Billy Crystal is a multi-talented actor, writer, producer, comedian, director, and television host from the United States. Billy Crystal gained widespread recognition for his role as Jodie Dallas on the sitcom “Soap” (1977-1981), where he played one of the first openly gay characters on American television.
Early Life
Billy Crystal was born on the 14th of March 1948, in New York City, New York, United States. His full name is William Edward Crystaland he holds American nationality. He comes under the birth sign of Pisces and is currently 75 years old. He has his belief in Judaism and belongs to Ashkenazi Jewish ethnicity.
The names of his parents are Helen Crystal and Jack Crystal. By profession, his father owned and operated a music store. Also, his father was a jazz promoter and producer, who served as an executive at the Commodore Records. On the other sides, his mother was a homemaker.
He was the youngest child of his parents three kids. His two older brothers, Joel and Richard raised in the Bronx. The family relocated to Long Island where the Crystal brothers grew up in a musical environment.
Billy Crystal – Education
He completed his graduation from Long Beach High School in the year 1965. Later, he enrolled at the Marshal University on a baseball scholarship. However, the university cancelled its baseball program that same year, forcing him to enrol in the Nassau Community College on Long Island to study theatre.
After studying in Nassau for a while, he transferred to New York University to study film and television direction. He graduated in 1970 with a BFA from the university’s School of Fine Arts, later renamed the Tisch School of Arts.
Professional Career
Billy Crystal and two of his Nassau classmates created a comedy trio in 1969, while still a student at New York University. After four years with the group, he began performing solo at prominent comedy clubs such as The Improv and Catch a Rising Star. Concurrently, he began working as a substitute teacher.
In August 1976, he went to Los Angeles to find better opportunities in acting. He made his acting debut that same year. Moreover, he appeared in one episode of the CBS sitcom, “All in the Family.” He subsequently appeared as himself on shows like “The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast” and “Saturday Night Live.”
Caption: The poster of the sitcom, Soap (Source: Facebook)
Later, he was cast in the TV movie “SST: Death Flight” released on the 25th of February 1977. He gains fame after being cast as Jodie Dallas in the sitcom “Soap,” appearing in its 73 episodes until 1981.
Film Debut
Moreover, he made his film debut in the 1978 comedy film “Rabbit Test” playing the lead role of Lionel Carpenter. After that, he appeared in various television productions, hosting five episodes of “The Billy Crystal Comedy Hour” (1982) and two episodes of “Saturday Night Live” (1984).In the year 1984, he played a brief but memorable role of Morty the Mime in the cult classic mockumentary “This Is Spinal Tap.”
In 1986, he appeared in the action comedy movie “Running Sacred” and hosted the television show “Billy Crystal: Don’t Get Me Started – The Billy Crystal Special.” Around the same time, he established ‘Comic Relief’, a yearly fund-raising campaign for the homeless, alongside Robin Williams and Whoopi Goldberg.
Worked as host of Academy Awards
In 1987, he played magician Miracle Max in the adventure-action film “The Princess Bride” and Larry Donner in the black comedy “Throw Momma From the Train.” This was also the year he made his debut as an award show host, presenting the 29th annual Grammy Awards.
He became a popular award show host, presenting the ‘Annual Grammy Awards’ in 1988 and 1989. Moreover, he went on to host the Academy Awards in 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2004, and 2012. Meanwhile, in 1988, he received his first screenwriting credit for co-writing ‘Memories of Me.’
In the 1990s, he began to focus more on films than television, appearing in ten films that decade. He gained critical praise for roles in films such as “City Slickers” (1991), “Mr. Saturday Night” (1992), “City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly’s Gold” (1994), “Deconstructing Harry” (1997), “Analyze This” (1999), and “America’s Sweethearts” (2001).
Voice Roles and Recent Career
He provides the voice of Mike Wazowski in the Pixar animated Monsters, Inc. franchise. In 2004, he debuted on Broadway with his one-man show, 700 Sundays, which earned him the Tony Award for Best Special Theatrical Event.
Later, in 2014, he returned to the event, which was shot by HBO, and got a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Variety Special. In 2022, he created and acted in the Broadway musical Mr. Saturday Night based on his film. He has published five books, including his memoir, Still Foolin’ Em (2013).
Billy Crystal – Awards
Crystal hosted the Oscars frequently between 1990 and 2012, receiving two Emmys for the 63rd Academy Awards (planning and writing) and another for writing the 64th Academy Awards. In June 1991, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Moreover, he received a Tony Award for Best Special Theatrical Event for 700 Sundays in 2005. In 2007, the Kennedy Center awarded him the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.
Net Worth 2024
According to Celebrity Net Worth, his net worth is estimated at around $60 million. He has earned an immense sum of money through his dedication, successful roles, and writing ability, as a producer, comedian, and film director.
Relationship Status
On the 4th of June 1970, Billy Crystal married Janice Goldfinger. The pair first met when they were at Nassau Community College. With the marriage, the couple is blessed with two daughters Jennifer Crystal and Lindsay Crystal. Currently, the family is living in the Los Angeles neighbourhood of Pacific Palisades, California.
Body Measurements
Caption: Billy Crystal hosting the Oscar show (Source: The Today Show)
The handsome actor stands 5 feet 6 inches tall (1.7 m) and weighs around 70 kg (154 lbs). In addition, he has a pair of dark brown eyes with dark brown hair, and his body measurement is 44-35-14 inches.
Billy Crystal – Social Media
On his Instagram page ‘@thebillycrystal’ there are over 4.9k followers. Likewise, there are over 732.5k followers on his Twitter page ‘@BillyCrystal’ and 791 followers on his Facebook page.
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