Billy Crystal Jokes About Turning 74, Says He ‘Can’t Remember’ Anything

Billy Crystal is no stranger to the limelight. Just take a look at the actor, writer, and producer’s IMDB page. And as of last night, his extensive list of achievements just got a bit longer. The acclaimed actor was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 27th annual Critics Choice Awards. During his acceptance speech, the beloved When Harry Met Sally star opened up (and cracked some jokes!) about aging and his 74th birthday.

“Tomorrow is my birthday, and I’m going to be 74 years old, and as Jimmy [Kimmel] mentioned, I’m about to open in a Broadway musical,” he said in his acceptance speech referring to his upcoming role in Mr. Saturday Night. “I can’t remember when I worked harder or had more fun on a project, and I’m serious. I’ll be 74 tomorrow, I actually just can’t remember.”

The comedian had the audience erupting with laughter as he continued to poke fun at his age. “This is the lifetime achievement award, which is a little scary when they say they want to give it to you,” he joked. “So, I called my doctors and I said, ‘Do they know something that I don’t?’”

But Crystal also offered a serious, heartfelt thanks to everyone in his life that helped him achieve everything he has accomplished in his career so far. “I’ve been so blessed to work with such amazing people my entire career, which is now in its 50th year… But what’s exciting about it is so much more to come, that’s what’s exciting at this point in my life.”

Known for films and television appearances like When Harry Met Sally, Monsters, Inc., Saturday Night Live, City Slickers, Forget Paris, and more, Crystal is an icon. Over the years he has never feared getting older and has taken every year as an opportunity to achieve more and challenge himself. In a 2020 interview with People about his then-upcoming 72nd birthday, Crystal said, “I love the fact that I’m going to be 72 and I’m having a great chapter two and a half.”

“I’m working at a level that I’m really happy with. I’m just happy to keep getting chances to do things. And I love to be approached by great young talent just to say ‘Hi’ and talk,” he added. “To get a chance to do that at this point, I’m just really blessed. You wake up every day going, ‘All right, got something to do.’ And that’s a great feeling.”

But Crystal doesn’t take his age lightly. He works hard to keep his health in check so he can continue to work—always with a laugh. In a recent interview with CBS News, Crystal revealed he works out every day with a speeding ball, “And then I have a big eggplant parmesan hero,” he joked.

Crystal even added that playing older characters has gotten easier because he can relate to the characters in a unique way. “I am 73, so I don’t need five hours of makeup,” he said in the interview. “I just show up now. And I gotta tell you, it’s very thrilling because it just comes easier.”

And he doesn’t plan on going anywhere anytime soon. “I feel so good about how I’m working, that it’s really exciting now,” he said. “I know a lotta people who say, ‘I’m done.’ I feel like I’m starting. And that’s very exciting for me.”

But getting older isn’t easy, even for a star like Crystal. When asked by CBS News what the hardest parts of getting older are, he replied, “Well, first of all, you’re getting older. But hey, I’ll take it, you know? Um, memory!” He later added, “I think it’s how you take care of yourself. It’s what you put into your body. It’s what you don’t put into your body. That, you know, helps.”

In the same interview, Crystal admitted to looking at role models, like actor George Burns who lived to 100 years old. “I once asked him, ‘George, are you gonna retire’ And he said, ‘To what? What would I do?’ I said, ‘So, what’s the secret?’ ‘Get outta bed. Every day, just wake up and just get outta bed.’ And he lived to 100. And he was still performing in Vegas,” Crystal said.

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