“It’s very difficult to talk about him in the past because he was so present in all of our lives.”
Following Sara Bareilles’ beautiful performance of “Smile,” honoring several stars we’ve lost, Billy Crystal got up on stage at the Emmys to pay tribute to Robin Williams – now two weeks after his death.
Billy Crystal had the unique privilege of knowing Williams both on and off screen.
“He made us laugh. Hard,” Crystal said, “Every time you saw him. On television, movies, night clubs, arenas, hospitals, homeless shelters, for our troops overseas, and even in a dying girl’s living room for her last wish.”
While we, the masses, can comment on the smiles he’s brought us through his work, Crystal had the unique experience of seeing the happiness he brought people off screen, as well. So many others who were close to Williams have brought up the man’s downplayed generosity. We all know the names of the stars who publicly give big to charities, and that’s great – but the man who gives in secret – out of the view of the public eye – is someone whose generosity is coming from a place of selflessness.
Crystal said, ”He was the greatest friend you could ever imagine – supportive, protective, loving. It’s very hard to talk about him in the past because he was so present in all of our lives. For almost 40 years, he was the brightest star in the comedy galaxy.”
I recently watched Nantucket Film Festival’s Comedy Roundtable on Netflix, which was filmed before Williams’ death, and Chris Rock made a joke with a lot of truth behind it.
Rock said, “I think all the funny people were bullied [too]. When they talk about outlawing bullying, it’s like, what, you want no Comedy Central? It’s like, really? Okay…No Apple, all right…if that’s what you want. You want the Empire State Building to be four stories tall…”
We laugh because it’s kind of true. We laugh because of the moments we ourselves have enjoyed times we succeeded and thought to ourselves, “Hey mean middle schoolers – look at me now.”
Those of us who only know Robin Williams from his brilliant performances can’t begin to guess or speculate about the deep pain he was hiding behind his persona – the pain he may have used to fuel his “funny.”
I think the tragedy of Robin Williams’ suicide has shaken us all and reminded us that even the people who look happy and strong on the outside are fragile and hurting, like we all are.
Billy Crystal concluded his speech at the Emmys saying, “…While some of the brightest of our celestial bodies actually are extinct now, their energy long since cooled, but miraculously because they float in the heavens so far away from us now, their beautiful light will continue to shine on us forever and the glow will be so bright it’ll warm your heart, make your eyes glisten and you’ll think to yourselves, Robin Williams, what a concept.”
What did you think about Crystal’s speech? Anything you would have added?
