Billy Crystal

Billy was born in Long Beach, New York. Since he was nine years old, he wanted to be a professional baseball player, and played all throughout high school. He attended Marshall University in West Virginia on a baseball scholarship, but the program was abolished the following year. He then transferred to Nassau Community College in Long Island, and then to New York University to study film and television directing, completing his B.F.A. in 1970.

After marrying his college sweatheart Janice in 1970, he worked as a substitute teacher in Long Beach, also performing a comedy act at various clubs in the city. He toured several years with an improv group called 3's Company, and then moved to Los Angeles. Here, during his stand-up routine, he was spotted by television producer Norman Lear, and was given several appearances on All in the Family along with a guest spot on Howard Cosell's variety show. In 1977, he was given the role of Jodie Dallas, T.V.'s first openly gay character, in the soap-opera satire Soap. After five seasons, comedienne Joan Rivers used him in her 1978 film Rabbit Test, where Crystal played a man who discovers he is pregnant.

With this odd start, he returned to New York and appeared in several cable specials, TV movies, guest spots, hosted a comedy hour, and also toured nightclubs and college campuses, specializing in impersonations. In 1984, he was invited to join the cast of Saturday Night Live. Although he was only on for a season, he was considered by many the most popular cast member, and he earned an Emmy nomination in the Best Individual Performance category.

As we all know, his shaky career start did not stick for long, because he went on to star in some of the best movies ever made, including This is Spinal Tap, The Princess Bride, When Harry Met Sally (all three directed by Rob Reiner), and many, many others.

In 1991, he moved back to Los Angeles and wrote, directed, produced, and starred in Mr. Saturday Night (talk about multi-talented!).

Although some of his recent movies have not made deep impressions in the box office, Crystal is still regarded as an extremely talented and funny individual, with his work leaving a great impression on our minds forever. As of this writing, he has won 6 Emmy Awards, 6 American Comedy Awards, and 7 Cable Ace Awards, and likely others that I am just not aware of. He has hosted the Oscars six times, and he has also co-hosted the HBO Comic Relief benefit specials with Robin Williams and Whoopi Goldberg. He recently made his Broadway debut in the self-written one-man show 700 Sundays. The show opened on December 5, 2004, and is scheduled to run through May 2005 at the Broadhurst Theatre.

Crystal has 2 daughters, Jennifer and Lindsay. He also has a granddaughter named Ella.


Filmography
  1. Analyze That (2002) .... Dr. Ben Sobel
  2. "Liberty's Kids: Est. 1776" (2002) (TV series voice) .... John Adams
  3. Mike's New Car (2002) (voice) .... Mike Wazowski
  4. Monsters, Inc. (2001) (voice) .... Mike Wazowski
  5. America's Sweethearts (2001) .... Lee Phillips
  6. The Adventures of Rocky & Bullwinkle (2000) (uncredited) .... Matress Salesman
  7. Analyze This (1999) .... Dr. Ben Sobel
  8. My Giant (1998) .... Sam Kamin
  9. Fathers' Day (1997) .... Jack Lawrence
  10. Deconstructing Harry (1997) .... Larry/The Devil
  11. Hamlet (1996) .... First Gravedigger
  12. Forget Paris (1995) .... Mickey Gordon (Interestingly based on events and experiences in his own 25-year marriage)
  13. City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold (1994) .... Mitch Robbins
  14. In Search of Dr. Seuss (1994) (TV, voice) .... The Voice of America
  15. Mr. Saturday Night (1992) .... Buddy Young Jr.
  16. City Slickers (1991) .... Mitch Robbins
  17. When Harry Met Sally... (1989) .... Harry Burns
  18. Memories of Me (1988) .... Abbie
  19. The Princess Bride (1987) .... Miracle Max
  20. Throw Momma from the Train (1987) .... Larry
  21. Running Scared (1986) .... Danny Costanzo
  22. This Is Spinal Tap (1984) .... Morty the Mime
  23. Likely Stories, Vol. 3 (1983) (TV) .... Tony Manetti
  24. Enola Gay: The Men, the Mission, the Atomic Bomb (1980) (TV) .... Lt. Jacob Beser
  25. Animalympics (1979) (voice) .... Lodge Turkell
  26. Breaking Up Is Hard to Do (1979) (TV) .... Danny Doyle
  27. Human Feelings (1978) (TV) .... Miles Gordon
  28. Rabbit Test (1978) .... Lionel Carpenter
  29. "Soap" (1977) TV Series .... Jodie Dallas
  30. SST: Death Flight (1977) (TV) .... David

    Writer filmography

    1. The 76th Annual Academy Awards (2004) (TV) (special material written by)
    2. America's Sweethearts (2001) (written by)
    3. My Giant (1998) (story)
    4. The 70th Annual Academy Awards (1998) (TV) (special material)
    5. The 69th Annual Academy Awards (1997) (TV) (special material)
    6. Forget Paris (1995) (written by)
    7. City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold (1994) (written by)
    8. Mr. Saturday Night (1992) (written by)
    9. The 64th Annual Academy Awards (1992) (TV) (special material)
    10. The 63rd Annual Academy Awards (1991) (TV) (special material)
    11. "Sessions" (1991) TV Series (writer)
    12. Memories of Me (1988)
    13. An All-Star Toast to the Improv (1988) (V)
    14. Billy Crystal: Don't Get Me Started - The Lost Minutes (1987) (TV)
    15. Billy Crystal: Don't Get Me Started (1986) (TV)
    16. Comic Relief (1986/I) (TV)
    17. "Saturday Night Live" (1984-85) TV Series
    18. Billy Crystal: A Comic's Line (1984) (TV)
    19. Likely Stories, Vol. 3 (1983) (TV) ("Split Decision")
    20. The T.V. Show (1979) (TV)
    21. "The Love Boat" (1977) TV Series (writer)

    Director filmography

    1. 61* (2001) (TV)
    2. Forget Paris (1995)
    3. Mr. Saturday Night (1992)
    4. Billy Crystal: Don't Get Me Started (1986-1987) (TV)
    5. Comic Relief (1986/I) (TV)
    6. Likely Stories, Vol. 3 (1983) (TV) (segment "Split Decision")

    Notable TV guest appearances

    1. "Filmland" playing "Himself" - 5/5/2003
    2. "SportsCenter" playing "Himself" in episode: "SportsCenter 25K" - 8/22/2002
    3. "Leute heute" playing "Himself" - 5/13/2002
    4. "The Bernie Mac Show" playing "Himself" in episode: "Secrets and Lies" - 5/1/2002
    5. "Primetime Glick" playing "Himself" in episode: "Rob Lowe/Billy Crystal" - 7/4/2001
    6. "ESPN Sports Century" playing "Himself" in episode: "Wilt Chamberlain" - 6/1/2001
    7. "ESPN Sports Century" playing "Himself" in episode: "Mickey Mantle" - 8/11/2000
    8. "Ruby" playing "Himself" - 9/21/1999
    9. "Muppets Tonight" playing "Himself" in episode: "The Best of Muppets Tonight!" - 12/21/1997
    10. "Friends" playing "Tim" in episode: "The One with the Ultimate Fighting Champion" - 5/8/1997
    11. "Dennis Miller Live" playing "Himself" in episode: "Common Sense" - 6/14/1996
    12. "Muppets Tonight" playing "Himself" (episode # 1.3) - 3/22/1996
    13. "Frasier" playing "Jack" (voice) in episode: "Leapin' Lizards" - 10/31/1995
    14. "Clive Anderson Talks Back" playing "Himself" (episode # 10.1) - 9/29/1995
    15. "Clive Anderson Talks Back" playing "Himself" (episode # 9.2) - 9/23/1994
    16. "The Critic" (voice) in episode: "L.A. Jay" - 6/22/1994
    17. "The Full Wax" playing "Himself" (episode # 3.1) - 4/22/1993
    18. "The Larry Sanders Show" playing "Himself" in episode: "Talk Show" - 10/10/1992
    19. "Shelley Duvall's Bedtime Stories" playing "Himself" (voice) in episode: "My New Neighbors"
    20. "Faerie Tale Theatre" playing "Larry" in episode: "The Three Little Pigs" - 2/12/1985
    21. "Darkroom" playing "Paddy" in episode: "Make-Up" - 12/18/1981
    22. "The Steve Allen Comedy Hour" - 5/29/1981
    23. "Fridays" playing "Guest Host" - 2/27/1981
    24. "The Love Boat" playing "Shy Young Man" in episode: "The Kissing Bandit, The/Mike and Ike/Witness" - 10/21/1978
    25. "America 2-Night" playing "Himself" in episode: "I Am Democracy" - 6/5/1978
    26. "Saturday Night Live" playing "Himself" (episode # 1.17) - 4/17/1976
    27. "All in the Family" playing "Al Bender" in episode: "New Year's Wedding" - 1/5/1976
    28. "Saturday Night Live with Howard Cosell" playing "Himself" in episode: "Pilot" - 9/20/1975


    For more imformation, check out these sites:

    National Public Radio Interview
    Another National Public Radio Interview
    Inside the Actor's Studio - Billy Crystal

    If you would like to contact Billy through fan-mail, simply write to this address:

    Billy Crystal
    Fan Mail: C/O Creative Artists Agency
    9830 Wilshire Blvd
    Beverly Hills, CA 90212


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