I had really good hearing and when you’re scared it gets heightened so you hear scratching noises or something.
BILLY CRYSTALI had really good hearing and when you’re scared it gets heightened so you hear scratching noises or something.
BILLY CRYSTALYou have to really respect what your kids are doing with their kids and how they’re raising them. You can’t push your way into areas where you shouldn’t be saying anything.
BILLY CRYSTALWhen I’ve gotten criticism, it’s that it’s too long, too soft, didn’t hit the government hard enough. Then when I do hit the government, they go, What’s he doing hitting the government?
BILLY CRYSTALI’m comfortable being old… being black… being Jewish.
BILLY CRYSTALDid you ever reach a point in your life, where you say to yourself, ‘This is the best I’m ever going to look, the best I’m ever going to feel, the best I’m ever going to do,’ and it ain’t that great?
BILLY CRYSTALThat’s the thing about jazz: it’s free flowing, it comes from your soul.
BILLY CRYSTALFrom the first time I saw Sid Caesar be funny I knew that’s what I had to do.
BILLY CRYSTALI’m a sucker for a free tuxedo.
BILLY CRYSTALDad had a music store, and he’d often bring home comedy albums that I would listen to. I started listening to Bob Newhart and Bill Cosby, and developing taste. They really influenced my style of comedy.
BILLY CRYSTALI was introducing [director and producer] Hal Roach – Mr. Roach was 100 years old, he was one of the fathers of early days in films, he put Laurel with Hardy, he created the Our Gang kids, and all these silent movies he did – he was a giant.
BILLY CRYSTALThat’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.
BILLY CRYSTALI used to limp around my neighborhood imitating him. I did my Bar Mitzvah with an Oklahoma drawl.
BILLY CRYSTALI 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.
BILLY CRYSTALI don’t like heights. This is why I stopped growing at fifth grade.
BILLY CRYSTALChange is such hard work.
BILLY CRYSTALIt’s money. I remember it from when I was single
BILLY CRYSTAL