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Billy Crystal Biography

Birth Name:William Edward Crystal

Birth Place:Long Beach, Long Island, New York, United States

Profession Actor, Producer, Writer, Soundtrack, Director

Fast Facts

Awarded the 2007 Mark Twain Prize for American Humor
To help raise money for the homeless, he hosted "Comic Relief" on HBO in 1986 and continued to do for two decades
Earned a scholarship to play baseball at Marshall University in 1965, but never played after the program was suspended in his freshman year of school
Studied at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts under Martin Scorsese
Quote: "[on playing a gay character in 1977] "I did it in front of a live audience and there were times when I would say to Bob [Seagren], 'I love you,' and the audience would laugh nervously․ I wanted to stop the taping and go, 'What is your problem?'""
Quote: "In high school, I was the class comedian as opposed to the class clown․ The difference is, the class clown is the guy who drops his pants at the football game, the class comedian is the guy who talked him into it․"
Although a lifelong New York Yankee fan, he was a part owner of the Arizona Diamondbacks when they beat the Yankees in the 2001 World Series
His role as Jodie Dallas on "Soap" was one of the first openly gay character on network TV
Was the first guest on "The Tonight Show" when Jay Leno took over for Johnny Carson in 1992, and was Leno's last guest before he exited the show in 2014
With a time of 26 seconds, he holds the "The $20,000 Pyramid" record for getting his contestant partner to the top of the pyramid in the winner's circle in the fastest time

Awards

1985Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program: nominated
1987ACE-Performance in a Comedy Special: nominated
1987ACE-Comedy Special: nominated
1987ACE-Directing a Comedy Special: nominated
1987ACE-Writing a Comedy Special: winner
1988American Comedy Award-Funniest Supporting Male Performer - Motion Picture or TV: nominated
1990American Comedy Award-Funniest Actor in a Motion Picture (Leading Role): winner
1990Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical: nominated
1992American Comedy Award-Funniest Actor in a Motion Picture (Leading Role): winner
1992Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical: nominated
1992MTV Movie Award-Best Comedic Performance: winner
1993American Comedy Award-Funniest Actor in a Motion Picture (Leading Role): nominated
1993CableACE-Comedy Series: nominated
1993Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical: nominated
1994Stinker Award-Worst Sequel: nominated
1995Razzie Award-Worst Remake or Sequel: nominated
2000Blockbuster Entertainment Award-Favorite Comedy Team: winner
2001OFTA Television Award-Best Direction of a Motion Picture or Miniseries: nominated
2001Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special: nominated
2001Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Made for Television Movie: nominated
2002DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television: nominated
2002Blimp Award-Favorite Voice from an Animated Movie: nominated
2002World Soundtrack Award-Best Original Song Written for a Film: winner
2014Annie-Outstanding Achievement in Voice Acting in an Animated Feature Production: nominated
2014BTVA Feature Film Voice Acting Award-Best Male Lead Vocal Performance in a Feature Film: nominated
2014BTVA Feature Film Voice Acting Award-Best Vocal Ensemble in a Feature Film: nominated
2014Blimp Award-Favorite Voice from an Animated Movie: nominated
2014Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special: nominated
2014Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Variety Special: nominated
2019UK Film Festival Award-Best Actor: winner