Billy Crystal's Real Name: William Edward Crystal

Quick answer: The comedian and actor is known professionally as Billy Crystal. Britannica and AllMusic independently give the full name William Edward Crystal and date his birth to March 14, 1948, in New York.

Real name and early life

Independent publishers support the documented full name William Edward Crystal. Britannica gives that name in full, dates the birth to March 14, 1948, in New York, New York, and says his father was a jazz promoter and record-label executive and that he spent most of his childhood in Long Beach, New York. The same account says he briefly attended Marshall University on a baseball scholarship, later studied theatre at Nassau Community College, and then transferred to New York University, where he studied film and television directing under Martin Scorsese and graduated in 1970. AllMusic independently lists the professional alias William Edward Crystal, the same birth date, and New York, N.Y., and says his father ran the Commodore Music Shop in New York and that he graduated from N.Y.U. in 1970 with a B.F.A. The Television Academy independently lists a March 14 birthday and New York, N.Y., as the birthplace, without giving a year.

Career highlights

Britannica says his breakout role was Jodie Dallas, one of the first openly gay characters on television, on the situation comedy Soap (1977–81). The same account records later film work including When Harry Met Sally… (1989), City Slickers (1991), and Analyze This (1999), the voice of Mike Wazowski in Monsters, Inc. (2001), and nine turns hosting the Academy Awards (1990–93, 1997–98, 2000, 2004, and 2012). The Television Academy independently names Soap, When Harry Met Sally..., City Slickers, Analyze This, and Monsters, Inc., and says he has hosted the Academy Awards nine times, beginning in 1990 and most recently in 2012. The Academy also records six Emmy Awards and notes his 1984–85 season in the Saturday Night Live regular cast. Britannica independently records earlier work as Miracle Max in The Princess Bride (1987) and his 2004 Broadway debut with the autobiographical solo show 700 Sundays. AllMusic independently names When Harry Met Sally and City Slickers among his hit films and cites the 1985 comedy album Mahvelous!.

Name notes for searchers

People looking up Billy Crystal or William Edward Crystal are looking for the same comedian and actor. Britannica and AllMusic support the full name used in the title.