Billy Crystal on Losing His Home in the L.A. Fires, His 56-Year Marriage & What Keeps Him Laughing

At 78, Billy Crystal is looking back on a life filled with love, friendship and laughter — while facing losses he never imagined. He opens up about losing the home he shared with his family for 46 years in the 2025 Palisades fire. Carrying photo albums and little more than the clothes on their backs, he and his wife Janice left before the fire destroyed their neighborhood. When they returned, one of the few things they recovered was a rock engraved with the word “laughter.” In this deeply personal conversation, Billy shares how that loss inspired his one-man play, ‘860,’ a story about resilience, love and finding a way forward. He looks back on how Norman Lear and Carl Reiner discovered him and cast him as Rob Reiner’s best friend on ‘All in the Family.’ Billy also recalls his “forever” friendship with Rob, sharing memories from ‘The Princess Bride’ and revealing how their phone calls inspired scenes in ‘When Harry Met Sally.’ He opens up about mourning Rob, the moment he knew he would marry Janice, his wife of 56 years, and what still keeps him laughing. 'Billy Crystal 860,' now in previews, opens Oct. 21. Subscribe to People ►► http://bit.ly/SubscribetoPeople Download the free PEOPLE App: 📱 https://bit.ly/3H0bthA CONNECT Web: 💻 https://people.com Facebook:   / peoplemag   Instagram:   / people   TikTok:   / people   PEOPLE remains the trusted authority at the center of pop culture. The PEOPLE brand features a unique mix of breaking entertainment news, exclusive photos, video, unparalleled access to the red carpet, celebrities, and in-depth reporting on the most compelling newsmakers of our time. Billy Crystal on Losing His Home in the L.A. Fires, His 56-Year Marriage & What Keeps Him Laughing    / people