William Edward Crystal, who started as comedy-club performer, made his first screen-appearance in the TV-series ‘Keep On Truckin’ (1975), ‘All in the Family’ (1976), followed by the TV-movie ‘SST: Death Flight’ (1977).
In the sitcom ‘Soap’ (1977-1981), a parody of soap-operas, Crystal was cast as ‘Jodie Dallas’ the first gay character in a TV-series, which brought him recognition.
Crystal made his film debut in the comedy ‘Rabbit Test’ (1978) as ‘world’s first pregnant man.’ He hosted his own show, ‘The Billy Crystal Comedy Show’ (1982), and often appeared on ‘Saturday Night Live’ as a cast-member or guest-host during 1984-1985.
Crystal played a brief role in Rob Reiner’s directorial debut ‘This is Spinal Tap’ (1984). After starring on ‘Faerie Tale Theater’ (1985), and ‘Sesame Street’ (1986-1988), he directed and appeared in the TV special ‘Billy Crystal: Don’t Get Me Started’ (1986, 1987).
In 1987, Crystal co-starred in the buddy-cop action-comedy film ‘Running Scared,’ and the black-comedy ‘Throw Momma From the Train,’ followed by a supporting role in Reiner’s ‘The Princess Bride’ (1987). He starred opposite Meg Ryan in the lead in Reiner’s classic romantic-comedy ‘When Harry Met Sally…’ (1989), earning ‘Golden Globe’ nomination.
Crystal’s next starred in the western-comedy ‘City Slickers’ (1991), which proved a box-office hit, brought in his second ‘Golden Globe’ nomination. He also starred in its 1994 sequel.
Crystal wrote, starred-in, and made his directorial debut in the comedy-drama ‘Mr. Saturday Night’ (1992). He produced-directed, co-wrote and starred-in the romantic-comedy ‘Forget Paris’ (1995). Thereafter, he appeared in the Woody Allen comedy film ‘Deconstructing Harry’ (1997), followed by the mafia-comedy ‘Analyze This’ (1999) starring alongside Robert De Niro, and its sequel, ‘Analyze That’ (2002).
Crystal directed made-for-TV sports-drama ‘61*’ (2001) winning Emmy nomination for ‘Outstanding Directing for Miniseries/Movie or Special.’ He co-wrote and starred-in the romantic-film ‘America’s Sweethearts’ (2001), and featured in the family-comedy ‘Parental Guidance’ (2012).
Crystal lent his voice in the computer-animated monster-comedy ‘Monsters, Inc.’ (2001), its prequel, ‘Monsters University’ (2013); ‘Cars’ (2006), and ‘Howl’s Moving Castle’ (2004).
Crystal has hosted ‘Academy Awards’ for 9 times and has won 6 ‘Primetime Emmy’ (out of 21 nominations) as host and/or writer of awards functions.