American television presenter, producer, director and actor Billy Crystal was born on March 14, 1948 in New York. In 1970, he graduated from the Faculty of Dramatic Arts, where he studied the history of television and film under the direction of 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 debut in big movies in 1978, playing Miles Gordon in the film "Human Feelings." In 1984, Billy Crystal starred in a movie by Rob Rainer entitled "This Is A Spinal Tap," with a somewhat confusing plot. In the film, reality and falsification, turning into satire, are chaotically intertwined. The events are related to a fictional rock band, which is gradually losing popularity. Billy played a character named Morty.
Then the actor took part in the filming of yet another Rob Reiner film "Princess Bride", filmed in 1987. His character was the wizard Max. On the set, Billy Crystal first met with Hollywood star Peter Falk. Communication with the venerable actor was very useful.
Fame
Popularity came later when Billy Crystal starred in the comedy "Get Mom Off the Train." His character Larry Donner, a writer and teacher of courses in elegant literature, has plans for how 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 main character in Ron Underwood, the film City Slickers. Then Billy Crystal starred in several successful film projects of different orientations. It is particularly important to note the 1989 film, entitled “When Harry Met Sally,” directed by Rob Rainer. A romantic comedy, full of melodrama, was a revelation for the actor, he considers Harry's character to be 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 colorful 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 fate brought together with a large representative of the New York Mafia.
A television
In the seventies of the last century, the actor regularly participated in various television shows, such as Live Saturday Night and Everything in the Family. However, Billy Crystal wanted to realize his full potential, and in 1976 he opened his own program. However, the comic sketches that formed the basis of the new show did not produce the desired effect, and the shows had to be curtailed.
Academy Award Ceremony
In 1990, Crystal first became the leader of the "priesthood" for the highest award of American cinema. His abilities as a showman with a subtle sense of humor made a favorable impression on a large audience. At the Dolby Los Angeles Theater, as they say, "the apple had nowhere to fall." As a result of a successful performance, the actor was invited to conduct the Academy Award ceremony eight more times, from 1991 to 2012. And when Billy got another project of his own, one actor’s theater called "700 Saturdays", he was already forced to refuse the offers of the organizers.
Creative ambition
Billy Crystal, films with whose participation did not produce (in his opinion) a special impression on the public, tried to find himself all in new and new projects. He began to participate in the creation of animated films, possessing good diction, voiced characters. This lesson introduced a pleasant variety into the routine of the actor and, moreover, paid well.
In the cartoon Walking Castle, Billy voiced a character named Kelsifer. Then, Mike Wazowski spoke in his voice in the animated film Monster Corporation.
In 1992, Kristal tried his hand as a director and screenwriter when creating the film "Mr. Saturday Night", and then a melodrama called "Forget Paris".
Filmography
During his career, the actor starred in more than thirty films of various genres. Listed below are selected movies. Cast 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), the character of Harry Barnes;
- "City dudes" (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 Pets" (2001), character Lee Phillips;
- "Tooth Fairy" (2010), the role of Jerry;
- "Parental Lawlessness" (2012), the character of Artie Decker.
Currently, the actor is working on another role.
Personal life
Krystal is married to actress Janice, the couple lives in California, in the suburbs of Los Angeles. The spouses have two adult daughters who also work in the cinema: Lindsay, born in 1977, and Jennifer, who was born in 1973.