William Jacob Crystal is a Golden Globe Award-nominated and Emmy Award-winning American actor, writer, producer, comedian, and film director. He gained prominence in the 1970s for playing Richard Mulligan's & Cathryn Damon's TV son, Jodie Dallas, on the ABC comedy-drama, Soap, and became a Hollywood film star during the late 1980s and 1990s, appearing in the box office successes When Harry Met Sally... and City Slickers.
Younger daughter, Lindsay Crystal , is a filmmaker.
His famous uncle, record producer Milton Gabler , founded Commodore Records and later Decca Records (which turned down The Beatles ), where he produced the Bill Haley hit "(Were Gonna) Rock Around the Clock".
He appeared in the music video and sang in the choir on the song "Voices That Care".
Became a grandfather for the 1st time at age 55 when his daughter Jennifer Crystal Foley gave birth to a daughter, Ella Ryan Foley, on June 20, 2003.
Attended Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia for his freshman year on a baseball scholarship but on his arrival was told freshman baseball was cancelled due to budget cuts. He did not return for the sophomore year choosing to attend community college before transferring to NYU.
He was Jay Leno s very first guest on May 25, 1992 when Jay took over the late night throne vacated by Johnny Carson on May 22, 1992.
Is a partial owner of the Arizona Diamondbacks, and is a long time and huge fan of the New York Yankees. He is also a huge fan of the Los Angeles Clippers.
Was cast as Rob Reiner s best friend in the "All in the Family" episode, "All in the Family" {New Years Wedding (#6.16)} , and became his best friend in real life.
Was introduced to wife by close friend, Steve Kohut.
When he was a child, one of his babysitters was Billie Holiday.
His father, Jack Crystal , was a concert promoter who also ran a famous record store on New York Citys 42nd Street.
Billy claims that his wife, Janice Crystal , was his first and only date.
Biography in: "Whos Who in Comedy" by Ronald L. Smith, pg. 124-126. New York: Facts on File, 1992. ISBN 0816023387
Attended and graduated from Long Beach High School in Long Beach, New York. Class of 1965 who voted him "Most Popular".
In his role imitating real-life character Fernando Lamas , he hit #58 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in 1984 with the catchy and comedic "You Look Mahvelous" which featured Paul Shaffer on keyboards.
Wrote the childrens book, "I Already Know I Love You", dedicated to Ella Ryan Foley, his granddaughter, with illustrations by Elizabeth Saylos.
Auditioned for the role of Jack Tripper on "Threes Company" - the character of a straight man impersonating a gay man. Ironically, he went on to play the role of Jody Dallas on "Soap" - the first openly gay character on prime-time network television.
Won a Special Theatrical Event Tony Award in 2005 for his one-man show, "700 Sundays", described as an "autobiographical journey". In November 2013, Crystal is set to bring the show back to Broadway.
Is a huge fan of the Zach Braff sitcom "Scrubs" , and donated a clip of When Harry Met Sally... for an episode.
Considered for the role of Wilbur Turnblad in Hairspray , which went to Christopher Walken.
Used to be the opening act for Sammy Davis Jr..
Good friends with Serbian NBA superstar Vlade Divac.
Recipient of the Kennedy Centers 2007 Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.
On March 12, 2008 as a 60th birthday gift, he signed a one day minor league contract with New York Yankees. On March 13, 2008, he played his only game with the Yanks vs. the Pittsburgh Pirates at DH wearing #60. In his first and only at bat, he made contact with a foul ball but struck out. He received a standing ovation. Just one day later, the Yanks officially released him.
Is one of the few non-African Americans on "Saturday Night Live" to perform in a "blackface" routine, but in full make-up prosthetics and as a realistic, non-stereotypical character.
Studied drama at HB Studio in Greenwich Village, New York City.
His acting mentor was Katherine Helmond.
Has appeared with Robin Williams in four films: In Search of Dr. Seuss , Hamlet , Fathers Day , Deconstructing Harry and a cameo in "Friends" .
Has appeared with David Paymer in four films: City Slickers , Mr. Saturday Night , City Slickers II: The Legend of Curlys Gold and In Search of Dr. Seuss .
He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6925 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on June 4, 1991.
His paternal grandparents were Russian Jewish immigrants. His maternal grandfather was an Austrian Jewish immigrant, and his maternal grandmother was born in New York, to a Russian Jewish father and a Lithuanian Jewish mother (from Ariogala, Kaunas).
He has two daughters with his wife, Janice: Jennifer Crystal Foley and Lindsay Crystal.
He has two older brothers: Joel and Richard Crystal.
Taught math, wood shop, and girls gym at Long Beach High School and in Long Beach, New York.
Holds a BFA in television direction from New York University.
Close friends with Whoopi Goldberg , and Robin Williams.
He appeared in three films with Robin Williams : Hamlet , Fathers Day and Deconstructing Harry .
Was originally offered the role of Buzz Lightyear in Toy Story but he turned it down. After he watched the movie he said that turning down the role was the biggest mistake of his career.
Women need a reason to have sex. Men just need a place.
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.
Not being very tall, I was at eye level to a pretty horrible sight.
That’s the thing about jazz: it’s free flowing, it comes from your soul.
Two thousand years ago Jesus is crucified, three days later he walks out of a cave and they celebrate with chocolate bunnies and marshmallow Peeps and beautifully decorated eggs. I guess these were things Jesus loved as a child.
Women need a reason to have sex. Men just need a place.
What passes for sports coverage is terribly sycophantic.
My older brother Joel became an art teacher my brother Rip ultimately became a television producer and singer and actor himself.
To this day, with all of these muscle-bound guys, nobody hit the ball further than Mickey Mantle, with his natural strength.
Mom was so funny and loving to us kids. She was our first audience. When my dad died, I was suddenly alone in the house with her because my two older brothers were away at college. I was the man of the house, and she was the grieving woman.
I was raised mostly by my mom.
Ali forced us to take a look at ourselves. This brash young man who thrilled us, angered us, confused and challenged us, ultimately became a silent messenger of peace who taught us that life is best when you build bridges between people, not walls.
To me, little Mike Wazowski is one of the best characters I ever got to play because he was funny. He was outrageous. He got angry. He was romantic. He was a full, well-rounded character.
Change is such hard work. .
