Billy Crystal facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Billy Crystal |
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Crystal in 2018
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| Birth name | William Edward Crystal |
| Born | March 14, 1948 New York City, U.S. |
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| Alma mater | Marshall University Nassau Community College New York University (BFA) |
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Janice Goldfinger
(m. 1970) |
| Children | 2, including Jennifer Crystal |
William Edward Crystal (born March 14, 1948) is a famous American comedian, actor, and filmmaker. He is well-known for his stand-up comedy and his many roles in movies and on stage. Billy Crystal has won many awards, including six Primetime Emmy Awards and a Tony Award. He was also nominated for three Grammy Awards and three Golden Globe Awards.
Crystal received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1991. He was also honored with the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in 2007. In 2022, he received the Critics' Choice Lifetime Achievement Award. Most recently, in 2023, he was recognized at the Kennedy Center Honors.
He became famous for his TV roles, like Jodie Dallas on the show Soap (1977-1981). He was also a cast member and often hosted Saturday Night Live (1984-1985). Crystal then starred in popular movies such as When Harry Met Sally... (1989) and City Slickers (1991). He is also the voice of Mike Wazowski in Pixar's Monsters, Inc. movies. Billy Crystal has hosted the Academy Awards (the Oscars) nine times, starting in 1990 and most recently in 2012.
Crystal made his Broadway debut in 2004 with his one-man show, 700 Sundays. He won a Tony Award for Best Special Theatrical Event for this show. He brought the show back in 2014, and it was filmed by HBO. In 2022, he wrote and starred in the Broadway musical Mr. Saturday Night, based on his film. He has also written five books, including his memoir Still Foolin' Em (2013).
Contents
Early Life and Education
William Edward Crystal was born in New York City on March 14, 1948. He grew up in the Bronx and later moved with his family to Long Beach, New York. Billy has two older brothers, Joel and Richard. His mother, Helen, was a housewife. His father, Jack Crystal, owned the Commodore Music Store, which his grandfather started.
Billy's father was also a jazz promoter and worked for a jazz record label called Commodore Records. This label was founded by Billy's uncle, Milt Gabler. Famous jazz artists like Billie Holiday often visited their home.
The Crystal family is Jewish, and Billy had his bar mitzvah at Temple Emanu-El. As kids, Billy and his brothers would entertain their family by performing comedy routines. In 1963, Billy's father lost his business and passed away at age 54. His mother passed away in 2001.
After graduating from Long Beach High School in 1965, Crystal went to Marshall University on a baseball scholarship. However, he didn't play baseball there because the program was stopped. He then decided to stay in New York to be near his future wife.
He studied acting at HB Studio and later attended Nassau Community College with his future wife. He then transferred to New York University (NYU), where he studied film and television directing. Billy graduated from NYU in 1970 with a degree in fine arts. One of his teachers was the famous director Martin Scorsese.
Career Highlights
Early Comedy and TV Roles
Billy Crystal spent four years in a comedy group with friends, performing at colleges and coffee houses. He also worked as a substitute teacher. Later, he became a solo comedian, performing regularly at famous comedy clubs. In 1976, he appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.
Crystal was supposed to be on the first episode of NBC Saturday Night in 1975, but his part was cut. He did appear later in the first season. He also made guest appearances on shows like The Love Boat and game shows like The Hollywood Squares. He holds a record on The $20,000 Pyramid for helping his partner win in just 26 seconds.
Crystal's first big role was as Jodie Dallas on the TV show Soap. He played this role from 1977 to 1981. In 1982, he hosted his own variety show, The Billy Crystal Comedy Hour, but it was canceled quickly.
After hosting Saturday Night Live twice, Crystal joined the regular cast for the 1984–85 season. His most famous character was Fernando Lamas, a talk-show host who would say, "You look... mahvelous!" This phrase became very popular. In the 1980s, Crystal also starred in an episode of Faerie Tale Theatre as the smartest of the three little pigs.
Crystal's first movie role was in the 1978 film Rabbit Test. He also had a brief role in the movie This Is Spinal Tap (1984).
Oscar Host and Movie Star
In 1985, Crystal released a comedy album called Mahvelous!. The main song, "You Look Marvelous," became a hit. He then starred in the action comedy Running Scared (1986) with Gregory Hines. Critics praised their great chemistry.
Billy Crystal hosted the Academy Awards (the Oscars) nine times. He hosted in 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2004, and 2012. His hosting was highly praised, and he won two Primetime Emmy Awards for hosting and writing the show.
Crystal reunited with director Rob Reiner in The Princess Bride (1987). He played a funny supporting role as "Miracle Max." Reiner let Crystal make up some of his lines, and his line, "Have fun storming the castle!" is still often quoted.
Reiner directed Crystal again in the romantic comedy When Harry Met Sally... (1989). Crystal starred with Meg Ryan in this movie, which became a classic. The Hollywood Reporter praised Crystal's performance. He was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor.
In 1991, Crystal starred in the successful comedy City Slickers. He was nominated for another Golden Globe Award for this film. Following these successes, Crystal wrote, directed, and starred in Mr. Saturday Night (1992) and Forget Paris (1995). In Mr. Saturday Night, he played an older comedian looking back on his life.
In 1992, Crystal narrated Horton Hatches the Egg. He was first asked to voice Buzz Lightyear in Toy Story (1995) but turned it down, which he later regretted. Crystal's later films include Hamlet (1996) and Deconstructing Harry (1997). He also starred with Robin Williams in Father's Day (1997) and with Robert De Niro in Analyze This (1999).
Later Film Work and Broadway
Crystal directed the TV movie 61* (2001), which was about baseball players Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle. This earned him an Primetime Emmy Award nomination for directing. He also appeared in America's Sweethearts (2001), Analyze That (2002), and Parental Guidance (2012).
Crystal provided the voice of Mike Wazowski in the popular Pixar film Monsters, Inc. (2001). He reprised this role in the prequel, Monsters University (2013). He also voiced Calcifer in the English version of Hayao Miyazaki's Howl's Moving Castle (2004).
In 2005, he won a Tony Award for his one-man play, 700 Sundays. This play was about his parents and his childhood. He toured the U.S. and Australia with the show. He also wrote a book called 700 Sundays.
Crystal returned to host the 2012 Oscar ceremony. His nine times hosting is second only to Bob Hope. In 2013, Crystal released his memoir Still Foolin' Em. The audiobook version was nominated for a Grammy Award.
In 2014, Crystal brought 700 Sundays back to Broadway. HBO filmed the performances for a special called Billy Crystal: 700 Sundays, which received three Primetime Emmy Award nominations.
In 2014, Crystal gave a moving tribute to his close friend Robin Williams at the 66th Primetime Emmy Awards. He spoke about their friendship and how bright Robin's light would continue to shine.
Recent Work and Honors
In 2015, Crystal co-starred with Josh Gad in the comedy series The Comedians on FX. The show ran for one season and received mixed reviews, but critics noted the good chemistry between Crystal and Gad.
In 2016, Crystal gave one of the eulogies at the funeral of Muhammad Ali. He spoke about his admiration for Ali as a boxer and a humanitarian, sharing stories of their friendship.
In 2021, Crystal brought his character Buddy Young Jr. back to the stage in a musical version of Mr. Saturday Night. In 2022, he adapted his 1992 movie Mr. Saturday Night into a Broadway musical. Crystal starred in the musical, reprising his role from the film. He earned a Drama League Award for his contributions to theater. At the 75th Tony Awards, Crystal performed a number from his musical and even taught some Yiddish scat singing to the audience.
In 2023, Crystal was honored at the Kennedy Center Honors. Many famous friends and colleagues, including Rob Reiner, Meg Ryan, Whoopi Goldberg, and Robert De Niro, paid tribute to him. Lin-Manuel Miranda and Marc Shaiman performed a musical tribute to Crystal's famous "Oscar Medleys." In 2024, Crystal was a presenter for Best Picture at the 97th Academy Awards with his When Harry Met Sally... co-star Meg Ryan.
Awards and Recognitions
Billy Crystal has received many awards. He won six Primetime Emmy Awards for his performances and writing. These include awards for hosting the 31st Annual Grammy Awards (1989), 63rd Academy Awards (1991), and 70th Academy Awards (1998). He also won Emmys for writing his comedy special Midnight Train to Moscow (1990) and the 63rd Academy Awards and 64th Academy Awards (1992).
For his Broadway debut, 700 Sundays (2005), Crystal won the Tony Award for Best Special Theatrical Event and the Drama Desk Award. He also received Tony nominations for Best Actor and Best Book of a Musical for Mr. Saturday Night (2022).
Crystal was nominated for three Grammy Awards. These were for Best Comedy Album for You Look Marvelous (1986), Best Spoken Word Album for Still Foolin' Em (2014), and Best Musical Theatre Album for Mr. Saturday Night (2023). He also received three Golden Globe Award nominations for Best Actor in a Motion Picture Musical or Comedy. These nominations were for When Harry Met Sally... (1989), City Slickers (1991), and Mr. Saturday Night (1992).
Crystal has received many honors. He got a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1991. In 2007, he was awarded the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. He was named one of the Disney Legends in 2013. He also received the Critics' Choice Lifetime Achievement Award in 2022 and the Kennedy Center Honors in 2023.
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)
Personal Life
On June 4, 1970, Billy Crystal married his high school sweetheart, Janice Goldfinger. He often says his parents, who seemed to love being together, set a great example for his own marriage. They have two daughters: Jennifer, who is an actress, and Lindsay, who is a producer. They are also grandparents. They lived in Pacific Palisades, California.
In 2016, Crystal received an honorary degree from New York University and gave a speech at their graduation ceremony.
Philanthropy
In 1986, Crystal began hosting Comic Relief on HBO with Robin Williams and Whoopi Goldberg. This event raises money to help homeless people in the United States.
In 2005, Crystal and Jay Leno were the first celebrities to sign a Harley-Davidson motorcycle. It was auctioned off to raise money for relief efforts after a hurricane.
Crystal has also been involved with the Simon Wiesenthal Center Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles. His family history is part of an exhibit there.
Sports
Billy Crystal is a big sports fan. On March 12, 2008, he signed a one-day contract to play with the New York Yankees baseball team. He wore number 60 to celebrate his upcoming 60th birthday. The next day, he played in a spring training game, but he struck out. He was released from the team on his 60th birthday, March 14.
Crystal's childhood hero was Yankees legend Mickey Mantle. Years later, Crystal became good friends with Mantle. After Mantle's death in 1995, Crystal helped write the eulogy read at his funeral.
Crystal is also known for his impressions of Yankees broadcaster Phil Rizzuto. In 1996, Crystal even pretended to be Rizzuto in the broadcasting booth during a game.
Even though he's a lifelong Yankees fan, he is a part-owner of the Arizona Diamondbacks baseball team. He even earned a World Series ring in 2001 when the Diamondbacks beat his beloved Yankees.
In the movie City Slickers, Crystal wore a New York Mets baseball cap. In Running Scared (1986), his character was a big fan of the Chicago Cubs. In the 2012 film Parental Guidance, Crystal's character was a baseball announcer.
Crystal appeared in Ken Burns's 1994 documentary Baseball. He shared personal stories about his love for the sport. He is also a longtime fan and season ticket holder for the Los Angeles Clippers basketball team.
See also
In Spanish: Billy Crystal para niños
