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Engraved portrait of Billy Crystal
Comedy · 1980s

Billy Crystal

Still with us 1948–present
Long Beach, New Yorkborn
You look mahvelous!signature_catchphrase
Nine times, second only to Bob Hopeoscars_hosted
When Harry Met Sally... (1989)signature_film
Won for solo show 700 Sundays (2005)tony_award
The Turning Point

In 1989, Crystal starred opposite Meg Ryan in Rob Reiner's romantic comedy When Harry Met Sally..., playing the witty Harry Burns. The film became a classic and cemented him as a leading man. It followed his 1984 to 1985 SNL stint and propelled a wave of hit movies.

Long Island Beginnings

Born in 1948 on Long Island, Crystal grew up steeped in jazz through his record-store-owning family. He broke through on the sitcom Soap before a season on Saturday Night Live.

Leading Man

When Harry Met Sally... made him a romantic-comedy star in 1989, followed by City Slickers and Analyze This. He also became Hollywood's go-to Oscars host.

Stage and Screen

Crystal won a Tony for his autobiographical solo show 700 Sundays. To new generations he is the voice of Mike Wazowski in the Monsters, Inc. films.

Career Timeline

  1. 1977Plays Jodie Dallas on the sitcom Soap
  2. 1984Joins Saturday Night Live as a cast member
  3. 1989Stars in When Harry Met Sally...
  4. 1990Hosts the Academy Awards for the first time
  5. 1991Leads the hit comedy City Slickers
  6. 1992Writes, directs and stars in Mr. Saturday Night
  7. 1999Stars in mob comedy Analyze This
  8. 2001Voices Mike Wazowski in Monsters, Inc.
  9. 2004Wins a Tony for his solo show 700 Sundays
  10. 2012Hosts the Academy Awards for a ninth time

Biggest Hits

1989
When Harry Met Sally...Beloved romantic comedy opposite Meg Ryan
1991
City SlickersMidlife crisis comedy set on a cattle drive
1992
Mr. Saturday NightWrote, directed and starred as an aging comic
1999
Analyze ThisPlays therapist to Robert De Niro's mobster
2001
Monsters, Inc.Voiced one-eyed Mike Wazowski in Pixar hit
Did You Know
  • His SNL impression of Fernando Lamas gave America the catchphrase 'You look mahvelous!'
  • He has hosted the Academy Awards nine times, more than anyone except Bob Hope.

Portrait: David Shankbone · CC BY 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons

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