The multi-talented Billy Boyd is a fabulous, award-winning actor and musician, best known for portraying the rascally Hobbit Peregrin “Pippin” Took in Peter Jackson’s epic trilogy based on JRR Tolkien’s books, The Lord of the Rings. He also fronts the band Beecake, and co-hosts the podcast The Friendship Onion with fellow actor and Hobbit Dominic Monaghan. He is one of the patrons of Scottish Youth Theatre, and of the National Boys’ Choir of Scotland.
Born and raised in Glasgow, Boyd was working as a bookbinder before he decided to pursue a career in acting. He attended the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama and during his time there had a few small roles in TV shows such as Taggart. After graduating he went on to perform with St Andrews Repertory and the Traverse Theatre. Then his big breakthrough came when he was cast as one of the main Hobbits in the blockbuster adaptation of JRR Tolkien’s fantasy epic The Lord of the Rings. Following three years acting for the trilogy, he has gone on to star and feature in countless film and TV productions, including Seed of Chucky, On a Clear Day, The Flying Scotsman, Empty, Moby Dick, Macbeth, Grey’s Anatomy, Outlander, and Doom Patrol.
Aside from acting, Boyd also has a love for music. In 2006 he formed the band Beecake with his friends Rick Martin and Billy Johnston. Paul Burke joined later on drums. Initially conceived as a studio based project to experiment with songwriting and recording, they soon expanded into performing live. After the release of their acclaimed debut album, Soul Swimming, in 2009, they won the award for Best Live Act at the 2010 Tartan Clef Awards. Since then they have continued to tour and release music to huge success.
Boyd regularly connects with his legions of followers and fans through Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, posting pictures and videos about his life both on and off the screen and in and out of the recording studio. He is available for that personalised shout-out via the Cameo platform. The band also has an official website, beecake.com.