Billy Crystal Recalls Living in Long Beach in New Book

After financially assisting the City of Long Beach and shooting a television ad to promote tourism to Hurricane Sandy-bruised beach town, Billy Crystal is in the midst of a promotional tour of his new book, passages of which recall his days living in Long Beach, both as a youth and adult. 

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The Pulse magazine this month features a story on the Long Beach native’s memoir-like book, titled “Still Foolin’ ‘Em: Where I’ve Been, Where I’m Going, and Where the Hell Are My Keys?,” in which he remembers living, The Pulse writes:

“ … in a tiny apartment in the house he grew up in, and taking care of Jenny, the first of his two daughters, there. This was during the early part of his career, before he moved to Los Angeles in 1976.”

Crystal’s book also recounts a turning point in his decision to become an entertainer — one who would take a part in a television series (ABC’s Soap, 1977), star in a blockbuster movie (When Harry Met Sally, 1989), and host the Oscars nine times — which occurred at a variety show he performed in at Long Beach High School when he was 14-years-old, a year before his father died.

The Pulse article references the $1 million donation Crystal and other celebrities made in June to Long Beach for its recovery efforts, as well as the ad in which he describes spending time in his hometown as “just another day in paradise.”

Of Long Beach, Crystal said: “That’s where I lived. That’s where I grew up. I became funny there. I lost my parents there.”

Read the full story here.