Billy Crystal

For the American political commentator, see William Kristol. Billy Crystal Crystal at the 2008 All Stars and Legends Softball game at Yankee Stadium Birth name William Edward Crystal Born March 14, 1948 (1948-03-14) (age 62) New York City, New York, U.S. Years active 1975–present Spouse Janice Goldfinger (1970-present) Emmy Awards Performance in Special Events 1989 The 31st Annual Grammy Awards Writing in a Variety or Music Program 1990 Midnight Train to Moscow 1991 The 63rd Annual Academy Awards 1992 The 64th Annual Academy Awards Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program 1991 The 63rd Annual Academy Awards 1998 The 70th Annual Academy Awards American Comedy Awards Funniest Actor in a Motion Picture (Leading Role) 1989 When Harry Met Sally... 1991 City Slickers Funniest Male Performer in a TV Special (Leading or Supporting) Network, Cable or Syndication 1991 The 63rd Annual Academy Award 1992 The 64th Annual Academy Award 1993 The 65th Annual Academy Award 1998 The 70th Annual Academy Award Creative Achievement Award 1993 William Edward "Billy" Crystal1 (born March 14, 1948) is an American actor, writer, producer, comedian and film director. He gained prominence in the 1970s for playing Jodie Dallas on the ABC sitcom Soap and became a Hollywood film star during the late 1980s and 1990s, appearing in the critical and box office successes When Harry Met Sally... and City Slickers. He has hosted the Academy Awards eight times. Contents 1 Background 2 Career 2.1 Start in television 2.2 Acting in film and hosting the Oscars 2.3 Broadway 2.4 Philanthropy 2.5 New York Baseball 3 Awards 4 Filmography 5 Saturday Night Live 5.1 Characters 5.2 Impersonations 6 Bibliography 7 References 8 External links // Background Crystal was born in the Doctor's Hospital in Manhattan and grew up in Long Beach, New York, the son of Helen (née Gabler), a housewife, and Jack Crystal, a record company executive and producer of jazz records, who owned and operated the Commodore Record store.23 His uncle was a musician and songwriter Milt Gabler, and his brother, Richard Crystal, is a television producer. Crystal grew up in a Jewish family that he has described as "large" and "loving".4 After graduation from Long Beach High School, Crystal attended Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia, on a baseball scholarship, having learned the game from his father, who pitched for St. John's University. Crystal never played a game at Marshall because the program was suspended during his freshman year. He did not return as a sophomore, staying back in New York with his future wife. He then went on to Nassau Community College, and later attended New York University, where he graduated with a B.F.A. from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts in 1970.5 He was also the Editor-in-Chief of the BG News from 1969-70. Billy Crystal and his wife Janice have two daughters, actresses Jennifer and Lindsay, and are now grandparents.citation needed They reside in Pacific Palisades, California.6 Career Start in television Crystal returned to New York and performed regularly at The Improv and Catch a Rising Star. He studied film and television direction under Martin Scorsese at New York University. In 1976, Crystal appeared on an episode of All in the Family. He also was on the dais for the Dean Martin Celebrity Roast of Muhammad Ali on February 19, 1976 where he made dead-on impersonations of both The Champ and sportscaster Howard Cosell. He was scheduled to appear on the first episode of Saturday Night Live (October 11, 1975), but his sketch was cut.7 He did do a stand-up bit later on that first season as "Bill Crystal", on the April 17, 1976, episode. Crystal's earliest prominent role was as Jodie Dallas on Soap, one of the first gay characters portrayed on American television. He continued in the role the series' entire 1977-1981 run. After hosting Saturday Night Live in 1984, he joined the regular cast.7 His most famous recurring sketch was his parody of Fernando Lamas – Fernando, a smarmy talk show host whose catch phrase, "You look... mahvelous!," became a media sensation.7 Crystal subsequently released an album of his stand-up material titled Mahvelous! in 1985, as well as the single "You Look Marvelous", which peaked at #58 on the Billboard Hot 100 during the same year. Also in the 1980s, Crystal starred in an episode of Shelley Duvalls Faerie tale theater as the smartest of the three little pigs. Acting in film and hosting the Oscars Crystal's first film role was in Joan Rivers's 1978 film Rabbit Test. Crystal also made game show appearances such as The Hollywood Squares, All Star Secrets and The $20,000 Pyramid. He holds the record for getting his contestant partner to the top of the pyramid in the bonus round in the fastest time, 26 seconds. Crystal appeared briefly in Rob Reiner's 1984 "rockumentary" This Is Spinal Tap 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. Crystal's line in the film was "Mime is money." Reiner directed Crystal again in The Princess Bride (1987). Reiner directed Crystal for a third time in the classic romantic comedy When Harry Met Sally... (1989), for which Crystal was nominated for a Golden Globe. Crystal then starred in the buddy comedy City Slickers (1991), which proved very successful both commercially and critically and for which Crystal was nominated for his second Golden Globe. Following the 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. He 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 nomination for Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special. Crystal has continued working in film, including Analyze This (1999) and Analyze That (2002) with Robert De Niro, and in the English version of Howl's Moving Castle as the voice of Calcifer. Pixar originally approached him to provide the voice of Buzz Lightyear in Toy Story (1995). He turned down that offer, but regretted it after the film became one of the most popular releases of the year.7 Crystal later went on to provide the voice of Mike Wazowski in the Pixar film, Monsters, Inc. (2001), which was nominated for the inaugural Best Animated Feature Oscar. Crystal hosted the Academy Awards broadcast in 1990–1993, 1997, 1998, 2000, and 2004; and he reportedly turned down hosting the 2006 ceremony to concentrate on his one-man show, 700 Sundays. His eight times as the M.C. is second only to Bob Hope's 18 in most ceremonies hosted. Broadway Crystal won the 2005 Tony Award for Best Special Theatrical Event for 700 Sundays, a two-act, one-man play, which he conceived and wrote about his parents and his childhood growing up on Long Island.7 He toured the U.S. with the show in 2006 and Australia in 2007. Following the initial success of the play, Crystal 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. Philanthropy In 1986, Crystal started hosting Comic Relief on HBO with Robin Williams and Whoopi Goldberg.7 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.8 Crystal has participated in the Simon Wiesenthal Center Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles. Portraying himself in a video, Crystal introduces museum guests to the genealogy wing of the museum. New York Baseball On March 12, 2008, Crystal signed a minor league contract, for a single day, to play with the New York Yankees, and was invited to the team's major league spring training. He wore uniform number 60, in honor of his upcoming 60th birthday.9 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 6 pitches and was later replaced in the batting order by Johnny Damon.10 He was released on March 14, his 60th birthday.11 Although a life-long Yankee fan,12 he is a part-owner of the Arizona Diamondbacks, even earning a World Series ring in 2001 when the Diamondbacks beat his beloved Yankees.13 In the movie City Slickers, Crystal wears a New York Mets baseball cap. Awards In addition to his Golden Globe Award-nominations, Emmy Awards, and Tony Award, Crystal won the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding One-Person Show for 700 Sundays and received the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in 2007.14 Filmography Year Title Role Notes 1977–1981 Soap Jodie Dallas TV series 1977 SST: Death Flight David 1978 Rabbit Test Lionel Carpenter Human Feelings Angel Made for TV 1980 Animalympics Lodge Turkell Voice 1984 This Is Spinal Tap Morty the Mime 1986 Running Scared Danny Constanzo 1987 The Princess Bride Miracle Max Throw Momma from the Train Larry Donner 1988 Memories of Me Abbie Writer/Producer 1989 When Harry Met Sally... Harry Burns American Comedy Award for Funniest Actor in a Motion Picture Nominated — Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy 1991 City Slickers Mitch Robbins Executive Producer American Comedy Award for Funniest Actor in a Motion Picture MTV Movie Award for Best Comedic Performance Nominated — Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy 1992 Horton Hatches the Egg Narrator Voice Mr. Saturday Night Buddy Young, Jr. Writer/Director/Producer Nominated — Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy 1994 City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold Mitch Robbins Writer/Producer 1995 Forget Paris Mickey Gordon Writer/Director/Producer Hamlet First Gravedigger 1997 Deconstructing Harry Larry Fathers' Day Jack Lawrence Friends The Gynecologist (with Robin Williams) TV Series 1998 My Giant Sam 'Sammy' Kamin Writer/Producer 1999 Analyze This Dr. Ben Sobel Executive Producer 2000 The Adventures of Rocky & Bullwinkle Mattress salesman Uncredited 2001 61* Director America's Sweethearts Lee Phillips Writer/Producer Monsters, Inc. Michael "Mike" Wazowski Voice 2002 Mike's New Car Mike Wazowski Short Film Subject Voice Analyze That Dr. Ben Sobel Executive Producer 2004 Howl's Moving Castle Calcifer Voice 2005 Dinotopia: Quest for the Ruby Sunstone Karl Scott Voice 2006 Cars Mike Car Voice 2010 Tooth Fairy Jerry Uncredited Planet Sheen Soldier Joagth Voice Episode: What's Up Chock? 2011 Zookeeper A llama Voice 2012 Monsters, Inc. 2 Mike Wazowski Voice Saturday Night Live Characters Al Minkman, a shady businessman Fernando, host of Fernando's Hideaway, a celebrity interview show; based on actor Fernando Lamas Buddy Young, Jr. (an insult comic who appears on Weekend Update) Lew Goldman Ricky, a bowler Tony Minetti, a butcher Willie, a man who, along with his friend, Frankie (played by Christopher Guest), discuss their masochistic tendencies Impersonations Fernando Lamas Howard Cosell Muhammad Ali John F. Kennedy Joe Franklin Hervé Villechaize Joe Garagiola Adam Ant Prince Sammy Davis, Jr. Bibliography Billy, Crystal (2004). I Already Know I Love You. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN 0060593911.  A children's book. Billy, Crystal (2006). Grandpa's Little One. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN 9780060781736.  A children's book. Billy, Crystal (2005). 700 Sundays. New York: Warner Books. ISBN 0446578673. Crystal's memoirs with his father. References ^ On page 17 of his book, 700 Sundays, Crystal displays his birth announcement, which states that his full name is "William Edward", not "William Jacob" Crystal, Billy (October 2005). 700 Sundays. p. 17. ISBN 0446578673.  ^ "Billy Crystal Biography". filmreference.com. http://www.filmreference.com/film/61/Billy-Crystal.html. Retrieved 2008-01-16.  ^ Kane, Joe. "Jack Crystal: A Man To Remember". Allaboutjazz. http://www.allaboutjazz.com/articles/arti0102_03.htm. Retrieved 2008-01-16.  ^ Braver, Rita (2005-11-06). "Life Is Short, Laugh Hard". CBS News.  ^ "Billy Crystal Biography". Yahoo! Movies. http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1800015850/bio. Retrieved 2008-01-16.  ^ "Having Struggled From Warm-Up Act to Headliner: BILLY CRYSTAL". http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,976793,00.html.  ^ a b c d e f "Billy Crystal, 2nd Visit". Lipton, James (host). Inside the Actors Studio. Bravo. 2007-10-08. No. 1307, season 13. ^ The Associated Press (2005-09-30). "Leno's autographed bike raises $500,000". USAToday. http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2005-09-30-leno-bike_x.htm.  ^ "Billy Crystal to sign contract with Yankees". Yahoo. 2008-03-10. http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=ApQysfnqvYEYnzAzS7waMwc5nYcB?slug=ap-yankees-crystal&prov=ap&type=lgns.  ^ Crystal strikes out in only at-bat ^ "Yankees release Billy Crystal on 61st birthday - Baseball - NBCSports.com". Nbcsports.msnbc.com. March 14, 2008. http://www.nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/23566549/. Retrieved 2008-11-03.  ^ Crystal, Billy (2009-04-19). "Feeling Lonely Behind the Facade". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/19/sports/baseball/19crystal.html?_r=1&8dpc. Retrieved 2010-03-26.  ^ "Billy Crystal Strikes Out in New Career". The Insider. 2008-03-14. http://www.theinsider.com/news/727182_Billy_Crystal_Strikes_Out_in_New_Career. Retrieved 2009-12-06.  ^ Trescott, Jacqueline (2007-05-02). "Billy Crystal, Clearly Funny". The Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/01/AR2007050101252.html.  External links Billy Crystal at the Internet Movie Database Billy Crystal at TV.com Billy Crystal appears on Michael Eisner's talkshow on CNBC v · d · eHosts of the Academy Awards ceremonies Johnny Carson (1981) · Johnny Carson (1982) · Liza Minnelli / Dudley Moore / Richard Pryor / Walter Matthau (1983) · Johnny Carson (1984) · Jack Lemmon (1985) · Alan Alda / Jane Fonda / Robin Williams (1986) · Chevy Chase / Goldie Hawn / Paul Hogan (1987) · Chevy Chase (1988) · None (1989) · Billy Crystal (1990) · Billy Crystal (1991) · Billy Crystal (1992) · Billy Crystal (1993) · Whoopi Goldberg (1994) · David Letterman (1995) · Whoopi Goldberg (1996) · Billy Crystal (1997) · Billy Crystal (1998) · Whoopi Goldberg (1999) · Billy Crystal (2000) Complete List · (1929–1940) · (1941–1960) · (1961–1980) · (1981–2000) · (2001-present) v · d · eHosts of the Academy Awards ceremonies Steve Martin (2001) · Whoopi Goldberg (2002) · Steve Martin (2003) · Billy Crystal (2004) · Chris Rock (2005) · Jon Stewart (2006) · Ellen DeGeneres (2007) · Jon Stewart (2008) · Hugh Jackman (2009) · Alec Baldwin / Steve Martin (2010) · James Franco / Anne Hathaway (2011) Complete List · (1929–1940) · (1941–1960) · (1961–1980) · (1981–2000) · (2001–present) v · d · ePrimetime Emmy Award for Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program Harvey Korman / Brenda Vaccaro (1974) · Jack Albertson / Cloris Leachman (1975) · Chevy Chase / Vicki Lawrence (1976) · Tim Conway / Rita Moreno (1977) · Tim Conway / Gilda Radner (1978) · Cloris Leachman (1984) · George Hearn (1985) · Whitney Houston (1986) · Robin Williams (1987) · Robin Williams (1988) · Linda Ronstadt (1989) · Tracey Ullman (1990) · Billy Crystal (1991) · Billy Crystal (1992) · Dana Carvey (1993) · Tracey Ullman (1994) · Barbra Streisand (1995) · Tony Bennett (1996) · Bette Midler (1997) · Billy Crystal (1998) · John Leguizamo (1999) · Eddie Izzard (2000) Complete list: (1974–2000) · (2001–present) v · d · eMTV Movie Award for Best Comedic Performance Billy Crystal (1992) • Robin Williams (1993) • Robin Williams (1994) • Jim Carrey (1995) • Jim Carrey (1996) • Jim Carrey (1997) • Jim Carrey (1998) • Adam Sandler (1999) • Adam Sandler (2000) • Ben Stiller (2001) • Reese Witherspoon (2002) • Mike Myers (2003) • Jack Black (2004) • Dustin Hoffman (2005) • Steve Carell (2006) • Sacha Baron Cohen (2007) • Johnny Depp (2008) • Jim Carrey (2009) • Zach Galifianakis (2010) v · d · eMark Twain Prize winners Richard Pryor (1998) · Jonathan Winters (1999) · Carl Reiner (2000) · Whoopi Goldberg (2001) · Bob Newhart (2002) · Lily Tomlin (2003) · Lorne Michaels (2004) · Steve Martin (2005) · Neil Simon (2006) · Billy Crystal (2007) · George Carlin (2008) · Bill Cosby (2009) · Tina Fey (2010) Persondata Name Crystal, Billy Alternative names Crystal, William Edward Short description Date of birth 1948-3-14 Place of birth New York City, New York Date of death Place of death