Billy Connolly has undergone surgery for prostate cancer and is being treated for the "initial symptoms" of Parkinson's disease.

The 70-year-old comedian and actor, who rose to fame on the Scottish folk music scene, will continue to work in TV and on stage.

His spokeswoman said: "Billy Connolly recently underwent minor surgery in America after being diagnosed with the very early stages of prostate cancer. The operation was a total success, and Billy is fully recovered.

"In addition, Billy has been assessed as having the initial symptoms of Parkinson's disease, for which he is receiving the appropriate treatment.

"Billy has been assured by experts that the findings will in no way inhibit or affect his ability to work, and he will start filming a TV series in the near future, as well as undertaking an extensive theatrical tour of New Zealand in the new year."

The Glasgow-born star, affectionately known as the Big Yin, began his working life in the Clyde shipyards but soon moved into entertainment with folk singing and comedy performances.

A string of appearances on Michael Parkinson's chatshow made him a household name and helped launch a career that saw him perform sellout stand-up shows around the world, present a series of documentaries and become an in-demand character actor.

He is married to the New Zealand-born actor and psychologist Pamela Stephenson, whose biography of her husband, simply called Billy, was a bestseller.

He is one of around 127,000 Britons with Parkinson's, which is caused by a loss of brain cells that produce a chemical messenger called dopamine.

Symptoms differ from case to case but often include a tremor or fine shake while the person is at rest, rigidity of muscles, slowness of movement and unsteady balance. Other symptoms can include memory loss.

Earlier this year Connolly said he had started to forget his lines during performances. He said: "This is fucking terrifying. I feel like I'm going out of my mind."

There is no cure for Parkinson's and scientists have been unable to work out why people get the condition. Symptoms can be controlled using a combination of drugs, therapies and occasionally surgery, but often more care and support may be needed as they progress.

The actor Bob Hoskins announced his retirement last year after being diagnosed with the disease.

The disease was identified by – and named after – Dr James Parkinson, who wrote An Essay on the Shaking Palsy in 1817, which established it as a recognised medical condition.

Connolly was made a CBE in the 2003 Queen's birthday honours and awarded the freedom of his home city in 2010.