Billy Crystal

William Edward "Billy" Crystal is an American actor, voice actor, comedian, writer, producer, director, and television host. He is best known for his roles as Miracle Max in the 1987 comedy-fantasy adventure film , Harry Burns in 1989 comedy-drama film , Mitch Robbins in the  , and Jodie Dallas in the ABC sitcom . He is also well-known for voicing Rugs Turkell and other characters in the 1980 animated telefilm . Additionally, he guest-starred in Episode 103 of and portrayed Billy in the short-lived FX comedy series . He is also known as a member of The Not Ready for Prime Time Players on NBC's since 1984.
For Disney, he is best known for voicing Mike Wazowski in Disney/Pixar's 2001 film Monsters, Inc., its 2013 prequel Monsters University, and the 2021 Disney+ original series Monsters at Work. He also played himself in deleted scenes of the 2011 musical comedy film The Muppets. Additionally, he voiced Calcifer in the English dub of Studio Ghibli's Howl's Moving Castle.
Crystal was born at Doctors Hospital on the Upper East Side of Manhattan and initially raised in the Bronx. As a toddler, he moved with his family to 549 East Park Avenue in Long Beach, New York, on Long Island. He and his older brothers Joel, who later became an art teacher, and Richard, nicknamed Rip, were the sons of Helen (née Gabler), a housewife, and Jack Crystal, who owned and operated the Commodore Music Store, founded by Crystal's grandfather, Julius Gabler. Crystal's father was also a jazz promoter, a producer, and an executive for an affiliated jazz record label, , founded by Crystal's uncle, musician and songwriter Milt Gabler. Crystal is Jewish (his family emigrated from Austria, Russia, and Lithuania), and he grew up attending Temple Emanu-El (Long Beach, New York), where he had his bar mitzvah. The three young brothers would entertain by reprising comedy routines from the likes of Bob Newhart, , and records their father would bring home. Jazz artists, such as , , , and were often guests in the home. With the decline of Dixieland jazz and the rise of discount record stores in 1963, Crystal's father lost his business and died later that year at the age of 54 after having a heart attack. His mother died in 2001.
==Filmography==
===Film===
Year	Film 	Position 	Company
2001	Monsters, Inc. 	Voice actor (Mike Wazowski) 	Pixar
2005	Howl's Moving Castle	Voice actor (Calcifer; Disney dub)	Studio Ghibli
2006	Cars 	Voice actor (Mike Car) 	
Pixar
2011	The Muppets 	Actor (Himself) (cameo) 	
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
2013	Monsters University 	Voice actor (Mike Wazowski) 	Pixar
===Short film===
Year	Film 	Position 	Company
2002	Mike's New Car	Voice actor (Mike Wazowski)	Pixar
2013	Party Central 	Voice actor (Mike Wazowski)	Pixar
===Television===
Year(s)	Show 	Position 	Company
2021 	Monsters at Work	Voice actor (Mike Wazowski)	Walt Disney Television Animation
==Roles==
Profile - Mike Wazowski.jpg|Mike Wazowski(Monsters, Inc. franchise)
Calcifer - Howl's Moving Castle.jpg|Calcifer(Howl's Moving Castle; Disney dub)
File:Mr. Willerstein.jpg|Mr. Willerstein(Meet the Robinsons)
==Gallery==
MuppetsTonight-BillyCrystal.jpg|Billy Crystal on .
Garry Shandling Larry Sanders Show with guest Billy Crystal.jpg|Billy Crystal speaks with Garry Shandling in an episode of .
Billy Crystal behind the scenes Monsters Inc.jpg|Billy Crystal behind the scenes of Monsters, Inc..
Billy Crystal & John Goodman behind the scenes Monsters Inc.jpg|Billy Crystal and John Goodman behind the scenes of Monsters, Inc..
Billy Crystal Monsters Inc premiere.jpg|Billy Crystal at the premiere of Monsters, Inc. in October 2001.
Billy Crystal 700 Sundays.jpg|Billy Crystal poses with a copy of his self-biography book 700 Sundays in May 2005.
Robin Williams & Billy Crystal at Sony afterparty.jpg|Billy Crystal and Robin Williams attending the Sony after-party in April 2006.
Billy Crystal D23 Expo.jpg|Billy Crystal attending the 2011 D23 Expo.
Billy Crystal 84th Oscars.jpg|Billy Crystal hosting the 84th annual Academy Awards in February 2012.
Billy Crystal behind the scenes MU.jpg|Billy Crystal behind the scenes of Monsters University.
Billy Crystal - Monsters University Interview.jpeg|Billy Crystal having a Monsters University interview.
Billy Crystal MU premiere.jpg|Billy Crystal at the premiere of Monsters University in June 2013.
Billy Crystal and wife Janice.jpg|Billy Crystal and his wife, Janice, at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards in January 2014.
Billy Crystal Josh Gad Winter TCA.jpg|Billy Crystal and Josh Gad speak onstage at panel during the 2015 Winter TCA Tour.
Billy Crystal SNL 40th Anniversary.jpg|Billy Crystal attending the 40th anniversary of in February 2015.
Billy Crystal visits Jimmy Fallon.jpg|Billy Crystal visiting in August 2017.
Billy Crystal Chinese Theatre Handprint ceremony.jpg|Billy Crystal poses at his Chinese Theatre Handprint ceremony in April 2019.
Billy Crystal Tribeca19.jpg|Billy Crystal attending the 2019 Tribeca Film Fest.
==Trivia==
*He was the first actor to be offered to voice Buzz Lightyear in Toy Story, but turned down the role afterwards. After seeing the finished film, he said his decision was the biggest mistake of his career. When Pixar asked Crystal if he wanted to voice Mike Wazowski, he accepted immediately.
*Pixar took some lines from the coffee table scene in the 1989 film and used his voice in some early test animation footage before Tim Allen was cast as Buzz.
*He stated in his Disney Legends acceptance speech that when growing up, his favorite film was Pinocchio, his favorite cartoon characters were Jiminy Cricket and Dopey, he had a crush on Annette Funicello, and he imagined going to camp with Spin and Marty.
*His films and When Harry Met Sally... were parodied in his appearance on .
*During his Hollywood Chinese Theatre Hand/footprint ceremony in April 2019, Crystal was handed a small foot stamp in the shape of Mike's foot, and he had it pressed into the cement next to Crystal's actual prints and signature written "Mike W".
==References==
==External links==
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Category:Actors
Category:American people
Category:Voice actors
Category:Males
Category:1940s births
Category:People from New York
Category:Comedians
Category:Annie Award Nominated
Category:Disney Legends
Category:Monsters, Inc.
Category:Studio Ghibli
Category:The Muppets (film)
Category:Muppets Tonight Guest Stars
Category:Authors
Category:Producers
Category:Pixar actors and actresses
Category:Singers
Category:Screenwriters
Category:ABC
Category:Television hosts
Category:Touchstone Pictures
Category:Directors
Category:Fox
Category:Cars
Category:The Muppets
Category:Pixar
Category:Disney+
Category:20th Century Studios
Category:Jewish people