Billy Crystal Adds Footprints at Chinese Theatre
By BERNICE FOX
Special to Circling the News
Billy Crystal puts his footprints in cement. Photo: Turner
One of Pacific Palisades’ two current honorary mayors now has foot and handprints in the courtyard of the Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. The other co-honorary mayor provided a kiss at the ceremony.
Turner Classic Movies selected Billy Crystal for the honor to be given at the 10th annual TCM Classic Film Festival. The festival kicked off Thursday with Crystal joining Meg Ryan and director Rob Reiner in a discussion of “When Harry Met Sally,” which was released 30 years ago. The hand and footprint ceremony was Friday.
Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan in ‘When Harry Met Sally.’ Photo: Andy Schwartz, Castle Rock Entertainment
Before stepping into the cement at the ceremony, Crystal gave a heartfelt speech thanking those who helped him along the way as he built his career, including agents, writers and “amazing friends.”
But Crystal said “the most important person” is his wife, Janice. That got applause from the crowd who showed up for the ceremony under the bright late-morning sun. He then recalled the first time he saw Janice.
“I was 18. She was 17. She walked by me on the beach, and I said, ‘I’m going to marry her.’ I hadn’t even met her yet.”
These two co-honorary Palisades mayors are coming up on 49 years of marriage. Crystal said it’s because “we have this really phenomenal relationship. She is the strength and she is the humor. She grounds me and she keeps me in line.”
Crystal has had quite a career, which includes hosting the Oscars nine times – the first in 1990. That played into his wardrobe choice for the ceremony.
“I am wearing the shoes that I wore the first time I hosted the Oscars. And they hurt!”
After signing his name in a block of wet cement, Crystal’s hand prints were next. He then lifted his hands up. And with wet cement still on his palms, he displayed them for the crowd and for the news photographers.
Billy Crystal, puts the foot of the one-eyed character Mike Wazowski that he voices in ‘Monsters, Inc.’ in cement:
Photo: Turner
Next was a quick walk to where his wife was sitting with their family. Billy and Janice Crystal leaned in for a sweet exchange of kisses.
Back at the wet cement, Crystal stepped up and made an impression while wearing those painful, but meaningful, shoes.
But he wasn’t finished. Next to his own footprints he added the three-toed print of one of his favorite characters: Mike Wazowski. That’s the little one-eyed green monster he voices in “Monsters, Inc.” and the sequel, “Monsters University.”
‘Monster, Inc.’ Giving these monsters their voices are John Goodman and Billy Crystal. Photo: Disney
Crystal will be the voice of Mike again. It’s for a new TV series called “Monsters at Work,” based on the movie characters. It’ll be available to view next year on a new streaming platform called Disney Plus, which is written as Disney +.