Billy Crystal will personally honor his longtime friend and fellow actor-comedian, Robin Williams, at the 66th Annual Emmy Awards. Williams will be included in the telecast’s regular “In Memoriam” segment. Last week, Emmys producer Don Mischer released a statement saying, “We are working to give Robin Williams the proper and meaningful remembrance he so well deserves.” Yesterday Mischer added, “We felt we needed to do something powerful and memorable. Billy seemed like the perfect choice.” The upcoming Emmys mark the first time Crystal will make a public statement regarding his close friend’s death. On August 11, the day Williams’ death was announced, the frequent Oscar host only posted to Twitter, “No Words.”
The comedy duo co-starred in the 1997 film Father’s Day, and appeared onstage together for a bit act at the Academy Awards in 2004 when Crystal introduced Williams to announce the nominees and winner of the Best Animated Feature. Along with Whoopi Goldberg, Williams and Crystal also hosted the annual Comic Relief telethon between 1986 and 1998, a non-profit charity organization that raised money for those in need. Fans of the hit television sitcom, Friends, will remember Williams and Crystal from a hilarious cameo appearance on the 1997 episode, The One with the Ultimate Fighting Champion. The 2014 Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony airs Monday, August 25th on NBC. ~Daniel Horowitz