Actor, comedian, entertainer, and director Billy Crystal – born March 14, 1948, in New York City, New York – began his career in the 1970s as a stand-up comedian before rising to prominence in television as a cast member on nighttime soap opera parody Soap (1977-1981), portraying one of the first unambiguously gay characters on network TV. He then appeared on episodes of other TV shows including hosting Saturday Night Live (SNL) twice. Billy Crystal then joined the cast of SNL for their 1984 / 1985 season. His most popular recurring character on the show was a talk show host based on Argentine American actor Fernando Lamas who would utter the catchphrase ‘You look mahvelous!” Known for spawning many popular viral catchphrases over the years, this recurring SNL sketch turned Billy Crystal into a television icon. Signed to A&M Records, he released the comedy album Mahvelous! In 1985, which included the singles “You Look Mahvelous” and “I Hate When That Happens.” While his career as an actor and comedian continued, Billy Crystal seldom visited the recording studio again. He sang live on Broadway and television, but his recorded output includes just a handful of songs including “If I Didn’t Have You,” a duet with John Goodman taken from the soundtrack to the film Monsters, Inc. However, he has received many honors and accolades over the years including six Primetime Emmy Awards, a Tony Award, a Critic’s Choice Lifetime Achievement Award, and an award at the Kennedy Center Honors in 2023.
