Billy Cystral remembers Robin Williams at Emmys

Billy Crystal BY JAKE COYLE
Billy Crystal, left speechless by Robin Williams' death, paid tribute to his great friend and comedy brother at the Emmy Awards, movingly remembering him as "the greatest friend you could ever imagine."
Following the Emmys' in memoriam segment Monday night, Crystal appeared on stage at Los Angeles' Nokia Theatre to honor Williams, who was found dead in his Northern California home on Aug. 11. A luminous image of the late comedian hovered overhead.
"He made us laugh, big time," said Crystal.
After Williams' apparent suicide, Crystal simply wrote on Twitter of his longtime friend and Comic Relief co-host: "No words."

Actor Robin Williams, left, shares a light moment with fellow actor Billy Crystal prior to the 18th annual American Museum of the Moving Image benefit in New York Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2003. The museum honored Crystal for propelling the medium of the moving image and having a profound effect on the industry.

Billy Crystal speaks during an In Memoriam tribute to Robin Williams at the 66th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards at the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on Monday, Aug. 25, 2014, in Los Angeles.

 

From left, actors Robin Williams, Whoopi Goldberg and Billy Crystal arrive for The Face of Tisch Gala to benefit New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, Monday, Dec. 6, 2010 in New York.

Robin Williams and Billy Crystal auction off a guitar autographed by the Eagles at the 12th Annual Starkey Hearing Foundation "So The World May Hear" Gala on Saturday, August 4, 2012 in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Producer and director Ivan Reitman, center wearing a tie, is honored with the 2,091 star on the the Hollywood Walk of Fame, on the Hollywood Boulevard, Monday, May 5, 1997 in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles. From left, actors Nastassja Kinski, Billy Crystal, and Robin Williams, right, participate in the event. Reitman's films as producer and director include "Space Jam", "Private Parts", "National Lampoon's Animal House", "Beethoven", "Meatballs", "Stripes", "Ghostbusters" and its sequel, "Twins," "Kindergarten Cop" and "Junior".

Robin Williams and Billy Crystal during HBO & AEG Live's The Comedy Festival - 2nd Annual Comedy Cares Celebrity Poker Tournament - Inside at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States.

UNITED STATES - MAY 07: Funnymen Robin Williams (left) and Billy Crystal get together before a Tribeca Film Festival screening of 'House of D' at the Tribeca Performing Arts Center on West St. Williams stars in the movie, which makes its world premiere at the festival

But Crystal found touching words to remember Williams on Monday, recalling family gatherings, ballgames and nights on stage together.

"I used to think if I could put a saddle on him and stay on him for eight seconds, I was gonna do OK," said Crystal of the famously frenetic stand-up.
Though he spent most of his career in stand-up and in movies, Williams' early break came on television as the extraterrestrial Mork in "Mork & Mindy." He was nominated for an Emmy in 1979 for the show, as well as for various comedy specials and dramatic guest spots on shows like "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" and "Homicide: Life on the Street." He won two Emmys in the 1980s for variety specials.

One of Williams' last credits was the CBS sitcom "The Crazy Ones," which was canceled in May after one season.

"It's very hard to talk about him in the past because he was so present in all of our lives," said Crystal. "For almost 40 years, he was the brightest star in our comedy galaxy. The brilliance was astounding, the relentless energy was thrilling."

Williams was in the thoughts of many Monday night. Louis C.K., who won for comedy series writing for his FX series "Louie," said Williams wrote to him after the show started and invited him over to his house.

"We became close," said C.K. "He was a big influence on me as a person and comedically."

Crystal concluded his remembrance by saying Williams' bright spirit would eternally glow: "And you'll think to yourself: Robin Williams, what a concept."