Billy Crystal is an American wide-ranging actor and host of the Oscars

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

American TV presenter, producer, director and actor Billy Crystal was born March 14, 1948 in New York. In 1970, he graduated from the Faculty of Dramatic Arts, where he studied the history of television and cinema under the master Martin Scorsese. After university, he began acting on television in the comedy series "Soap".

The beginning of the creative path

He made his feature film debut in 1978 as Miles Gordon in Human Feelings. In 1984, Billy Crystal starred in Rob Reiner's This Is Spinal Tap, with a somewhat confusing plot. The film chaotically intertwines reality and falsification, turning into satire. The events that take place concern a fictional rock band that is gradually losing popularity. Billy played a character named Morty.

Then the actor took part in the filming of another film by Rob Reiner "The Princess Bride", filmed in 1987. His character was the wizard Max. On set, Billy Crystal first met Hollywood star Peter Falk. Communication with a venerable actor was very useful.

Fame

Popularity came later, when Billy Crystal starred in the comedy Throw Mama off the Train. His character Larry Donner, a writer and belles-lettres teacher, hatches plans to get rid of his mother, who takes care of him in every possible way.

Another character who added fame to the actor was Mitch Robbins, the protagonist of the film "City Slickers" directed by Ron Underwood. Then Billy Crystal starred in several successful film projects in various directions. Of particular note is the 1989 film When Harry Met Sally, directed by Rob Reiner. The romantic comedy, full of melodrama, was a revelation for the actor, he considers the character of Harry one of his best works. Actress Meg Ryan, who played Sally, also managed to create the image of the main character in the best traditions of the genre.

The image of a flamboyant comedian was strengthened by two films where Crystal starred with Robert de Niro: "Analyze This" (1999) and "Analyze That" (2002) directed by Harold Ramis. Billy Crystal played Dr. Ben Sobel, a psychoanalyst who is brought together by fate with a major member of the New York mafia.

Television

In the 1970s, the actor regularly appeared on various TV shows such as Saturday Night Live and All in the Family. However, Billy Crystal wanted to realize his full potential, and in 1976year he opened his own program. However, the comic sketches that formed the basis of the new show did not give the desired effect, and the shows had to be curtailed.

Oscars

In 1990, Krystal first became the host of the "rite" for the award of the highest award in American cinema. His abilities as a showman with a subtle sense of humor made a favorable impression on a large audience. At the Los Angeles Dolby Theater, as they say, "there was nowhere for the apple to fall." As a result of the successful performance, the actor was invited to host the Oscars eight more times, from 1991 to 2012. And when Billy got another project of his own, a one-man theater called "700 Saturdays", he already had to refuse the offers of the organizers.

Creative ambitions

Billy Crystal, whose films did not (in his opinion) make a special impression on the public, tried to find himself in more and more new projects. He began to participate in the creation of animated films, having good diction, voiced characters. This occupation brought a pleasant variety to the routine activities of the actor and, moreover, was well paid.

In the cartoon "Howl's Moving Castle" Billy voiced a character named Kalsifer. Then Mike Wazowski spoke in his voice in the animated film "Monsters, Inc."

In 1992 Krystal tried his hand at directingand screenwriter for the film "Mr. Saturday Night" and later a melodrama called "Forget Paris".

Filmography

During his career, the actor starred in more than thirty films of various genres. Selected films are listed below. Starring Billy Crystal, performer of both main and secondary characters.

• "Throw Mom off the Train" (1987), character Larry;
• "My memories" (1988), the role of Abby;
• "When Harry Met Sally" (1989), character Harry Barnes;
• "City Slickers" (1991), the role of Mitch Robbins;
• "Farewell to Paris" (1995), character Mike Gordon;
• "Father's Day" (1997), character Jack Lawrence;
• "My Giant" (1998), the role of Sam Kamin;
• "America's Sweethearts" (2001), character Lee Phillips;
• "Tooth Fairy" (2010), the role of Jerry;
• "Parent Mayhem" (2012), character Artie Decker.

The actor is currently working on his next role.

Private life

Krystal is married to actress Janice, the couple lives in California, in the suburbs of Los Angeles. The couple have two adult daughters who also work in the cinema: Lindsay, born in 1977, and Jennifer, who was born in 1973.