---
name: "Billy Crystal"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/billy-crystal"
fi1m_id: "billy-crystal"
imdb_id: "nm0000345"
tmdb_id: 7904
wikidata_id: "Q186485"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "14 March 1948"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 10
average_fi1m_score: 78
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 10
updated: "2026-10-07T04:04:56.600496+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Billy Crystal

## Identity

Billy Crystal

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/billy-crystal
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** billy-crystal
- **IMDb ID:** nm0000345
- **TMDB ID:** 7904
- **Wikidata ID:** Q186485
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Crystal, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q186485, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000345/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/7904

Actor. Born 14 March 1948 in Long Beach, Long Island, New York, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 14 March 1948, Long Beach, Long Island, New York, USA
- **Active:** 1984–2013
- **Also known as:** Bill Crystal, Γουίλιαμ Έντουαρντ Κρίσταλ, بیلی کریستال
- **Frequently works with:** [Bruno Kirby](https://film.one/person/bruno-kirby.md), [Dan Gerson](https://film.one/person/daniel-gerson.md), [John Goodman](https://film.one/person/john-goodman.md), [Steve Buscemi](https://film.one/person/steve-buscemi.md)
- **Primetime Emmy Awards:** 5 Emmys (5 won · 13 nominated)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 78, as actor, over 10 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 82 (4), 1990s 76 (3), 2000s 86 (1), 2010s 66 (2)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 78 to 73 across 10 titles
- **Score spread:** 5 at 80+, 5 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 5 of 8 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Comedy 8, Drama 4, Family 3, Fantasy 3, Animation 2, Music 2
- **Screen time:** 19 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $1,706m across 10 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Crystal, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q186485, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000345/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/7904

## Streaming the US now

- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*City Slickers*](https://film.one/film/city-slickers.md) (76), [*Deconstructing Harry*](https://film.one/film/deconstructing-harry.md) (72), [*I'm Still Here*](https://film.one/film/im-still-here-2010.md) (60)
- **Disney+:** [*Monsters, Inc.*](https://film.one/film/monsters-inc.md) (86), [*Monsters University*](https://film.one/film/monsters-university.md) (72)
- **Apple TV:** [*Throw Momma from the Train*](https://film.one/film/throw-momma-from-the-train.md) (68)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Billy Crystal

> Billy Crystal talks the way other actors move: fast, nervous, unable to stop. *When Harry Met Sally...* and *City Slickers* let us hear the worry under the patter. When a script gives him nothing to worry about, the patter is all there is.

Harry Burns has barely met Sally when he starts explaining why men and women cannot be friends. He is not flirting and he is not arguing; he is certain, and Billy Crystal plays him as a man who has never been given a reason to doubt it. That is the Crystal habit in one scene. The joke is in his mouth before the thought behind it is finished, and the words come at a speed that suggests silence would be worse. Mike in *Monsters, Inc.* (2001) does it with one eye and still talks enough for two.

He came up through stand-up in the late 1960s, then television: Jodie Dallas in *Soap* from 1977 to 1981, a year on *Saturday Night Live* from 1984. The films arrived in the late 1980s, in support first, in *The Princess Bride* (1987), then in front, with *When Harry Met Sally...* (1989) and *City Slickers* (1991). Rob Reiner has directed him three times and gets the best of him. In 1992 he wrote and directed *Mr. Saturday Night* and played Buddy Young Jr., a stand-up going out of fashion; in 2004 he took a one-man show, *700 Sundays*, to Broadway.

He needs someone in the frame who does not talk back at his speed. Meg Ryan listens and disagrees, and makes both feel as active as speaking, so Harry's theories land on something and stop. John Goodman's Sullivan is slower and softer, and Crystal's bustle gives him space to be so. In *City Slickers*, Daniel Stern and Bruno Kirby have the competitive edge of friends who know how to get a laugh at one another's expense, and the film stops being a monologue. We laughed at Mitch Robbins's lecture on ageing, then felt low, because Crystal delivers it with such ease that getting older sounds like something Mitch has already decided he cannot enjoy. That is what he does that most comic actors do not: the worry is audible under the joke, when the script leaves a gap for it.

When it does not, the manner shows. A laugh line can be heard coming a beat before it lands, and the readiness that is funny in a man talking to cover his nerves is tiring in a man with nothing to cover. *City Slickers* keeps pressing its lesson about living better after Crystal has already made the point, and the script makes him say it anyway. His later dramatic work, the series *Before* (2024) most recently, has been received as a departure from the comic persona. We have not reviewed it. The evidence we have is the comedies.

He has said it himself: “Comedy was always serious for me. I can’t do much else.” The three films we have reviewed bear out the first sentence. Start with Harry, sure of himself within minutes of meeting her, and make up your own mind about the second.

## Biography

Billy Crystal is an American actor, comedian, writer and director. He was born William Edward Crystal on 14 March 1948 in New York and grew up in Long Beach on Long Island. He studied theatre at Nassau Community College and film and television at New York University, graduating in 1970.

Crystal first gained prominence playing Jodie Dallas on the sitcom *Soap* (1977–1981). He became a film star in the late 1980s and 1990s with roles including Harry Burns in *When Harry Met Sally...* (1989) and Mitch Robbins in *City Slickers* (1991). He provided the voice of Mike Wazowski in the *Monsters, Inc.* films (2001, 2013) and has appeared in *The Princess Bride* (1987) and the *Analyze This* films (1999, 2002).

Crystal has hosted the Academy Awards nine times. He also directed, wrote and starred in *Mr. Saturday Night* (1992) and *Forget Paris* (1995).

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, britannica.com.*

## On Fi1m (10)

- *Monsters University* (2013), Fi1m 72, as Mike (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/monsters-university.md)
- *I'm Still Here* (2010), Fi1m 60, as Billy Crystal — [page](https://film.one/film/im-still-here-2010.md)
- *Monsters, Inc.* (2001), Fi1m 86, as Mike (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/monsters-inc.md)
- *Deconstructing Harry* (1997), Fi1m 72, as Larry / The Devil — [page](https://film.one/film/deconstructing-harry.md)
- *Hamlet* (1996), Fi1m 81, as First Gravedigger — [page](https://film.one/film/hamlet.md)
- *City Slickers* (1991), Fi1m 76, as Mitch Robbins — [page](https://film.one/film/city-slickers.md)
- *When Harry Met Sally...* (1989), Fi1m 84, as Harry Burns — [page](https://film.one/film/when-harry-met-sally.md)
- *The Princess Bride* (1987), Fi1m 86, as Miracle Max — [page](https://film.one/film/the-princess-bride.md)
- *Throw Momma from the Train* (1987), Fi1m 68, as Larry Donner — [page](https://film.one/film/throw-momma-from-the-train.md)
- *This Is Spinal Tap* (1984), Fi1m 91, as Morty the Mime — [page](https://film.one/film/this-is-spinal-tap.md)

## Complete filmography (80)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Monsters Funday Football* (2025), as Mike Wazowski (Voice)
- *Before* (2024), series, as Dr. Eli Adler · Executive Producer
- *Mr. Saturday Night* (2022), as Buddy Young, Jr. · Executive Producer, Writer
- *Monsters at Work* (2021), series, as Mike (voice)
- *Here Today* (2021), as Charlie Burnz · Writer, Director, Producer
- *Bugs Bunny's 80th What's Up, Doc-umentary!* (2020), as Narrator (voice)
- *In Search of the Sanderson Sisters: A Hocus Pocus Hulaween Takeover* (2020), as Miracle Max
- *A Virtual Princess Bride Reunion* (2020), as Miracle Max
- *The AGFA Mystery Mixtape Vault* (2020), as (archive footage)
- *Standing Up, Falling Down* (2020), as Marty · Executive Producer
- *Untogether* (2019), as David
- *This Is Bob Hope...* (2017), as Narrator (voice)
- *City Slickers In Westworld* (2017), as Mitch Robbins
- *The Comedian* (2016), as Billy Crystal
- *First Pitch* (2015), Actor
- *The Comedians* (2015), series, as Billy · Executive Producer
- *Billy Crystal: 700 Sundays* (2014), Writer
- *Party Central* (2014), as Mike (voice)
- *Monsters University* (2013), as Mike (voice) — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/film/monsters-university.md)
- *Parental Guidance* (2012), as Artie Decker · Producer
- *Small Apartments* (2012), as Burt Walnut
- *Web Therapy* (2011), series, as Garreth Pink
- *When Harry Met Sally 2 with Billy Crystal & Helen Mirren* (2011), as Harry · Executive Producer
- *I'm Still Here* (2010), as Billy Crystal — Fi1m 60, [page](https://film.one/film/im-still-here-2010.md)
- *Tooth Fairy* (2010), as Jerry (uncredited)
- *Web Therapy* (2008), series, as Garreth Pink
- *My Best Friend's Girl* (2008), Thanks
- *Comic Relief: The Greatest... and the Latest* (2008), Actor
- *Comic Relief 2006* (2006), Actor
- *Cars* (2006), as Mike Car (voice)
- *Analyze That* (2002), as Dr. Ben Sobel · Executive Producer
- *Liberty's Kids* (2002), series, as John Adams (voice)
- *Mike's New Car* (2002), as Mike (voice)
- *Monsters, Inc.* (2001), as Mike (voice) — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/film/monsters-inc.md)
- *America's Sweethearts* (2001), as Lee Phillips · Producer, Writer
- *61** (2001), Director, Executive Producer
- *The Adventures of Rocky & Bullwinkle* (2000), as Mattress Salesman (uncredited)
- *Goodnight Moon & Other Sleepytime Tales* (1999), as Narrator (voice)
- *American Movie* (1999), as Academy Awards Emcee (uncredited)
- *Analyze This* (1999), as Dr. Ben Sobel · Executive Producer
- *My Giant* (1998), as Sam 'Sammy' Kamin · Story, Producer
- *Deconstructing Harry* (1997), as Larry / The Devil — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/film/deconstructing-harry.md)
- *Fathers' Day* (1997), as Jack Lawrence
- *Hamlet* (1996), as First Gravedigger — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/film/hamlet.md)
- *Forget Paris* (1995), as Mickey Gordon · Director, Screenplay, Producer
- *In Search of Dr. Seuss* (1994), as The Voice of America (voice)
- *Friends* (1994), series, as Tim (uncredited) — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/friends.md)
- *City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold* (1994), as Mitch Robbins · Screenplay, Producer
- *The Critic* (1994), series, as Gary Grossman (voice)
- *Frasier* (1993), series, as Jack (voice) — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/frasier.md)
- *Mr. Saturday Night* (1992), as Buddy Young Jr. · Director, Writer, Producer
- *The Larry Sanders Show* (1992), series, as Billy Crystal — Fi1m 91, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-larry-sanders-show.md)
- *Shelley Duvall's Bedtime Stories* (1992), series, as Narrator (voice)
- *Horton Hatches the Egg* (1992), as Narrator (voice)
- *Sessions* (1991), series, Writer, Creator
- *City Slickers* (1991), as Mitch Robbins · Executive Producer — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/film/city-slickers.md)
- *When Harry Met Sally...* (1989), as Harry Burns — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/when-harry-met-sally.md)
- *Comic Relief III* (1989), Actor
- *Memories of Me* (1988), as Abbie · Writer
- *Throw Momma from the Train* (1987), as Larry Donner — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/film/throw-momma-from-the-train.md)
- *The Princess Bride* (1987), as Miracle Max — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/film/the-princess-bride.md)
- *Billy Crystal: Don't Get Me Started* (1986), Director
- *Running Scared* (1986), as Danny Costanzo
- *This Is Spinal Tap* (1984), as Morty the Mime — Fi1m 91, [page](https://film.one/film/this-is-spinal-tap.md)
- *Billy Crystal: A Comic's Line* (1984), Writer
- *Faerie Tale Theatre* (1982), series, as Larry
- *Darkroom* (1981), series, as Paddy
- *Enola Gay: The Men, the Mission, the Atomic Bomb* (1980), as Lt. Jacob 'Jake' Beser
- *Animalympics* (1980), as Rugs Turkell / Joey Gongolong / Art Antica (voice)
- *Breaking Up Is Hard to Do* (1979), series, as Danny Doyle
- *The T.V. Show* (1979), Writer
- *Human Feelings* (1978), as Miles Gordon
- *SST: Death Flight* (1978), as David
- *Rabbit Test* (1978), as Lionel Carpenter
- *The Love Boat* (1977), series, as Newton Weems
- *Soap* (1977), series, as Jodie Dallas
- *Saturday Night Live with Howard Cosell* (1975), series, Actor
- *All in the Family* (1971), series, as Al Bender — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/all-in-the-family.md)
- *The Oscars* (1953), series, Writer
- *Which Witch?*, Producer, Screenplay

## Gallery

- ![Billy Crystal](https://film.one/media/person/79846/gallery-ccaf421d2ab6.jpg) Billy Crystal — Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a2/Billy_Crystal_by_Gage_Skidmore.jpg/1280px-Billy_Crystal_by_Gage_Skidmore.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Billy Crystal at a ceremony for Robert DeNiro to have his hands and shoe prints placed in cement in front of TCL Chinese Theatre. (2013)](https://film.one/media/person/79846/gallery-d9bb72d4158e.jpg) Billy Crystal at a ceremony for Robert DeNiro to have his hands and shoe prints placed in cement in front of TCL Chinese Theatre. (2013) — Angela George, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/22/BillyCrystalJan2013.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Billy Crystal and his wife, Janice, on the red carpet at Celebrity Fight Night XXIV at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa in Phoenix, Arizona. Please (2018)](https://film.one/media/person/79846/gallery-0ddd9e955f8b.jpg) Billy Crystal and his wife, Janice, on the red carpet at Celebrity Fight Night XXIV at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa in Phoenix, Arizona. Please (2018) — Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/17/Billy_Crystal_%26_Janice_Crystal_%2826871549928%29.jpg/1280px-Billy_Crystal_%26_Janice_Crystal_%2826871549928%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Billy Crystal and his wife, Janice, on the red carpet at Celebrity Fight Night XXIV at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa in Phoenix, Arizona. Please (2018)](https://film.one/media/person/79846/gallery-30a5aa360024.jpg) Billy Crystal and his wife, Janice, on the red carpet at Celebrity Fight Night XXIV at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa in Phoenix, Arizona. Please (2018) — Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/86/Billy_Crystal_%26_Janice_Crystal_%2826871554248%29.jpg/1280px-Billy_Crystal_%26_Janice_Crystal_%2826871554248%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Billy Crystal](https://film.one/media/person/79846/gallery-d5a33a3d9cde.jpg) Billy Crystal — Image via TMDB
- ![Billy Crystal](https://film.one/media/person/79846/gallery-3d97e5b83564.jpg) Billy Crystal — Image via TMDB
- ![Billy Crystal](https://film.one/media/person/79846/gallery-3427439ee739.jpg) Billy Crystal — Image via TMDB
- ![Billy Crystal and his wife, Janice, on the red carpet at Celebrity Fight Night XXIV at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa in Phoenix, Arizona. Please (2018)](https://film.one/media/person/79846/gallery-336651c5dbc8.jpg) Billy Crystal and his wife, Janice, on the red carpet at Celebrity Fight Night XXIV at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa in Phoenix, Arizona. Please (2018) — Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/53/Billy_Crystal_%26_Janice_Crystal_%2838932334380%29.jpg/1280px-Billy_Crystal_%26_Janice_Crystal_%2838932334380%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Billy Crystal on the red carpet at Celebrity Fight Night XXIV at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa in Phoenix, Arizona. Please attribute to Gage Ski (2018)](https://film.one/media/person/79846/gallery-eda403c67fd6.jpg) Billy Crystal on the red carpet at Celebrity Fight Night XXIV at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa in Phoenix, Arizona. Please attribute to Gage Ski (2018) — Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0a/Billy_Crystal_%2826871540208%29.jpg/1280px-Billy_Crystal_%2826871540208%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Billy Crystal](https://film.one/media/person/79846/gallery-b7cfd4c14a7c.jpg) Billy Crystal — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Golden Globes — 0 won, 3 nominated

- 1992: Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy (nominated), for *Mr. Saturday Night*
- 1991: Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy (nominated), for *City Slickers*
- 1989: Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy (nominated), for *When Harry Met Sally*

### Primetime Emmy Awards — 5 won, 13 nominated

- 2004: Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program (nominated)
- 2001: Outstanding Television Movie (nominated), for *61**
- 2001: Outstanding Directing for a Limited Series, Movie, or Dramatic Special (nominated), for *61**
- 2000: Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program (nominated)
- 1998: Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program (won)
- 1997: Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program (nominated)
- 1996: Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program (nominated)
- 1993: Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program (nominated)
- 1992: Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series (won)
- 1992: Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program (nominated)
- 1991: Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program (won)
- 1991: Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series (won)
- 1990: Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series (won)
- 1990: Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program (nominated)
- 1990: Outstanding Variety, Music, or Comedy Special (nominated)
- 1988: Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program (nominated)
- 1987: Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program (nominated)
- 1985: Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program (nominated), for *Saturday Night Live*

### Other awards — 6 won, 7 nominated

- Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical 2022: Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical (nominated), for *Mr. Saturday Night*
- Disney Legends 2013: Disney Legends (won)
- Grammy Award for Best Audio Book, Narration & Storytelling Recording 2013: Grammy Award for Best Audio Book, Narration & Storytelling Recording (nominated)
- Mark Twain Prize for American Humor 2007: Mark Twain Prize for American Humor (won)
- Drama Desk Award for Outstanding One-Person Show 2005: Drama Desk Award for Outstanding One-Person Show (won)
- GLAAD Excellence in Media Award 2005: GLAAD Excellence in Media Award (won)
- Best Sports Movie ESPY Award 2002: Best Sports Movie ESPY Award (nominated), for *61**
- Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Prequel, Remake, Rip-off or Sequel 1994: Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Prequel, Remake, Rip-off or Sequel (nominated), for *City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold*
- MTV Movie Award for Best Comedic Performance 1992: MTV Movie Award for Best Comedic Performance (won), for *City Slickers*
- TCA Award for Outstanding Achievement in Movies, Miniseries and Specials 1992: TCA Award for Outstanding Achievement in Movies, Miniseries and Specials (nominated)
- Jane Fonda Humanitarian Award 1991: Jane Fonda Humanitarian Award (won)
- TCA Award for Outstanding Achievement in Movies, Miniseries and Specials 1991: TCA Award for Outstanding Achievement in Movies, Miniseries and Specials (nominated)
- TCA Award for Outstanding Achievement in Movies, Miniseries and Specials 1990: TCA Award for Outstanding Achievement in Movies, Miniseries and Specials (nominated)

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/billy-crystal