Crystal, Billy (1947- )

US actor, comedian, producer, writer, and director. He appeared on NBC's Saturday Night Live in the mid-1980s, had his own comedy programme, The Billy Crystal Comedy Hour, and starred in many successful comedy films.

Crystal's films include the comedies The Princess Bride (1987), Throw Mama from the Train (1987), When Harry Met Sally (1989), City Slickers (1991), Analyze This (1992), Deconstructing Harry (1997), and Analyze That (2002). He wrote and produced City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold (1994), My Giant (1998), and America's Sweethearts (2001). He directed and starred in Mr Saturday Night (1992) and Forget Paris (1995). He also starred in the animated feature Monsters, Inc (2001) and has been a popular presenter at the Academy Awards.

He was born in Long Beach, New York, and studied at New York University's film school under director Martin Scorsese.