Billy Crystal Biography
Summary
"William Jacob Crystal" (born March 14, 1948) is a Golden Globe Award-nominated and Emmy Award-winning American actor, writer, producer, comedian and film director. He gained prominence in the 1970s for playing Richard Mulligan's & Cathryn Damon's TV son, Jodie Dallas, on the ABC comedy-drama, "Soap", and became a Hollywood film star during the late 1980s and 1990s, appearing in the box office successes "When Harry Met Sally..." and "City Slickers".
Personal life
Crystal was born 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. His uncle was 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'. 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 though never played a game at Marshall because the program was suspended during his freshman year and he didn't return as a sophomore, staying back in New York with his future wife. After, he attended New York University and Nassau Community College. Crystal is an avid New York Yankees fan and has been so since the 1950s. That admiration contributed to the film 61* which Crystal directed.
Crystal has been married to Janice Goldfinger, whom he met when he was 18 and she 17, since 1970. They have two daughters, actresses Jennifer and Lindsay, and are now grandparents.
Career
Television
Crystal returned to New York and studied film and television direction under Martin Scorsese at New York University. Crystal's earliest prominent role was as 'Jodie Dallas' on "Soap", one of the first gay characters portrayed on American television. In 1976, Crystal appeared on an episode of "All in the Family". He was scheduled to appear on the first episode of "Saturday Night Live" (October 11, 1975), but his sketch was cut. He did do a stand-up bit later on that first season as 'Bill Crystal', on the April 17, 1976 episode. After hosting a show years later, in 1984, he joined the cast. 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.
Crystal's first film role was in Joan Rivers' 1978 film "Rabbit Test". Crystal also made game show appearances such as "The Hollywood Squares" 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 hosted the Academy Awards broadcast in 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1997, 1998, 2000 and 2004, and reportedly turned down the opportunity to host the 2006 ceremony to concentrate on his one-man show, "700 Sundays". He is second only to legendary Oscar host Bob Hope in most ceremonies hosted.
Film
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 Dana Carvey, who didn't speak. Crystal's memorable line in the film was 'Mime is money.' Eventually, Reiner directed Crystal again in "The Princess Bride" and then in the romantic comedy "When Harry Met Sally...", for which Crystal was nominated for a Golden Globe.
Crystal wrote, directed and starred in "Mr. Saturday Night" (1992) and "Forget Paris" (1995), the former of which 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 the popular "Analyze This" (1999) and "Analyze That" (2002) with Robert De Niro. Crystal lent his voice to the character Mike Wazowski in Pixar's animated feature film "Monsters, Inc.", 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". He turned down that offer, regretting it after that film became one of the most popular releases of that year.
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. He toured the US 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, which 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; "Billy Remembers Billie" featured Crystal's favorite Holiday recordings.
Philanthropic
In 1986, Crystal started hosting "Comic Relief" on HBO with Robin Williams, and Whoopi Goldberg. Founded by Bob Zmuda, Comic Relief raises money for homeless men, women and children in the United States.
On September 6, 2005 on "The Tonight Show", Crystal and Jay Leno were the first celebrities to sign a Harley-Davidson motorcycle to be auctioned off for Gulf Coast relief.
Awards
In addition to his Golden Globe Award-nominations, Emmy Awards, and Tony Award, Crystal is the 2007 recipient of the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.
Filmography
"Soap" - (1977-1981) as 'Jodie Dallas'
"Rabbit Test" - (1978) as 'Lionel Carpenter'
"Animalympics" - (1980) (voiceover) as 'Lodge Turkell'
"This Is Spinal Tap" - (1984) as 'Morty the Mime'
"Running Scared" - (1986) as 'Danny Costanzo'
"The Princess Bride" - (1987) as 'Miracle Max'
"Throw Momma from the Train" - (1987) as 'Larry Donner'
"Memories of Me" - (1988) as Abbie
"When Harry Met Sally..." - (1989) as 'Harry Burns'
"City Slickers" (1991) as 'Mitch Robbins'
"Horton Hatches the Egg" (1992) narrator (voice)
"Mr. Saturday Night" (1992) as 'Buddy Young, Jr.'
"City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold" (1994) as 'Mitch Robbins'
"Forget Paris" (1995) as 'Mickey Gordon' (also directed by Billy Crystal)
"Hamlet" (1996) as 'First Gravedigger'
"Deconstructing Harry" (1997) as 'Larry/The Devil'
"Fathers' Day" (1997) as 'Jack Lawrence'
"My Giant" (1998) as 'Sam 'Sammy' Kamin'
"Analyze This" (1999) as 'Ben Sobel, M.D.'
"America's Sweethearts" (2001) as 'Lee Phillips'
"Monsters, Inc." (2001) as 'Michael (Mike) Wazowski' (voice)
"Analyze That" (2002) as 'Ben Sobel, M.D.'
"Howl's Moving Castle (film)" (2005) as 'Calcifer' (voice)
"Cars " (2006) as 'Mike Car' (cameo voice)
Recurring characters on SNL
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
Celebrity impersonations on SNL
Fernando Lamas
Howard Cosell
Muhammad Ali
Joe Franklin
Hervé Villechaize
Joe Garagiola
Prince
Sammy Davis, Jr. (in what's considered to be SNL's most flawless celebrity impersonation)
Bibliography
"I Already Know I Love You" (2004) A children's book.
"grandpa's little one" (2006) A children's book.
"700 Sundays" Crystal's memoirs with his father.
External links
(Billy Crystal appears on Michael Eisner's talkshow on CNBC)
Credit
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article about Billy Crystal.
