Billy Crystal is currently starring in a psychological thriller on AppleTV+ called Before, which co-stars Ava Lalezarzadeh, Judith Light, and Rosie Perez. Its first episode dropped on October 25, and new episodes air every Friday through December 20. The premise involves a child psychologist who recently lost his wife. One day, he sees a new patient, an eight-year-old boy, who has “inexplicable knowledge” of his life.
While talking with People to promote Before, Billy was asked about one of his most famous movies, When Harry Met Sally, which turns 35 this year. I freaking love that movie. During the interview, Billy talked about what it was like to film it, how they all knew that it would be something “special,” and his thoughts about how it’s one of those movies that still appeals to younger movie goers.
Production knew it was going to be a big hit: “You knew it was special,” the 76-year-old actor tells PEOPLE of working on the movie. “You don’t know that it’s 35 years special. You know that it was a terrific script. Meg and I had a fantastic chemistry together.” He also praises the late Carrie Fisher and Bruno Kirby, who played the movie’s secondary couple, Marie and Jess, as “great.”
Filming was a great experience: “All you can control is the experience. And it was a great script, phenomenal director, great director of photography, Barry Sonnenfeld, who later became a terrific director himself. It came at a perfect time for us in our lives, and it just felt good. But you don’t know what’s good until you see it all put together.”
The reaction to the deli scene during the first test screening: “I was sitting in the back with Rob and the movie’s playing amazingly well. And then the deli scene came on and the audience laughed like you can’t believe,” he recalls, referencing the now-iconic line “I’ll have what she’s having,” which was delivered by Reiner’s mom Estelle. “Rob had to add footage on the other side of [the line] because the laugh was so big.”
He still feels the love: The actor is thrilled that “all these years later” there’s still “so much affection” for the film and its title couple. Not only is the movie “so revered,” he says, but “new generations, they love it too.” He says, “It’s not like, ‘Oh, it’s my parents’ movie.’ This still is for everybody. That’s really good.”
He’s also recognized for Monsters Inc: He also says When Harry Met Sally is still the movie he’s recognized most for, though Monsters Inc., in which he played Mike Wazowski, also has vocal fans. “It’s fortunate, I’ve been in movies that there are some moments that stick with people,” he says. “I’m glad that the movies have meant something.”
He donated that famous sweater: Crystal’s Harry is a divorced lawyer with a cynical side that was based in part on Reiner, now 77, while Ryan’s Sally was based in part on Ephron. And both Crystal and Ryan, 62, became autumn style icons, with the You’ve Got Mail star inspiring Meg Ryan Fall, and Harry’s wardrobe beloved for one particularly iconic sweater. Crystal tells PEOPLE he doesn’t know where that cozy, white sweater is now. “I made a donation,” he says. “I believe it was to UCLA’s theater department with tons of clothes for costumes. I have a feeling it’s there.”
Before sounds really interesting. Since I’m back on the AppleTV+ train thanks to Shrinking, I’m adding it to my list of shows to watch. I’m going to have some free time once Only Murders in the Building and Agatha All Along end. Billy Crystal really has had one of those all-star Hollywood careers. Much like Tom Hanks, he’s beloved by different generations for different roles, and really, you can’t get much better than that.
Earlier this year, I finally made it to Katz Deli and saw the table where Billy and Meg Ryan sat while filming the famous “I’ll have what she’s having” scene. It was neat to see a part of cinema history in the wild. I know we couldn’t have been the only people in that very packed restaurant to have been there because of the movie because I observed other patrons taking pictures under the sign that marked the table. It really is one of those films that transcends generations, like Casablanca, Mary Poppins, or The Wizard of Oz.
Photos credit: Getty, Robin Platzer/Twin Images/Avalon and FayesVision/Wenn/Avalon