CRYSTAL, BILLY

CRYSTAL, BILLY (1947– ), U.S. actor. Born in New York, Crystal studied film and television direction under Martin Scorsese at New York University. He became known to television viewers as Jodie Dallas, the young homosexual in Soap, the satiric take-off on the soap opera genre (1977). In fact, Crystal made history by playing television's first openly gay character. As a stand-up comedian on the comedy circuit, Crystal became famous for his Fernando Lamas and Sammy Davis Jr. impersonations. In 1984 he joined the cast of Saturday Night Live. Although he spent only one year with the show, he was one of the most popular members of the cast and was nominated for an Emmy for Best Individual Performance. Crystal graduated to feature film work and built up a steady following with roles in This Is Spinal Tap (1984), Running Scared (1986), The Princess Bride (1987), Throw Momma from the Train (1987), and Memories of Me (1988), which Crystal co-scripted and co-produced with alan king . Crystal then catapulted to star status in the hugely popular When Harry Met Sally (1989), and he followed this with the equally successful City Slickers (1990). His next film was Mr. Saturday Night (1992), which he also directed. Subsequent films included City Slickers II, which he wrote (1994); Forget Paris, which he wrote and directed (1995); Father's Day (1997); Deconstructing Harry (1997); My Giant (1998); Analyze This (1999); America's Sweethearts, which he wrote (2001); and Analyze That (2002). Crystal was the host of the annual Academy Award presentations in Hollywood from 1990 to 1993 as well as in 1997, 1998, 2000, and 2004. Widely acclaimed for his writing and performing talents, Crystal has won five Emmys and five American Comedy Awards, among many other honors and nominations. Crystal wrote Absolutely Mahvelous (with Dick Schaap, 1986), and the children's book I Already Know I Love You (2004). (Ruth Beloff (2nd ed.)