Bio
Billy Crystal is an American actor, writer, producer, comedian and film director.
Crystal's earliest prominent role was as Jodie Dallas on Soap, one of the first gay characters portrayed on American television.
He was scheduled to appear on the first episode of Saturday Night Live (October 11, 1975), but his sketch was cut. He did do a stand-up bit later on that first season as Bill Crystal, on the April 17, 1976 episode.
After hosting a show years later, in 1984, he joined the cast. His most famous recurring sketch was his parody of Fernando Lamas.
He appeared briefly in Rob Reiner's 1984 "rockumentary" This Is Spinal Tap as Morty The Mime, a waiter dressed as a mime at one of Spinal Tap's parties. He shared the scene with a then-unknown Dana Carvey, who didn't speak.
Crystal's memorable line in the film was "Mime is money."
Eventually, Reiner directed Crystal again in The Princess Bride and then in the romantic comedy When Harry Met Sally... (1989), for which Crystal was nominated for a Golden Globe.
Other notable films include Throw Momma from the Train (1987); City Slickers (1991); Mr. Saturday Night (1992), which Crystal also directed; Deconstructing Harry (1997); Analyze This (1999); America's Sweethearts (2001); Analyze That (2002); and Cars (2006).
He has made guest appearances on numerous television shows, including All In The Family; The Love Boat; Simon & Simon; Frasier; and Friends.
Crystal has lent his voice to Pixar's animated feature film Monsters, Inc. as the voice of Mike Wazowski, and in the English version of Howl's Moving Castle as the voice of Calcifer.
Pixar originally approached him to provide the voice of Buzz Lightyear, but he turned down their offer, something he regretted later.