connolly: Made in Scotland.
Funnyman Connolly has five children from two relationships and discovered he had Indian ancestry while appearing on Who Do You Believe You Are? 2014
After being diagnosed in 2013, Billy has been fighting Parkinson’s Disease. This led to his five-year retirement from live performances.
Graham Norton also reported that he had lost his ability for writing. “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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