Editing Billy Crystal

{{Short description|American comedian, actor and filmmaker (born 1948)}}
{{distinguish|Bill Kristol|Hilly Kristal}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox comedian
|name         = Billy Crystal
|image        = Billy Crystal by Gage Skidmore.jpg
|caption      = Crystal in 2018
|birth_date   = {{birth date and age|1948|3|14}}
|birth_name   = William Edward Crystal
|birth_place  = [[New York City]], U.S.
|alma_mater   = [[Marshall University]]<br>[[Nassau Community College]]<br>[[New York University]] ([[Bachelor of Fine Arts|BFA]])
|years_active = 1975–present
|spouse       = {{marriage|Janice Goldfinger|June 4, 1970}}
|children     = 2, including [[Jennifer Crystal Foley|Jennifer Crystal]]
|medium       = {{hlist|Stand-up|film|television|theatre|books}}
|genre        = {{hlist|[[Observational comedy]]|[[Comedy music|musical comedy]]|[[sketch comedy]]|[[surreal humour|surreal humor]]|[[sarcasm]]|[[satire]]}}
|subject      = {{hlist|[[Culture of the United States|American culture]]|[[Politics of the United States|American politics]]|[[World news|current events]]|[[popular culture|pop culture]]|[[everyday life]]|[[Embarrassment|social awkwardness]]|[[human sexuality]]}}
}}
'''William Edward Crystal''' (born March 14, 1948)<ref name="edward">On page 17 of his book ''700 Sundays'', Crystal displays his birth announcement, which gives his first two names as "William Edward", not "William Jacob" {{cite book | last = Crystal | first = Billy | title = 700 Sundays | year = 2005 | page = [https://books.google.com/books?id=PGLPGnzwx5IC&pg=PT14 17] | publisher= [[Grand Central Publishing]] | isbn = 978-0-446-57867-7 | quote = Sunday Number One. I'm born. March 14, 1948, in Manhattan at Doctor's {{sic}} Hospital <!--correct spelling is Doctors Hospital, but book spells it Doctor's--> overlooking Gracie Mansion. 7:30 in the morning.}}</ref> is an American comedian, actor, and filmmaker. He is known as a [[standup comedian]] and for his film and stage roles. Crystal has received [[List of awards and nominations received by Billy Crystal|numerous accolades]], including six [[Primetime Emmy Award]]s and a [[Tony Award]] as well as nominations for three [[Grammy Awards]] and three [[Golden Globe Awards]]. He was honored with a star on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]] in 1991, the [[Mark Twain Prize for American Humor]] in 2007, the [[27th Critics' Choice Awards#Lifetime Achievement Award|Critics' Choice Lifetime Achievement Award]] in 2022, and the [[Kennedy Center Honors]] in 2023.<ref name="hollywoodreporter.com">{{cite web |last1=Nordyke |first1=Kimberly |title=Billy Crystal to Receive Lifetime Achievement Nod at Critics Choice Awards |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/billy-crystal-critics-choice-awards-lifetime-achievement-award-1235085201/ |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=February 2022 |access-date=February 8, 2022}}</ref><ref name="apnews.com">{{cite web|url= https://apnews.com/article/kennedy-center-crystal-latifah-warwick-fleming-gibb-8a40873e439cdeba974fd7cce3ba6727|title= Billy Crystal and Queen Latifah look marvelous as they headline this year's Kennedy Center Honors|website= [[Associated Press]]|date= June 22, 2023|accessdate= June 22, 2023}}</ref>

Crystal gained prominence for television roles as [[Jodie Dallas]] on the [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] sitcom ''[[Soap (TV series)|Soap]]'' from 1977 to 1981 and as a cast member and frequent host of ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' from 1984 to 1985. Crystal then became known for his roles in films such as ''[[Running Scared (1986 film)|Running Scared]]'' (1986), ''[[Throw Momma from the Train]]'' (1987), ''[[Memories of Me]]'' (1988), ''[[When Harry Met Sally...]]'' (1989), ''[[City Slickers]]'' (1991), ''[[Mr. Saturday Night]]'' (1992), ''[[Forget Paris]]'' (1995), ''[[Father's Day (1997 film)|Father's Day]]'' (1997), ''[[America's Sweethearts]]'' (2001), and ''[[Parental Guidance (film)|Parental Guidance]]'' (2012). Crystal is the voice of [[Mike Wazowski]] in [[Pixar]]'s [[Monsters, Inc. (franchise)|''Monsters, Inc.'' franchise]]. He has hosted the [[Academy Awards]] 9 times, beginning [[62nd Academy Awards|in 1990]] and most recently [[84th Academy Awards|in 2012]].

Crystal made his [[Broadway (theatre)|Broadway]] debut in his one man show ''[[700 Sundays]]'' in 2004, for which he won the [[Tony Award for Best Special Theatrical Event]]. Crystal returned to the show again in [[700 Sundays (film)|2014]] which was filmed by [[HBO]] and received a [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded)|Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Special]] nomination. He wrote and starred in the Broadway musical ''[[Mr. Saturday Night (musical)|Mr. Saturday Night]]'' based on his film in 2022, for which Crystal received two Tony Award nominations for [[Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical|Best Actor in a Musical]] and [[Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical|Best Book of a Musical]]. He has written five books including his memoir ''Still Foolin' Em'' (2013).

== Early life and education ==
[[File:Commodore-Music-Shop-1947.jpg|thumb|left|Jack Crystal (right) with [[Milt Gabler]], Herbie Hill and Lou Blum at the [[Commodore Records|Commodore Music Shop]] (1947)]]
William Edward Crystal was born at [[Doctors Hospital (Manhattan, New York)|Doctors Hospital]] on the [[Upper East Side]] of [[Manhattan]],<ref name="edward" /> and initially raised in [[the Bronx]].<ref name=nyt2005>{{cite news | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/27/nyregion/thecity/27LONG.html | title= 700 Memories of Childhood in Long Beach | work = [[The New York Times]] |  first= Marcelle S. | last= Fischler | date= February 27, 2005| access-date= November 5, 2012}}</ref> As a toddler, he moved with his family to 549 East Park Avenue in [[Long Beach, New York]], on [[Long Island]].<ref name=nyt2005 /> Crystal and his older brothers Joel, who later became an art teacher, and Richard, nicknamed Rip, were the sons of Helen (''née'' Gabler), a housewife, and Jack Crystal, who owned and operated the Commodore Music Store, founded by Crystal's grandfather, Julius Gabler.<ref name=kane>{{cite web | url=http://www.allaboutjazz.com/articles/arti0102_03.htm | title=Jack Crystal: A Man To Remember | first=Joe | last=Kane | access-date=January 16, 2008 | publisher=AllAboutJazz.com | archive-date= June 24, 2002 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20020624190112/http://www.allaboutjazz.com/articles/arti0102_03.htm}}</ref> Crystal's father was also a [[jazz]] promoter, a producer, and an executive for an affiliated jazz record label, [[Commodore Records]], founded by Crystal's uncle, musician and songwriter [[Milt Gabler]].<ref name=nyt2005 />

Crystal is [[Jewish]] (his ancestors emigrated from Austria, Russia, and Lithuania),<ref name=cbs>{{cite news | url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/life-is-short-laugh-hard/ | date=November 6, 2005 | title=Life Is Short, Laugh Hard | work=CBS News | first=Rita | last=Braver | access-date=June 4, 2007 | archive-date=June 15, 2007 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070615120115/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/11/06/sunday/main1015865.shtml | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://womansday.ninemsn.com/entertainment/tvfilmsbooks/8638833/billy-is-crystal-clear|title=Billy is crystal clear|work=Woman's Day|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023060637/http://womansday.ninemsn.com/entertainment/tvfilmsbooks/8638833/billy-is-crystal-clear|archive-date=October 23, 2013}}</ref> and he grew up attending [[Temple Emanu-El (Long Beach, New York)]] where he had his [[bar mitzvah]].<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OD6NgIs6nFk | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200412224040/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OD6NgIs6nFk| archive-date=April 12, 2020 | url-status=dead|publisher=[[Hudson Union Society]] |access-date=February 1, 2019 |title=Billy Crystal The Hilarious Story About His Bar Mitzvah}}</ref> The three young brothers would entertain by reprising comedy routines from the likes of [[Bob Newhart]], [[Rich Little]] and [[Sid Caesar]] records their father would bring home.<ref name=nyt2005 /> Jazz artists such as [[Arvell Shaw]], [[Pee Wee Russell]], [[Eddie Condon]], and [[Billie Holiday]] were often guests in the home.<ref name=nyt2005 /> With the decline of [[Dixieland jazz]] and the rise of discount record stores, in 1963, Crystal's father lost his business<ref name=cbs /> and died later that year at the age of 54<ref name=kane /> after having a [[heart attack]].<ref name=nyt2005 /> His mother died in 2001.<ref name=cbs />

After graduating from [[Long Beach High School (New York)|Long Beach High School]] in 1965,<ref name = gazing>{{cite news | title = Long Island Journal: Crystal Gazing | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1990/06/03/nyregion/long-island-journal-145790.html | first= Diane | last=Ketchum | date = June 3, 1990 | work = [[The New York Times]] | access-date = December 4, 2012}}</ref> Crystal attended [[Marshall University]] in [[Huntington, West Virginia]], on a baseball scholarship.<ref name=nyt2005 /> Crystal never played baseball at Marshall because the program was suspended during his first year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.walkoffame.com/billy-crystal |title=Billy Crystal &#124; Hollywood Walk of Fame |publisher=Walkoffame |access-date=April 10, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thebaseballcube.com/content/college_summary/1965~MAC |title=1965 MAC Baseball Season |publisher=The Baseball Cube |access-date=December 21, 2022}}</ref> Crystal did not return to Marshall as a sophomore, instead deciding to stay in New York to be close to his future wife. He studied acting at [[HB Studio]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://hbstudio.org/about-hb-studio/alumni/|title=HB Studio – Notable Alumni &#124; One of the Original Acting Studios in NYC}}</ref> Crystal attended [[Nassau Community College]] with her and later transferred to [[New York University]], where he was a film and television directing major. Crystal graduated from [[New York University|NYU]] in 1970 with a [[bachelor of fine arts degree|BFA]] from its then [[Tisch School of the Arts|School of Fine Arts]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1800015850/bio | title=Billy Crystal Biography | work=Yahoo! Movies | access-date =January 16, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | title= Still Foolin' Em | first= Billy | last= Crystal | page= [https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780805098204/page/39 39] | year= 2013 | publisher= [[Henry Holt and Company]] | isbn= 978-0-8050-9820-4 | url= https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780805098204/page/39 }}</ref> One of his instructors was [[Martin Scorsese]], while [[Oliver Stone]] and [[Christopher Guest]] were among his classmates.<ref name=fji>Crystal, in {{cite news | url = http://www.filmjournal.com/filmjournal/content_display/esearch/e3i8f9dcb2a4fad3a1011a4ed90e84d9906 | title = Crystal Clear: Veteran Comedy Star Discusses 'Parental Guidance' and his Sandy-Ravaged Hometown | work = [[Film Journal International]] | date = December 10, 2012 | access-date = September 6, 2013 | author-link = Frank Lovece | first = Frank | last = Lovece | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130906152727/http://www.filmjournal.com/filmjournal/content_display/esearch/e3i8f9dcb2a4fad3a1011a4ed90e84d9906 | archive-date = September 6, 2013 | url-status=dead }}</ref>

== Career ==
{{Main|Billy Crystal filmography}}

=== 1976–1985: Stand-up, ''Soap'', and ''SNL'' ===
[[File:Billy Crystal Soap 1977.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Crystal in 1977]]
Crystal returned to New York City. For four years, he was part of a comedy trio with two friends. They played colleges and coffee houses and Crystal worked as a substitute teacher on Long Island.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wtfpod.com/podcast/episode-740-billy-crystal|title=Episode 740 – Billy Crystal|website=WTF with Marc Maron Podcast|date=September 7, 2016 }}</ref> Crystal later became a solo act and performed regularly at ''[[The Improv]]'' and ''[[Catch a Rising Star (comedy clubs)|Catch a Rising Star]]''. In 1976, he appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and on an episode of ''[[All in the Family]]''. Crystal was on the dais for [[The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast|the Dean Martin celebrity roast]] of [[Muhammad Ali]] on February 19, 1976, where he performed [[Impressionist (entertainment)|impressions]] of both Ali and sportscaster [[Howard Cosell]].<ref>{{cite interview |last=Crystal |first=Billy |date=September 15, 2013 |title=Billy Crystal on Roasting Muhammad Ali |url=https://stage.92ny.org/the-archives/2013/09/billy-crystal-on-roasting-muhammad-ali |work=[[92NY]] |interviewer-last=Goldberg |interviewer-first=Whoopi |location=New York}}</ref> This began a lifelong friendship between Ali and Crystal.<ref>{{cite news |title=Billy Crystal Shares Touching Stories of 42-Year Friendship With Muhammad Ali |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/billy-crystal-shares-touching-stories-42-year-friendship/story?id=39767028 |work=ABC News |date=June 10, 2016}}</ref>

Crystal was scheduled to appear on the first episode of ''[[Saturday Night Live|NBC Saturday Night]]'' on October 11, 1975 (the show was later renamed ''Saturday Night Live'' on March 26, 1977), but his sketch was cut.<ref name="actors">{{cite episode|title=Billy Crystal, 2nd Visit |series=Inside the Actors Studio |air-date=October 8, 2007 |url=http://www.bravotv.com/Inside_the_Actors_Studio/guest/Billy_Crystal_-_2nd_Visit |network=Bravo |season=13 |number=1307 |credits=Lipton, James (host) |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011022131/http://www.bravotv.com/Inside_the_Actors_Studio/guest/Billy_Crystal_-_2nd_Visit |archive-date=October 11, 2007}}</ref> Crystal did perform on episode 17 of that first season, doing a monologue of an old jazz man capped by the line "Can you dig it? I knew that you could." Host [[Ron Nessen]] introduced him as "Bill Crystal."<ref>{{cite web | url = http://snltranscripts.jt.org/75/75qcrystal.phtml | publisher = Saturday Night Live Transcripts | title = Season 1: Episode 17 > Ron Nessen / Patti Smith > Billy Crystal Stand-Up | access-date = September 6, 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130923185637/http://snltranscripts.jt.org/75/75qcrystal.phtml | archive-date = September 23, 2013 | url-status=dead }}</ref> Crystal made a guest appearance on "The Love Boat" Season 2 Episode 5, which aired on October 20, 1978. He also made game show appearances such as ''[[The Hollywood Squares]],'' ''[[All Star Secrets]]'' and ''[[Pyramid (game show)|The $20,000 Pyramid]].'' To this day, Crystal holds the Pyramid franchise's record for getting his contestant partner to the top of the pyramid in the winner's circle in the fastest time: 26 seconds.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/10000-pyramid/episodes/199530|archive-url=https://archive.today/20141217143819/http://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/10000-pyramid/episodes/199530|title=$10,000 Pyramid Episodes - $10,000 Pyramid Full Episode Guides on ABC &#124; TVGuide.com|access-date=December 16, 2014|archive-date=December 17, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.emmytvlegends.org/interviews/shows/10000-pyramid-aka-25000-pyramid-aka-100000-pyramid|title=10,000 Pyramid aka 25,000 Pyramid aka 100,000 Pyramid|website=Archive of American Television|date=October 23, 2017 }}</ref>

[[File:Soap full cast 1977.JPG|thumb|250px|Cast of ''[[Soap (TV series)|Soap]]'' (1977). Back row, L-R: [[Robert Urich]], [[Ted Wass]], [[Richard Mulligan]], [[Robert Guillaume]], [[Robert Mandan]], [[Jimmy Baio]], [[Diana Canova]], [[Arthur Peterson Jr.]] Seated: Billy Crystal, [[Cathryn Damon]], [[Katherine Helmond]], [[Jennifer Salt]]. ]]
Crystal's earliest prominent role was as [[Jodie Dallas]] on ''[[Soap (TV series)|Soap]],'' one of the first unambiguously gay characters in the cast of an American television series.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2017/04/26/tvs-gay-characters-before-and-after-ellen/100898898/|title=TV's gay characters, before and after Ellen|work=USA Today|access-date=February 8, 2018}}</ref> He continued in the role during the series's entire 1977–1981 run.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.encyclopedia.com/people/literature-and-arts/film-and-television-biographies/billy-crystal|title=Billy Crystal {{!}} Encyclopedia.com|website=www.encyclopedia.com|access-date=September 21, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Soap (TV Series 1977–1981)|website=[[IMDb]] |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075584/fullcredits|access-date=September 21, 2018}}</ref>

In 1982, Crystal hosted his own variety show, ''The Billy Crystal Comedy Hour'' on NBC. When Crystal arrived to shoot the fifth episode, he learned it had been canceled after only the first two aired.<ref>{{cite book | title= Still Foolin' Em | first= Billy | last= Crystal | page= [https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780805098204/page/93 93] | year= 2013 | publisher= [[Henry Holt and Company]] | isbn= 978-0-8050-9820-4 | url= https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780805098204/page/93 }}</ref> After hosting ''Saturday Night Live'' twice, on March 17, 1984, and the show's ninth season finale on May 5, Crystal joined the regular cast for [[Saturday Night Live (season 10)|the 1984–85 season]].<ref name="actors" /> His most famous recurring sketch was his parody of [[Fernando Lamas]], a smarmy talk-show host whose [[catchphrase]], "You look... mahvelous!", became a media sensation, including ads for [[Diet Pepsi]].<ref name="actors" /> Also in the 1980s, Crystal starred in an episode of [[Shelley Duvall]]'s ''[[Faerie Tale Theatre]]'' as the smartest of the three little pigs.

Crystal's first film role was in [[Joan Rivers]]' 1978 film ''[[Rabbit Test (film)|Rabbit Test]]'', the story of the "world's first pregnant man."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1978/04/09/archives/joan-rivers-rabbit-test-film-depicts-first-pregnant-man.html|title=Joan Rivers 'Rabbit Test' Film Depicts First Pregnant Man|work=[[The New York Times]]|author=Maslin, Janet|date=April 9, 1978}}</ref> Crystal appeared briefly in the [[Rob Reiner]] "[[rockumentary]]" ''[[This Is Spinal Tap]]'' (1984) as Morty The Mime, a waiter dressed as a mime at one of Spinal Tap's parties. He shared the scene with a then-unknown, non-speaking [[Dana Carvey]], stating famously that "Mime is money."<ref>{{Cite web |title=In the '80s, mime is money: Minor Detail's 'Canvas of Life' |url=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/2013/07/09/in-the-80s-mime-is-money-minor-detail-s-canvas-of-life/ |access-date=May 10, 2022 |website=Tampa Bay Times |language=en}}</ref>

=== 1986–1999: Oscar host and leading man status ===
Due to the success of Crystal's standup and ''[[Saturday Night Live|SNL]]'' career, in 1985, he released an album of his stand-up material titled ''Mahvelous!''. The title track ''You Look Marvelous'', written by Crystal and [[Paul Shaffer]], had an accompanying music video that debuted on [[MTV]].<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/billy-crystals-winning-season-126456/|title=Billy Crystal's Winning Season|first1=Debby|last1=Bull|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=October 24, 1985}}</ref> Both the song and video features Crystal in character as his [[SNL]] persona of talk show host [[Fernando Lamas]]. The video features Lamas cruising around in what was at the time the world's longest stretch limousine, built by custom-coach designer and builder Vini Bergeman,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thedrive.com/news/32769/the-larger-than-life-tale-of-vini-big-daddy-bergeman-the-limo-king-of-los-angeles|title=The Larger-Than-Life Tale of Vini 'Big Daddy' Bergeman, the Limo King of Los Angeles|first=Roger|last=Garbow|website=The Drive|date=March 27, 2020 }}</ref> surrounded by models in bikinis. The single peaked at No. 58 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] in the US and No. 17 in Canada. The album was nominated for a [[Grammy Awards|Grammy]] Award for Best Comedy Recording at the 1986 Grammy Awards.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Billy-Crystal-You-Look-Marvelous/release/126683|title=Billy Crystal – You Look Marvelous|website=Discogs|year=1985 }}</ref><ref name="grammy.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/artists/billy-crystal|title=Billy Crystal|date=November 19, 2019|website=grammy.com}}</ref> He later starred in the action comedy ''[[Running Scared (1986 film)|Running Scared]]'' (1986) opposite [[Gregory Hines]]. Film critic of the ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'' [[Roger Ebert]] praised the two for their on-screen chemistry writing, "But Crystal and Hines...don't need a plot because they have so much good dialogue and such a great screen relationship."<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/running-scared-1986-1986|title= Running Scared (1986) movie review|website= Rogerebert.com|accessdate= January 3, 2023}}</ref>

During this time, Crystal hosted the [[Academy Awards]] broadcast a total of nine times, from [[62nd Academy Awards|1990]], [[63rd Academy Awards|1991]], [[64th Academy Awards|1992]], [[65th Academy Awards|1993]], [[69th Academy Awards|1997]], [[70th Academy Awards|1998]], [[72nd Academy Awards|2000]], [[76th Academy Awards|2004]] and [[84th Academy Awards|2012]]. His hosting was critically praised, resulting in two [[Primetime Emmy Award]] wins for hosting and writing the [[63rd Academy Awards]] and an Emmy win for writing the [[64th Academy Awards]]. ''[[San Francisco Chronicle]]'' columnist John Carman raved about Crystal's performance for the [[70th Academy Awards]] writing, "It was the best Oscar show in two decades...Crystal was back in razor form."<ref>{{cite news|last=Carman |first=John |title=Oscar Polishes Up His Image / Crystal clearly a winner for best show in decades |url=http://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/Oscar-Polishes-Up-His-Image-Crystal-clearly-a-3011121.php |access-date=January 23, 2014 |work=[[San Francisco Chronicle]] |publisher=[[Hearst Corporation]] |date=March 24, 1998 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202225702/http://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/Oscar-Polishes-Up-His-Image-Crystal-clearly-a-3011121.php |archive-date=February 2, 2014}}</ref> ''[[The Seattle Times]]'' television editor Kay McFadden praised Crystal commenting that "he possesses nearly impeccable timing and judgment."<ref>{{cite news|last=McFadden |first=Kay |title=Ceremony Shapes Up As A Night To Remember |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19980324/2741394/ceremony-shapes-up-as-a-night-to-remember |access-date=January 23, 2014 |work=[[The Seattle Times]] |publisher=[[The Seattle Times Company]] |date=March 24, 1998 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201200513/http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19980324&slug=2741394 |archive-date=February 1, 2014}}</ref>

Crystal reunited with director Rob Reiner in ''[[The Princess Bride (film)|The Princess Bride]]'' (1987), in a comedic supporting role as "Miracle Max." Reiner got Crystal to accept the part by saying, "How would you like to play Mel Brooks?" Reiner also allowed Crystal to ad-lib, and his parting shot, "Have fun storming the castle!" is a frequently quoted line. Critic [[Roger Ebert]] described Crystal as a highlight of the film writing "the funniest sequences in the film stars Billy Crystal and Carol Kane, both unrecogizable behind makeup, as an ancient wizard and crone who specialize in bringing the dead back to life."<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-princess-bride-1987|title= The Princess Bride|website= Rogerebert.com|accessdate= June 22, 2023}}</ref> Reiner directed Crystal for a third time in the romantic comedy ''[[When Harry Met Sally...]]'' (1989). Crystal starred alongside [[Meg Ryan]], [[Bruno Kirby]] and [[Carrie Fisher]] in a script written by [[Nora Ephron]]. ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'' praised the film and Crystal's performance writing, "Crystal's lustrous, deeply-shaded performance is certain to win him legions of new fans; indeed, his prowess as a comic reaches its deepest human dimension here."<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/harry-met-sally-1989-review-959579/|title= 'When Harry Met Sally': THR's 1989 Review|website= [[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date= December 28, 2016|accessdate= June 22, 2023}}</ref> Crystal was nominated for the [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy]] losing to [[Morgan Freeman]] in ''[[Driving Miss Daisy]]'' (1989). The film has since become an iconic classic for the genre and is Crystal's most celebrated film. In 2019, the [[BBC]] named the film the greatest romantic comedy of all time.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20190705-why-when-harry-met-sally-is-the-greatest-romcom-of-all-time|title= Why When Harry met Sally is the greatest romcom of all time|website= [[BBC]]|date= July 12, 2019|accessdate= June 22, 2023}}</ref>

In 1991, Crystal created and produced the HBO six-part comedy miniseries ''[[Sessions (TV miniseries)|Sessions]]'' starring [[Michael McKean]] and [[Elliott Gould]]. The ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' praised the project describing it as "swankily written, elegantly staged and perfectly cast."<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-10-05-ca-3035-story.html|title= TV Review : Comedy on a Couch in Billy Crystal's 'Sessions'|website= [[Los Angeles Times]]|date= October 5, 1991|accessdate= June 22, 2023}}</ref> Crystal then starred in the award-winning buddy comedy ''[[City Slickers]]'' (1991), which proved very successful both commercially and critically and for which Crystal was nominated for his second [[Golden Globe Awards|Golden Globe]]. The film was followed by a sequel, which was less successful. The name of his company is Face Productions.<ref>{{Cite web|date=November 12, 2013|title=Billy Crystal|url=https://variety.com/exec/billy-crystal/|access-date=October 15, 2020|website=Variety|language=en}}</ref> ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' praised Crystal's performance writing, "It's also the first movie ever to do the talented Billy Crystal justice...he's far more pleasureful to watch in this sort of dramatic-comedy role than, say, Robin Williams, because his comfy, urban-shlemiel personality helps ground the jokes."<ref>{{cite magazine|url= https://ew.com/article/1991/06/14/city-slickers-3/|title= City Slickers|magazine= [[Entertainment Weekly]]|accessdate= June 22, 2023}}</ref> Following the significant success of these films, Crystal wrote, directed, and starred in ''[[Mr. Saturday Night]]'' (1992) and ''[[Forget Paris]]'' (1995). In the former, Crystal played a serious role in aging makeup, as an egotistical comedian who reflects back on his career.

In 1992, Crystal narrated ''[[Dr. Seuss]] Video Classics: [[Horton Hatches the Egg]]''. He was originally asked to voice [[Buzz Lightyear]] in ''[[Toy Story]]'' (1995) but turned it down, a decision he later regretted due to the popularity of the series.<ref name="actors" /> Crystal later films include a supporting roles in [[Kenneth Branagh]]'s [[William Shakespeare]] epic ''[[Hamlet (1996 film)|Hamlet]]'' (1996), and [[Woody Allen]]'s critically acclaimed comedy ensemble film ''[[Deconstructing Harry]]'' (1997). Crystal had starred opposite [[Robin Williams]] in ''[[Father's Day (1997 film)|Father's Day]]'' (1997) and had success alongside [[Robert De Niro]] in [[Harold Ramis]]' mobster comedy ''[[Analyze This]]'' (1999). In 1996, Crystal was the guest star of the third episode of ''[[Muppets Tonight]]'' and hosted three [[Grammy Award]]s Telecasts: the [[29th Annual Grammy Awards|29th Grammys]]; the [[30th Annual Grammy Awards|30th Grammys]]; and the [[31st Annual Grammy Awards|31st Grammys]]. Crystal was a guest on the first and the last episode of ''[[The Tonight Show with Jay Leno]],'' which concluded February 6, 2014, after 22 seasons on the air.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.nbc.com/the-tonight-show/video/thursday-february-6-2014/n45954 | publisher = The Tonight Show with Jay Leno | title = Season 22: Episode 77 | access-date = February 8, 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140208002824/http://www.nbc.com/the-tonight-show/video/thursday-february-6-2014/n45954 | archive-date = February 8, 2014 | url-status=dead }}</ref>

===2000–2014: Later film work and Broadway debut ===
[[File:BillyCrystalJan2013.jpg|left|thumb|upright|Crystal at the 2013 TCL Chinese Theatre]]

Crystal directed the made-for-television movie ''[[61*]]'' (2001) based on [[Roger Maris]]'s and [[Mickey Mantle]]'s race to break [[Babe Ruth]]'s single-season home run record in 1961. This earned Crystal an [[Emmy Awards|Primetime Emmy Award]] nomination for Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special. More recent performances include roles in ''[[America's Sweethearts]]'' (2001), the sequel ''[[Analyze That]]'' (2002), and ''[[Parental Guidance (film)|Parental Guidance]]'' (2012). Crystal later went on to provide the voice of Mike Wazowski in the blockbuster [[Pixar]] film ''[[Monsters, Inc.]]'' (2001), ''[[Cars (film)|Cars]]'' (2006), during the [[epilogue]] in the [[end credits]], and to reprise his voice role in the prequel, ''[[Monsters University]]'' (2013). Crystal also provided the voice of [[Calcifer (Howl's Moving Castle)|Calcifer]] in the English version of [[Hayao Miyazaki]]'s ''[[Howl's Moving Castle (film)|Howl's Moving Castle]]'' (2004). He won the 2005 [[Tony Awards|Tony Award]] for [[Tony Award for Best Special Theatrical Event|Best Special Theatrical Event]] for ''[[700 Sundays (film)|700 Sundays]]'', a two-act, [[One-person show|one-man play]], which Crystal conceived and wrote about his parents and his childhood growing up on [[Long Island]].<ref name="actors" /> Crystal toured throughout the US with the show in 2006 and then Australia in 2007. Following the initial success of the play, he wrote the book ''[[700 Sundays]]'' for [[Warner Books]], which was published on October 31, 2005. In conjunction with the book and the play that also paid tribute to his uncle Milt Gabler, Crystal produced two CD compilations: ''Billy Crystal Presents: The Milt Gabler Story'', which featured his uncle's most influential recordings from [[Billie Holiday]]'s "[[Strange Fruit]]" to "[[Rock Around the Clock]]" by [[Bill Haley & His Comets]]; and ''Billy Remembers Billie'' featuring Crystal's favorite Holiday recordings.

Crystal returned as the host for the [[84th Academy Awards|2012 Oscar ceremony]], after [[Eddie Murphy]] resigned from hosting.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.cnn.com/2011/11/09/showbiz/oscars-murphy/index.html | publisher=CNN | title=Eddie Murphy drops out as Oscars host | date=November 9, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2011/11/10/billy-crystal-to-return-as-host-for-84th-academy-awards/110348/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111112173418/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2011/11/10/billy-crystal-to-return-as-host-for-84th-academy-awards/110348/|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 12, 2011|title= Billy Crystal to return as host for 84th Academy Awards|publisher=[[TV by the Numbers]].zap2it.com|access-date=April 10, 2012}}</ref> His nine times is second only to [[Bob Hope]]'s 19 in most ceremonies hosted.<ref name="keegan20190220">{{Cite news |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/features/politics-oscar-inside-academys-long-hard-road-a-hostless-show-1187424 |title=The Politics of Oscar: Inside the Academy's Long, Hard Road to a Hostless Show |last=Keegan |first=Rebecca |date=February 20, 2019 |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |access-date=February 25, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190225041612/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/features/politics-oscar-inside-academys-long-hard-road-a-hostless-show-1187424 |archive-date=February 25, 2019 |url-status=dead }}</ref> At the [[83rd Academy Awards]] ceremony in 2011, Crystal appeared as a presenter for a digitally inserted Bob Hope and before doing so was given a standing ovation. Film critic [[Roger Ebert]] said when Crystal came onstage about two hours into the show, he got the first laughs of the broadcast.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110227/OSCARS/110229986 | work=Chicago Sun-Times | title=Oscars: "King" wins, show loses | access-date=August 24, 2021 | archive-date=March 2, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110302092730/http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20110227%2FOSCARS%2F110229986 | url-status=dead }}</ref> Crystal's hosting gigs have regularly included an introductory video segment in which he comedically inserts himself into scenes of that year's nominees in addition to a song following his opening monologue. In 2013, Crystal released his autobiographical memoir ''Still Foolin' Em''.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/06/books/billy-crystal-on-his-new-book-and-his-later-years.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220101/https://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/06/books/billy-crystal-on-his-new-book-and-his-later-years.html |archive-date=January 1, 2022 |url-access=limited|title=Last Laugh? He Doesn't Need It Yet|first=Dave|last=Itzkoff|newspaper=The New York Times |date=September 5, 2013}}{{cbignore}}</ref> The audiobook version was nominated for a [[Grammy]] Award for Best Spoken Word Album at the 2014 [[Grammy]] Awards.<ref name="grammy.com" />
In the fall of 2013, Crystal brought the show, ''700 Sundays'' back to Broadway for a two-month run at the [[Imperial Theatre]]. [[HBO]] filmed the January 3–4, 2014 performances for a special, which debuted on their network on April 19, 2014, entitled ''[[700 Sundays (film)|Billy Crystal: 700 Sundays]]''.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/showtracker/la-et-st-billy-crystals-hit-broadway-play-700-sundays-coming-to-hbo-20131204,0,2522146.story | title=Billy Crystal's hit Broadway play '700 Sundays' coming to HBO | work=Los Angeles Times |date=December 4, 2013 | access-date=December 11, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/DVR-ALERT-HBO-to-Debut-BILLY-CRYSTAL-700-SUNDAYS-Today-20140418 | title=DVR Alert: HBO Debuts Billy Crystal's 700 Sundays Tonight | access-date=April 20, 2014}}</ref> The televised special received three [[Primetime Emmy Award]] nominations including [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Special|Outstanding Variety Special]], and [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special|Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special]].

In 2014, Crystal paid tribute to his close friend [[Robin Williams]] at the [[66th Primetime Emmy Awards]]. In his tribute, Crystal talked about their friendship, saying, "As genius as he was on stage, he was the greatest friend you could ever imagine. Supportive. Protective. Loving. It's very hard to talk about him in the past because he was so present in all of our lives. For almost 40 years, he was the brightest star in the comedy galaxy… [His] beautiful light will continue to shine on us forever. And the glow will be so bright, it'll warm your heart. It'll make your eyes glisten. And you'll think to yourselves: Robin Williams. What a concept."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv/tv-news/robin-williams-remembered-by-billy-crystal-in-poignant-emmy-tribute-46167/|title= Robin Williams Remembered by Billy Crystal in Poignant Emmy Tribute|website= [[Rolling Stone (magazine)|Rolling Stone]]|date= August 26, 2014|access-date= June 6, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2014/aug/26/emmys-2014-billy-crystal-pays-tribute-to-robin-williams|title= Billy Crystal pays tribute to Robin Williams at the 2014 Emmy awards|website= [[The Guardian]]|date= August 26, 2014|access-date= June 6, 2020}}</ref> Crystal stated that paying tribute to Williams so publicly and so soon after Williams had died was one of "the hardest things I've had to do" and that "I was really worried that I wasn't going to get through it."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nneIxI7fkgs| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211123/nneIxI7fkgs| archive-date=November 23, 2021 | url-status=live|title= Billy Crystal Remembers His Friend, Robin Williams|website= [[YouTube]]| date=September 19, 2014|access-date= June 6, 2020}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.today.com/popculture/billy-crystal-robin-williams-emmy-tribute-was-hardest-thing-ive-1D80148652|title= Billy Crystal: Robin Williams Emmy tribute was 'the hardest thing I've ever had to do'|website= [[NBC]]|date= September 16, 2014|access-date= June 6, 2020}}</ref> Crystal soon after appeared on ''[[The View (talk show)|The View]]'' where he and [[Whoopi Goldberg]] shared stories about Williams, reminiscing about their friendship, and their collaborations together on ''[[Comic Relief]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/whoopi-goldberg-billy-crystal-share-stories-robin-williams/story?id=25627058|title= Whoopi Goldberg, Billy Crystal Share Stories About Robin Williams on 'The View'|website= [[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]|access-date= June 6, 2020}}</ref>

=== 2015–present: Return to Broadway ===
[[File:President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden host the 2023 Kennedy Center Honorees.jpg|thumb|President [[Joe Biden]], Crystal, [[Renée Fleming]], [[Dionne Warrick]], [[Queen Latifah]], [[Barry Gibb]], and [[Jill Biden]] in 2023]]
In 2015, Crystal co-starred alongside [[Josh Gad]] on the [[FX (TV channel)|FX]] comedy series ''[[The Comedians (2015 TV series)|The Comedians]]'', which ran for just one season before being canceled.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2015/tv/news/watch-billy-crystal-and-josh-gad-in-the-comedians-first-trailer-1201434303/|title=Watch: Billy Crystal and Josh Gad in 'The Comedians' First Trailer|author=Maane Khatchatourian|work=Variety|date=February 14, 2015 }}</ref> His series received mixed reviews with many critics noting the chemistry developed further as the series went on. The series was compared to backstage shows such as ''[[The Larry Sanders Show]]'' and ''[[30 Rock (TV series)|30 Rock]]''. Kate Kulzick of ''[[The A.V. Club]]'' wrote "The odd-couple pairing of Crystal and Gad works well, with their generational divide providing many of the show's early highlights...The friendly rapport that develops between the fictionalized Billy and Josh allows them to relax a bit and get to know each other better".<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.avclub.com/the-comedians-succeeds-with-a-familiar-formula-1798183377|title= The Comedians succeeds with a familiar formula|website= A.V. Club|date= April 9, 2015|accessdate= June 22, 2023}}</ref>

In 2016, Crystal gave one of the eulogies for [[Muhammad Ali]] at his funeral. In his remembrance of Ali, Crystal talked about his admiration for Ali as a boxer, and humanitarian. He also shared stories of their unlikely friendship after Crystal did a series of impersonations of him. Crystal stated of Ali's legacy, "Only once in a thousand years or so, do we get to hear a [[Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart|Mozart]], or see a [[Pablo Picasso|Picasso]], or read a [[Shakespeare]]. Ali was one of them. And yet, at his heart, he was still a kid from [[Louisville, Kentucky|Louisville]] who ran with the gods and walked with the crippled and smiled at the foolishness of it all."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vulture.com/2016/06/watch-billy-crystal-eulogize-muhammad-ali.html|title= Watch Billy Crystal's Funny, Poignant Eulogy for Muhammad Ali|website= [[Vulture (magazine)|Vulture]]|date= June 11, 2016|access-date= June 6, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XB3sD9QJCI| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211123/7XB3sD9QJCI| archive-date=November 23, 2021 | url-status=live|title= Muhammad Ali Funeral – Billy Crystal Imitates Ali|website= [[YouTube]]| date=June 10, 2016|access-date= June 6, 2020}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

In the fall of 2021, Crystal reprised the role of Buddy Young Jr., in a theatrical musical staging of ''Mr. Saturday Night'' at the [[Barrington Stage Company]] in [[Pittsfield, MA]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://barringtonstageco.org/mr-saturday-night/|title= Barrington Stage Company welcomes Billy Crystal in a presentation of a new musical in development -- Mr. Saturday Night|website= [[Barrington Stage Company]]|access-date= October 29, 2021}}</ref> In 2022, Crystal adapted his 1992 movie ''Mr. Saturday Night'' into a [[Broadway (theatre)|Broadway]] [[Mr. Saturday Night (musical)|musical with the same name]]. Crystal stars in the musical reprising his role from the film alongside [[David Paymer]]. The production began previews on Broadway at the [[Nederlander Theatre]] on March 29, 2022, prior to officially opening on April 27.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Rabinowitz|first=Chloe|date=January 12, 2022|title=Shoshana Bean & More Complete the Cast of Mr. Saturday Night on Broadway|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Shoshana-Bean-More-Complete-the-Cast-of-MR-SATURDAY-NIGHT-on-Broadway-20220112|access-date=January 12, 2022|website=BroadwayWorld|language=en}}</ref> Crystal earned the [[Drama League Award]] for Contribution to the Theater Award for "his extraordinary work on stages across the country and commitment to mentorship in the field."<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.broadway.com/buzz/202115/nominations-announced-for-88th-annual-drama-league-awards/|title= Nominations Announced for 88th Annual Drama League Awards|website= Broadway.com|accessdate= April 26, 2022}}</ref> Crystal performed a number with the ensemble from his musical at the [[75th Tony Awards]]. Crystal also performed what he described as [[Yiddish]] [[scat singing]]. Crystal went into the crowd teaching [[Lin-Manuel Miranda]] and [[Samuel L. Jackson]] as well as the rest of the audience.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/tv/2022/06/12/tony-awards-2022-biggest-moments-you-missed/7587051001/|title= Tony Awards 2022 biggest moments: Billy Crystal sings Yiddish with Samuel L. Jackson|website= [[USA Today]]|accessdate= June 13, 2022}}</ref> ''[[The New York Times]]'' praised Crystal on his bit, describing it as a highlight of the telecast writing, "one of the few moments that broke through...is when [Crystal] brought it out into the audience, and threw it up to the balcony, he showed how precision delivery and command of a room can make even the oldest, silliest material impossibly compelling."<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/13/theater/best-worst-tony-awards.html|title= Best Schtick: Billy Crystal Makes Silly Compelling|website= [[The New York Times]]|date= June 13, 2022|accessdate= June 13, 2022|last1= Green|first1= Jesse|last2= Phillips|first2= Maya|last3= Soloski|first3= Alexis|last4= Collins-Hughes|first4= Laura|last5= Vincentelli|first5= Elisabeth|last6= Testa|first6= Jessica}}</ref>

In 2023, Crystal was celebrated by the [[Kennedy Center Honors]]. Tributes came from [[Rob Reiner]], [[Meg Ryan]], [[Whoopi Goldberg]], [[Robert De Niro]], [[Jay Leno]], and [[Bob Costas]]. [[Lin-Manuel Miranda]] and [[Marc Shaiman]] did a tribute to Crystal's "Oscar Medleys" to the tunes of "[[Too Marvelous for Words]]", "[[It Had to Be You (song)|It Had to Be You]]" (the theme from ''When Harry Met Sally...''), and "[[My Favorite Things (song)|My Favorite Things]]" from ''[[The Sound of Music]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQ_60q4sAbY|title=Lin-Manuel Miranda honors Billy Crystal <nowiki>|</nowiki> 46th Kennedy Center Honors|author=Kennedy Center|work=YouTube|date=December 28, 2023|accessdate=December 30, 2023}}</ref>

== Acting credits and accolades ==
{{Main|Billy Crystal filmography|List of awards and nominations received by Billy Crystal}}

Crystal has received numerous accolades including six [[Primetime Emmy Awards]] for [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program|Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program]] as the host of the ''[[31st Annual Grammy Awards]]'' (1989), ''[[63rd Academy Awards]]'' (1991), and ''[[70th Academy Awards]]'' (1998) and the [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series|Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series]] for writing his comedy special ''Midnight Train to Moscow'' (1990), and the ''[[63rd Academy Awards]]'' and ''[[64th Academy Awards]]'' (1992). For his [[Broadway (theatre)|Broadway]] debut, his one man show ''[[700 Sundays]]'' (2005), Crystal won the [[Tony Award for Best Special Theatrical Event]], and the [[Drama Desk Award]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.playbill.com/article/billy-crystals-tony-award-winning-broadway-debut-700-sundays-closes-june-12-com-126446|title= Billy Crystal's Tony Award-Winning Broadway Debut 700 Sundays Closes, June 12|website= [[Playbill]].com|access-date= May 27, 2020}}</ref> He received further Tony nominations for [[Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical|Best Actor in a Musical]] and [[Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical|Best Book of a Musical]] for ''[[Mr. Saturday Night (musical)|Mr. Saturday Night]]'' (2022).

Crystal received nominations for three [[Grammy Awards]] for [[Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album|Best Comedy Album]] for ''You Look Marvelous'' (1986), [[Grammy Award for Best Audio Book, Narration & Storytelling Recording|Best Spoken Word Album]] for ''Still Foolin' Em'' (2014), and [[Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album|Best Musical Theatre Album]] for ''Mr. Saturday Night'' (2023).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/artists/billy-crystal|title= Billy Crystal – Artist|website= Grammy.com|access-date= May 27, 2020}}</ref> He also received three [[Golden Globe Award]] nominations for [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy|Best Actor in a Motion Picture Musical or Comedy]] for his performances in the romantic comedy ''[[When Harry Met Sally...]]'' (1989), the western comedy ''[[City Slickers]]'' (1991), and Crystal's directorial debut ''[[Mr. Saturday Night]]'' (1992).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.goldenglobes.com/person/billy-crystal|title= Billy Crystal – Winners & Nominees|website= Goldenglobes.com|access-date= May 27, 2020}}</ref>

Crystal has also received numerous honors including a star on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]] in 1991, and was awarded with the [[Mark Twain Prize for American Humor]] in 2007 where he was honored by [[Robin Williams]], [[Whoopi Goldberg]], [[Robert De Niro]], [[Martin Short]], and [[Rob Reiner]] at the [[John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts]] in [[Washington D.C.]] Crystal was made one of the [[Disney Legends]] in 2013 and also received the [[27th Critics' Choice Awards#Lifetime Achievement Award|Critics' Choice Lifetime Achievement Award]] in 2022 and the [[Kennedy Center Honors]] in 2023.<ref name="hollywoodreporter.com"/><ref name="apnews.com"/>

== Discography ==
===Albums===
*''Mahvelous!'', (A&M Records, 1985) [#65 US]

===Singles===
*"You Look Marvelous", (A&M Records, 1985) [#58 US]
*"I Hate When That Happens", (A&M Records, 1985)
*"The Christmas Song", (A&M Records, 1985)

== Bibliography ==
* {{cite book | last=Crystal | first=Billy | title=Absolutely Mahvelous | location=New York | publisher=Perigee Trade | year=1986 | isbn=0-399-51246-2 }}
* {{cite book | last=Crystal | first=Billy | title=I Already Know I Love You | url=https://archive.org/details/ialreadyknowilov00crys_0 | url-access=registration | location=New York | publisher=HarperCollins | year=2004 | isbn=0-06-059391-1 }}
* {{cite book | last=Crystal | first=Billy | title=700 Sundays | location=New York | publisher=Warner Books | year=2005  | isbn=0-446-57867-3| title-link=700 Sundays }}
* {{cite book | last=Crystal | first=Billy | title=Grandpa's Little One | location=New York | publisher=HarperCollins | year=2006 | isbn=978-0-06-078173-6 | url=https://archive.org/details/grandpaslittleon00bill }}
* {{cite book | last=Crystal | first=Billy | title=Still Foolin' 'Em: Where I've Been, Where I'm Going, and Where the Hell Are My Keys? | location=New York | publisher=Henry Holt and Co. | year=2013 | isbn=978-0-8050-9820-4 | url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780805098204 }}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://stillfoolinem.com|title=Still Foolin' 'Em by Billy Crystal|work=stillfoolinem.com|access-date=April 7, 2015|archive-date=October 4, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004222714/http://stillfoolinem.com/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
On June 4, 1970, Crystal married his high school sweetheart, Janice Goldfinger.<ref>Crystal, ''Still Foolin' 'em'', p. 43</ref> Crystal has long credited his parents, "who always looked like they loved being together," with setting an example for his own marriage.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hautman |first=Nicholas |date=November 13, 2018 |title=Billy Crystal Reveals the Secret to His 48-Year Marriage |url=https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/billy-crystal-reveals-secret-to-his-48-year-marriage-with-janice/ |access-date=September 28, 2022 |website=Us Weekly |language=en-US}}</ref> They have two daughters: actress [[Jennifer Crystal Foley|Jennifer]] and Lindsay, a producer, and are grandparents.<ref>{{cite web|last=Lee |first=Sandra Y. |url=http://www.parents.com/parenting/celebrity-parents/celebrity-parents-billy-crystal/ |title=Celebrity Parents: Billy Crystal |work=Parents |publisher=Parents.com |access-date=May 4, 2012}}</ref> They lived in the [[Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles|Pacific Palisades]] neighborhood of [[Los Angeles]], [[California]].<ref>{{cite magazine | url =http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,976793,00.html | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20091023124021/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,976793,00.html | url-status =dead | archive-date =October 23, 2009 | title=Having Struggled From Warm-Up Act to Headliner: BILLY CRYSTAL | magazine=Time | date=October 19, 1992}}</ref> In January 2025, their home was destroyed in the [[Palisades Fire]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/billy-crystal-palisades-fire-response-wife-janice-crystal-1236104697/|title=Billy Crystal and Wife Janice Confirm Pacific Palisades Fire Destroyed Home of 46 Years|website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date=January 8, 2025|access-date=January 8, 2025}}</ref>

Crystal received an honorary [[Doctor of Fine Arts]] degree from New York University in 2016 and spoke at the commencement at Yankee Stadium.<ref>{{cite news | url =https://www.nyu.edu/about/news-publications/news/2016/march/darren-walker-ford-foundation-president-to-speak-at-nyus-commencement.html | title=Darren Walker, Ford Foundation President, to Speak at NYU's Commencement | date=March 10, 2016}}</ref>

=== Philanthropy ===
<!-- "Comic Relief" in this context is a USA charity for combating homelessness; the associated Wikipedia article is incomplete, as research is still being done. You are encouraged to edit "Comic Relief USA" to provide additional data. -->

In 1986, Crystal started hosting ''[[Comic Relief USA|Comic Relief]]'' on [[Home Box Office|HBO]] with [[Robin Williams]] and [[Whoopi Goldberg]].<ref name="actors" /> Founded by [[Bob Zmuda]], Comic Relief raises money for [[homeless people in the United States]].

On September 6, 2005, on ''[[The Tonight Show with Jay Leno]]'', Crystal and [[Jay Leno]] were the first celebrities to sign a [[Harley-Davidson]] motorcycle to be auctioned off for Gulf Coast relief.<ref>{{cite news | agency=Associated Press |title=Leno's autographed bike raises $500,000 | url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2005-09-30-leno-bike_x.htm | work= USA Today | date=September 30, 2005}}</ref>

Crystal has participated in the [[Simon Wiesenthal Center]] [[Museum of Tolerance]] in Los Angeles. His personal history is featured in the "Finding Our Families, Finding Ourselves" exhibit in the genealogy wing of the museum.<ref>{{cite web|title=Finding Our Families, Finding Ourselves|url=http://www.museumoftolerance.com/site/c.tmL6KfNVLtH/b.4865963/k.161D/Finding_Our_Families_Finding_Ourselves.htm|website=[[Museum of Tolerance]]|publisher=[[Simon Wiesenthal Center]] |access-date=January 19, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180119235558/http://www.museumoftolerance.com/site/c.tmL6KfNVLtH/b.4865963/k.161D/Finding_Our_Families_Finding_Ourselves.htm |archive-date=January 19, 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Political views ===
Crystal is a supporter of the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]] and has appeared in [[Campaign advertising|advertisements]] on behalf of the party.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/billy-crystal-takes-on-insane-vp-debate-teases-voting-spot-with-bill-kristol-for-florida-seniors-4073698/ | title=Billy Crystal Takes on "Insane" VP Debate, Teases Voting Spot with Bill Kristol for Florida Seniors | website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] | date=October 8, 2020 }}</ref>

Crystal was an outspoken critic of [[Donald Trump]] during the latter’s [[Donald Trump 2016 presidential campaign|2016 presidential campaign]]. Crystal supported [[Hillary Clinton]] in the [[2016 United States presidential election|2016 election]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/billy-crystal-donald-trump-golfing-giuliani-bill-clinton-cellphones-jimmy-kimmel-live-video-948-948704/ | title=Billy Crystal Pretends to Choke as He Calls Donald Trump "President-Elect," Says "We're in This Together" | website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] | date=November 18, 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine | url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/billy-crystal-donald-trump-hillary-clinton-broadway-7542337/ | title=Billy Crystal Repeatedly Skewers Donald Trump at Hillary Clinton's Broadway Fundraiser | magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] }}</ref>

=== Sports ===
On March 12, 2008, Crystal signed a one-day minor league contract to play with the [[New York Yankees]], and he was invited to the team's major league spring training. Crystal wore uniform number 60 in honor of his upcoming 60th birthday.<ref>{{cite news | title = Billy Crystal to sign contract with Yankees | url = https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=ApQysfnqvYEYnzAzS7waMwc5nYcB?slug=ap-yankees-crystal&prov=ap&type=lgns | archive-url = https://archive.today/20080316062725/http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=ApQysfnqvYEYnzAzS7waMwc5nYcB?slug=ap-yankees-crystal&prov=ap&type=lgns | url-status = dead | archive-date = March 16, 2008 | publisher = Yahoo | date = March 10, 2008 | access-date = September 8, 2014 }}</ref> On March 13, in a spring training game against the [[Pittsburgh Pirates]], Crystal led off as the [[designated hitter]]. He managed to make contact, fouling a [[fastball]] up the [[first base]] line, but was eventually struck out by Pirates pitcher [[Paul Maholm]] on six pitches and was later replaced in the batting order by [[Johnny Damon]].<ref>{{cite web |author=Chris Girandola |url=http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080313&content_id=2423946&vkey=spt2008news&fext=.jsp&c_id=nyy |title=Crystal strikes out in only at-bat |publisher=Major League Baseball |access-date=May 4, 2012 |archive-date=February 12, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120212221419/http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080313&content_id=2423946&vkey=spt2008news&fext=.jsp&c_id=nyy |url-status=dead }}</ref> Crystal was released on March 14, his 60th birthday.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/23566549/ |title=Yankees release Billy Crystal on 60th birthday – Baseball |publisher=MSNBC |date=March 14, 2008 |access-date=November 3, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081026105558/http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/23566549/ |archive-date=October 26, 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Crystal's boyhood idol was Yankee Hall of Fame legend [[Mickey Mantle]], who had signed a program for him when Crystal attended a game where Mantle had hit a home run. Years later on ''[[The Dinah Shore Show]]'', in one of his first television appearances, Crystal met Mantle in person and had Mantle re-sign the same program. Crystal would be good friends with Mantle until Mantle's death in 1995. He and [[Bob Costas]] together wrote the eulogy Costas read at Mantle's funeral, and [[George Steinbrenner]] then invited Crystal to emcee the unveiling of Mantle's monument at [[Yankee Stadium (1923)|Yankee Stadium]]. In his 2013 memoir ''Still Foolin' 'Em'', Crystal said that after the ceremony, near the Yankees clubhouse, he was punched in the stomach by [[Joe DiMaggio]], who was angry at Crystal for not having introduced him to the crowd as the "Greatest living player."{{citation needed|date=January 2025}}

Crystal also was well known for his impressions of Yankees Hall of Famer turned broadcaster [[Phil Rizzuto]]. Rizzuto, known for his quirks calling games, did not travel to [[Anaheim, California]] in 1996 to call the game for [[WPIX]]. Instead, Crystal joined the broadcasters in the booth and pretended to be Rizzuto for a few minutes during the August 31 game.

Although a lifelong Yankees fan,<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/19/sports/baseball/19crystal.html | work=The New York Times | title=Feeling Lonely Behind the Facade | first=Billy | last=Crystal | date=April 19, 2009 | access-date=March 26, 2010}}</ref> he is a part-owner of the [[Arizona Diamondbacks]], even earning a [[World Series ring]] in 2001 when the Diamondbacks beat his beloved Yankees.<ref>{{cite news |title=Billy Crystal Strikes Out in New Career |publisher=The Insider |url=http://www.theinsider.com/news/727182_Billy_Crystal_Strikes_Out_in_New_Career |date=March 14, 2008 |access-date=December 6, 2009 }}{{dead link|date=July 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

In ''City Slickers'', Crystal wore a [[New York Mets]] [[baseball cap]]. In the 1986 film ''[[Running Scared (1986 film)|Running Scared]]'', his character is an avid [[Chicago Cubs]] fan, wearing a Cubs' jersey in several scenes. In the 2012 film ''[[Parental Guidance (film)|Parental Guidance]]'', Crystal's character is the announcer for the [[Fresno Grizzlies]], a [[Minor League Baseball]] team, who aspires to announce for their [[Major League Baseball|Major League affiliate]], the [[San Francisco Giants]].

Crystal appeared in [[Ken Burns]]'s 1994 documentary ''[[Baseball (TV series)|Baseball]]'', telling personal stories about his life-long love of baseball, including meeting [[Casey Stengel]] as a child and [[Ted Williams]] as an adult.

Crystal is also a longtime [[Los Angeles Clippers]] fan and season ticket holder.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sportingnews.com/nba/story/2012-12-26/billy-crystal-jamal-crawford-crossover-dribble-christmas-la-clippers-nuggets|title=Billy Crystal loves the Clippers, and Jamal Crawford's dribbling|work=Sporting News|access-date=November 26, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150121143528/http://www.sportingnews.com/nba/story/2012-12-26/billy-crystal-jamal-crawford-crossover-dribble-christmas-la-clippers-nuggets|archive-date=January 21, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
{{Wikiquote}}
*{{IMDb name|0000345}}
* {{tcmdb name}}
* {{Discogs artist|Billy Crystal}}
*[http://stillfoolinem.com/ Website for Billy Crystal's book ''Still Foolin' 'Em''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004222714/http://stillfoolinem.com/ |date=October 4, 2013 }}
* {{the interviews name|billy-crystal}}

{{Billy Crystal}}
{{Navboxes
|title = [[List of awards and nominations received by Billy Crystal|Awards for Billy Crystal]]
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{{MTV Movie Award for Best Comedic Performance}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Crystal, Billy}}
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