Not Quite 74 Reasons to Love Billy Crystal

No one can deny that Billy Crystal is a big-time comedy legend. After a career lasting for nearly half a century, he continues to make audiences laugh, or as he would say “fool” them. (His book “Still Foolin ‘Em: Where I’ve Been, Where I’m Going, and Where the Hell Are My Keys?” published in 2013.) In honor of the fact that his 74th birthday was last Monday, March 14th, 2022, and to commemorate April 20th, 2022 Broadway opening of his new musical Mr. Saturday Night (based on the 1992 film), I thought today we could explore reasons why Billy Crystal is one of the world’s most beloved comedians.

• His movies (The Princess Bride (1987), When Harry Met Sally (1989), and City Slickers (1991)) are classics and have huge followings.
• Whenever he tells a joke, you can always sense his passion and emotion within the joke; it always gets a laugh. 
• He’s an exceptional impressionist, known for his impressions of Muhammad Ali and Fernando Lamas. 
• He lent his voice to Mike Wazowski in Monsters, Inc. (2001) and Monsters University (2013), making Mike Wazowski one of Pixar’s most endearing characters.
• He helped raised money for homeless people in the United States when he co-hosted the HBO Program Comic Relief in 1986, with good friends Whoopi Goldberg and the late-great Robin Williams.
• His original aspiration before becoming a stand-up comedian was to be New York Yankee, but he never achieved that dream until his 60th birthday, March 14th, 2008, when he signed a one-day contract with them. Clearly, that’s a reminder that it’s never too late to pursue your lifelong dream.
• Most of the characters he’s played on screen have clever sarcastic sides. (I.e. “Mike Wazowski,” “Harry Burns,” and “Mitch Robbins.”)
• He’s a jack or a “Billy” of all trades, having co-written, co-produced and directed four movies: Mr. Saturday Night (1992), Forget Paris (1995), 61 (2001), and Here Today (2021).
• He’s appeared in every medium of entertainment, Broadway (700 Sundays in 2004 and Mr. Saturday Night in 2022), Television (Soap (1977-1981)), Film (“Princess Bride” “City Slickers”and also Analyze This (1999)), and he’s also written books, including his memoir Still Foolin’ Em in 2013. He’s also written Children’s books, I Already Know I Love You in 2004 and Grandpa’s Little One in 2006. 
• He’s hosted the Oscars nine times: 1990, 1991, ’92, ’93, ’97, ’98, ’00, ’04, ’12. That’s 2nd place under Bob Hope who’s did it 19 times.
• Throughout his career he’s collaborated with some great people: In “Princess Bride,” and “When Harry Met Sally,” he was directed by Rob Reiner, and he co-starred with Bruno Kirby in “When Harry Met Sally,” and “City Slickers.” He also co-starred with David Paymer in “City Slickers,” and “Mr. Saturday Night.” Crystal’s direction of “Saturday Night,” earned Paymer a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination for his performance as Crystal’s on-screen brother, Stan, and both Crystal and Paymer will be reuniting in the upcoming Broadway musical production of “Saturday Night.”
• Billy is someone who takes all of our collective emotion and helps us laugh even when it hurts.

All in all, Billy Crystal is a great comedian, period. He’s had a remarkable career in Hollywood and he’s clearly showing no signs of slowing down. It’s difficult to determine whether his most iconic role is Harry Burns in “When Harry Met Sally,” Miracle Max in “Princess Bride,” or Mike Wazowski in “Monsters, Inc.” Or perhaps his best contribution is as the second most frequent host of the Oscars. Even if it’s all of the above, there’s no question his sense of humor has been a wonderful gift to the entire world.