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Billy Crystal

Billy Crystal Biography

Actor

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“I was always drawn to performing, but I never thought I could. I have no idea what I wanted to do outside of the old cowboy-or-fireman. When I was in college, I got serious about acting. I started examining history and then everything related to the theater. History, art, all the other studies, if I could link them into the theater, then it became alive for me. It just opened up my eyes.”

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Author:Billy Crystal
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“The house as I say ... smelled of brisket and bourbon, so you could hear that. I started imitating them. Phrases came out of that, "Can't you dig that?" "I knew that you would." We were at [Passover] Seders and they were confused with the bitter herbs, "Do we smoke these or do we do we dip them in salt water?" "We dip them in salt water, well that's gonna kill the vibrancy of the weed, you know." So that's what I was around. So I would imitate them. That's where it all started.”

KnowsWellsHouseWaterBitterSmokePhrasesConfusedWeedSaltHerbsDipImitatingBourbonVibrancySalt WaterBrisket
Author:Billy Crystal
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“[My mother] is the greatest hero I'll ever know because she kept us all together, she made sure we all graduated college. She always believed in us no matter what we do. My older brother Joel became an art teacher; my brother Rip ultimately became a television producer and singer and actor himself.”

KnowsArtMadeMatterTogetherMotherActorsTeacherTelevisionCollegeBrotherHeroNo Matter WhatSingersProducersMy BrotherAlways BelieveRipOlder BrotherArt Teacher
Author:Billy Crystal
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“I never stopped believing in us and I never felt like I was wanting for anything, except for my father, and that was not going to be. I describe in the book [that] I don't think I ever felt young again in that way. I never felt I had my 15, 16, 17 kind of years the way I maybe should have. It's a huge dent in you that it's hard to knock out and make it all smooth again.”

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Author:Billy Crystal
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“We were in front of a live audience and I would be acting with the man who was playing my lover, and we used those words, and the audience would titter and laugh, and make me uncomfortable doing the scenes. ... I wanted to sort of stop and yell at them, "What's so funny? What's the matter with you people? Grow up!" It made me very self-conscious at times.”

PeopleMenMadeSelfMatterWould BeWantedUsedGrowsActingAudienceLaughingGrowing UpFrontsHe ManLoversSceneConsciousUncomfortableSelf ConsciousMy Lover
Author:Billy Crystal
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“I love doing it [hosting the Oscars] because I love the danger of it and you have to come through and think on your feet. That's why that show, no matter who hosts it, it really should be a fast-thinking comedian who is really quick on their feet that can handle situations that happen, or somebody with that kind of mentality that can capitalize on something.”

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Author:Billy Crystal
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“This time I particularly loved because it came from a real experience with my grandchildren. Having them alone alone for the first time for six or seven days and going "Wow, this is exhausting," because when you're not around little ones for a long time, you forget about how much work that is. So I came in and started writing the story that became this movie ['PARENTAL GUIDANCE'].”

WritingFirstsLittlesLongRealStoriesForgetSixLong TimeFirst TimeSevenGuidanceWowGrandchildrenExhaustingParentalMy GrandchildrenSeven DaysParental Guidance
Author:Billy Crystal
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“Those are all real things that I experienced, not with [my daughters] growing up but with the, you know - I'm trying not to step into something and get a call, "Dad why'd you say that?"! But we'd go to games [where score wasn't kept], and I'd get it, but I wouldn't get it, because I think there's a real value in winners and losers, in not everybody getting a trophy - it makes you work hard, you appreciate what it takes, to say, "Why didn't we win?" You shouldn't be condemned for losing.”

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Author:Billy Crystal
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“Two thousand years ago Jesus is crucified, three days later he walks out of a cave and they celebrate with chocolate bunnies and marshmallow Peeps and beautifully decorated eggs. I guess these were things Jesus loved as a child.”

YearsChildrenTwoThreeJesusWalksThousandYears AgoCelebrateEggsChocolateThousand YearsEasterCavesBunniesJesus LoveMarshmallow
Book:Still Foolin' 'Em: Where I've Been, Where I'm Going, and Where the Hell Are My Keys?
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