If you do something for the first time, you will always remember it. If your Dad has something to do with it, you write about it. Billy Crystal More Quotes by Billy Crystal More Quotes From Billy Crystal I think I've far exceeded what I ever thought I could possibly do. I'm almost shocked that I'm still around after all of these years . . . and always grateful that I get another turn to do something. Billy Crystal grateful years thinking Nobody is more truthful when he's acting than De Niro. Billy Crystal truthful comedy acting Bambi, to a kid, was scary. Billy Crystal comedy scary kids From the first time I saw Sid Caesar be funny I knew that's what I had to do. Billy Crystal sids saws ghouls The Passion of the Christ opened up on Ash Wednesday, had a Good Friday. Billy Crystal ashes friday passion Dad 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 Crystal style dad home Whoo-hoo-hoo, look who knows so much. It just so happens that your friend here is only MOSTLY dead. There's a big difference between mostly dead and all dead. Mostly dead is slightly alive. With all dead, well, with all dead there's usually only one thing you can do. Go through his clothes and look for loose change. Billy Crystal clothes differences looks I'd like to think there is a Heaven, and it starts from the happiest day in your life. Billy Crystal heaven thinking Despite what The Wall Street Journal says, our awards are the best-kept secret in America, with the possible exception of what George W. Bush did in the '70s. Billy Crystal best-kept-secrets wall awards [My mother] is the greatest hero I'll ever know because she kept us all together, she made sure we all graduated college. She always believed in us no matter what we do. My older brother Joel became an art teacher; my brother Rip ultimately became a television producer and singer and actor himself. Billy Crystal mother teacher art [I did impressions] of relatives because I heard so many different sounds. My dad was in the music business and of course my uncle was a giant [music producer], but my dad in particular had the house filled with these Dixieland jazz stars. Billy Crystal uncles dad stars The house as I say ... smelled of brisket and bourbon, so you could hear that. I started imitating them. Phrases came out of that, "Can't you dig that?" "I knew that you would." We were at [Passover] Seders and they were confused with the bitter herbs, "Do we smoke these or do we do we dip them in salt water?" "We dip them in salt water, well that's gonna kill the vibrancy of the weed, you know." So that's what I was around. So I would imitate them. That's where it all started. Billy Crystal confused weed water I 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. I never felt I had my 15, 16, 17 kind of years the way I maybe should have. It's a huge dent in you that it's hard to knock out and make it all smooth again. Billy Crystal believe father book I have 40-something intros [that Davis Jr. did]; all are different, none of them happened. And it was hilarious. Billy Crystal happened different Every time I was with Sammy [Davis Jr.] it was like going to the show business museum because the stories were so extraordinary, and I didn't care if they were true or not after a while. ... I don't know if he really got high with Humphrey Bogart or not. It didn't matter because he was painting these fantastic pictures. Billy Crystal care stories museums Well, the way things are going, aside from wheat and auto parts, America's biggest export is now the Oscar. Billy Crystal humorous funny america Even when I was in school shows, in elementary school doing plays, I'd always go off book and start improvising. Billy Crystal play book school I 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 Crystal father kids years When we had the girls, my daughter Jenny gave us like a Bible from my daughter of, "Don't feed them this; don't feed them that, if she says this, don't say that," It was crazy! Billy Crystal daughter crazy girl I always came away thinking "I'd like to see her more," you know? And then when [Parental Guidance] was ready to be cast, we thought - Bette [Midler]. So we called her. Billy Crystal now-and-then guidance thinking
