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Billy Crystal Biography

Birth Name:
William Edward Crystal
Birth Place:
Long Beach, New York, United States
Profession
Actor, comedian, writer, director, producer, author

Fast Facts

  • Father was a jazz producer and owned a record shop; his uncle Milton Gabler began the first independent jazz label, Commodore Records
  • Singer Billie Holiday was one of his babysitters
  • Went to Marshall University on a baseball scholarship, but transferred after one year when the baseball program was eliminated after his freshman year
  • Studied film under Martin Scorsese at NYU
  • Was to appear as a guest on the first episode of Saturday Night Live in 1975, but backed out after he was told that his segment had to be shortened
  • Got his break on TV with his role on Soap, Jodie Dallas, the first regular prime-time gay character
  • Made his feature-film directorial debut with Mr
  • Saturday Night (1992)
  • Co-wrote and starred in the autobiographical one-man production 700 Sundays, for which his wife won a 2005 Tony (Special Theatrical Event) as a producer
  • The title refers to the amount of Sundays Crystal spent with his father, who died suddenly when he was 15
  • A life-long New York Yankees fan, was signed to a minor-league contract for one day by the club in 2008 so he could officially participate in a spring-training game
  • He had one at bat and struck out after facing six pitches
  • He was released the following day on his 60th birthday
  • Is part owner of the Arizona Diamondbacks baseball team

Awards

  • 2014Emmy-Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special: nominated
  • 2014Emmy-Outstanding Variety Special: nominated
  • 2014Emmy-Outstanding Variety Special: nominated
  • 2014Emmy-Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special: nominated
  • 2012Emmy-Outstanding Special Class Programs: nominated
  • 2012Emmy-Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special: nominated
  • 2004Emmy-Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program: nominated
  • 2001Emmy-Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special: nominated
  • 2001Emmy-Outstanding Made for Television Movie: nominated
  • 2000Emmy-Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program: nominated
  • 1998Emmy-Outstanding Performance in a Variety or Music Program: winner
  • 1997Emmy-Outstanding Performance in a Variety or Music Program: nominated
  • 1996Emmy-Outstanding Performance for a Variety or Music Program: nominated
  • 1993Emmy-Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program: nominated
  • 1993Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy: nominated
  • 1992Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy: nominated
  • 1992Emmy-Outstanding Individual Achievement in Writing in a Variety or Music Program: winner
  • 1992Emmy-Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program: nominated
  • 1991Emmy-Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program: winner
  • 1991Emmy-Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program: winner
  • 1991MTV Movie Awards-Best Comedic Performance: winner
  • 1990Emmy-Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program: winner
  • 1990Emmy-Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special: nominated
  • 1990Emmy-Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program: nominated
  • 1990Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy: nominated
  • 1989Emmy-Outstanding Performance in Special Events: winner
  • 1988Emmy-Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program: nominated
  • 1988Emmy-Outstanding Individual Achievement - Special Events: nominated
  • 1987Emmy-Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program: nominated
  • 1985Emmy-Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program: nominated

Relationships