William Edward Crystal is an American actor, comedian, and filmmaker. He gained prominence in the 1970s and 1980s for television roles as Jodie Dallas on the ABC sitcom Soap and as a cast member and frequent host of Saturday Night Live.
Billy Crystal was born William Edward Crystal on March 14, 1948 in Long Beach, New York. He is the youngest of three sons born to Jack and Helen Crystal. His father was a well-known jazz promoter and his mother worked as a housewife. Billy attended Long Beach High School and Nassau Community College before being accepted into the prestigious film school at New York University.
Crystal began his career as an actor in 1975 when he was cast in the Broadway production of The Miser. He made his television debut in 1977 on Saturday Night Live, but it wasn’t until 1984 that he would gain national recognition for his role as Jodie Dallas on the hit show Soap. He went on to star in several other TV shows, including The Princess Bride and Monsters Inc., before making his big screen debut with Throw Momma from the Train (1987). This led to a string of successful films such as When Harry Met Sally (1989), City Slickers (1991), Analyze This (1999), Parental Guidance (2012) and Monsters University (2013).
In addition to acting, Crystal also enjoyed success as a stand up comedian, writer, director and producer. He has won numerous awards throughout his career including two Emmy Awards for Outstanding Writing for Variety Series and an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor in City Slickers. He also served as host of the Academy Awards nine times between 1990 and 2012.
<div id="" class="timeline-item"><p id="" class="timeline-year">1948</p><h3 id="" class="timeline-title">Billy Crystal is Born</h3><p id="" class="timeline-text">On March 14, 1948, Billy Crystal was born in Long Beach, New York.</p></div>
<div id="" class="timeline-item"><p id="" class="timeline-year">1970s</p><h3 id="" class="timeline-title">Early Standup Comedy and Television Appearances</h3><p id="" class="timeline-text">Crystal began his career performing standup comedy, as well as making numerous guest appearances on television shows.</p></div>
<div id="" class="timeline-item"><p id="" class="timeline-year">1984</p><h3 id="" class="timeline-title">1st Emmy Win</h3><p id="" class="timeline-text">Won his first Emmy for his performance on Saturday Night Live.</p></div>
<div id="" class="timeline-item"><p id="" class="timeline-year">1986</p><h3 id="" class="timeline-title">Runs for President</h3><p id="" class="timeline-text">Ran for president in the short-lived mock US presidential election, "The Race for the White House".</p></div>
<div id="" class="timeline-item"><p id="" class="timeline-year">1989</p><h3 id="" class="timeline-title">Starring Role in When Harry Met Sally...</h3><p id="" class="timeline-text">Crystal stars in the romantic comedy When Harry Met Sally... alongside Meg Ryan.</p></div>
<div id="" class="timeline-item"><p id="" class="timeline-year">2001</p><h3 id="" class="timeline-title">Hosts the Academy Awards 9 Times</h3><p id="" class="timeline-text">Hosted the Academy Awards nine times, more than any other host.</p></div>
<div id="" class="timeline-item"><p id="" class="timeline-year">2019</p><h3 id="" class="timeline-title">Receives Honorary Oscar Award</h3><p id="" class="timeline-text">Receives an honorary Academy Award for his contributions to film.</p></div>
<div id="" class="whywelove-item"><h3 id="" class="whywelove-title"><span class="whywelove-leter">A.</span> He's a Great Comedian</h3><p id="" class="whywelove-text">Billy Crystal is a great comedian who has made us laugh for decades. His comedy is timeless, and he can make even the most serious of topics relatable and funny. He also has an incredible range of characters that he can play - from the all-American dad to the lovable grandpa.</p></div>
<div id="" class="whywelove-item"><h3 id="" class="whywelove-title"><span class="whywelove-leter">B.</span> He's a Versatile Actor</h3><p id="" class="whywelove-text">In addition to being a great comedian, Billy Crystal is also an incredibly versatile actor. He has starred in many different kinds of films, from romantic comedies to dramas. He can make any role his own and bring something unique and interesting to it.</p></div>
<div id="" class="whywelove-item"><h3 id="" class="whywelove-title"><span class="whywelove-leter">C.</span> He's an Excellent Host</h3><p id="" class="whywelove-text">Billy Crystal has hosted multiple award shows including the Academy Awards, which he did nine times. His hosting skills are top notch, making him one of the most popular hosts of all time. He always brings his own special brand of humor to the show, which makes viewing it that much more enjoyable.</p></div>
<div id="" class="facts-item"><h3 id="" class="facts-title"><span class="facts-number">1.</span> First Actor to Host the Academy Awards 9 Times</h3><p id="" class="facts-text">Billy Crystal is the first actor to host the Academy Awards nine times, a record he set in 2012. He's also hosted the show more times than any other host.</p></div>
<div id="" class="facts-item"><h3 id="" class="facts-title"><span class="facts-number">2.</span> Nominated for an Oscar</h3><p id="" class="facts-text">Billy Crystal was nominated for an Academy Award in 1984 for his performance in the movie "When Harry Met Sally."</p></div>
<div id="" class="facts-item"><h3 id="" class="facts-title"><span class="facts-number">3.</span> Voice of Mike Wazowski in Monsters, Inc.</h3><p id="" class="facts-text">Billy Crystal provided the voice for Mike Wazowski in the hit Pixar movie Monsters, Inc.</p></div>
<div id="" class="facts-item"><h3 id="" class="facts-title"><span class="facts-number">4.</span> Has Written 11 Books</h3><p id="" class="facts-text">Billy Crystal has written eleven books, including two memoirs and five children's books.</p></div>
<div id="" class="facts-item"><h3 id="" class="facts-title"><span class="facts-number">5.</span> Played Himself on TV Show Friends</h3><p id="" class="facts-text">Billy Crystal played himself on an episode of the TV show Friends titled "The One With The Cast of 'Night Court.'"</p></div>