Billy Crystal knows a thing or two about delivering the perfect punchline, and his answer to the secret behind his lasting marriage was no exception.
Speaking exclusively to HELLO! at PaleyFest NY, the actor was asked what makes his relationship with wife Janice work after more than five decades together.
His wonderfully succinct response? "Ask her." Billy, 78, attended the evening with Janice, and his playful reply was followed by a touching tribute inside the event, where he described her as the "love of his life" while accepting his PaleyFest Award.
The couple celebrated their 56th wedding anniversary in June, having married long before Billy became one of Hollywood's most familiar faces.
© Ron Galella Collection via GettyBilly Crystal honors wife Janice at PaleyFest NY
The comedian was celebrated at The Paley Museum in New York on Monday, 12 October, during a conversation moderated by Whoopi Goldberg.
The event looked back on his career while also celebrating his latest Broadway production, 860. Billy was among the recipients of the inaugural PaleyFest Award, introduced this year to recognise achievements in television, media and entertainment.
© Ron Galella Collection via GettyHowever, some of the evening's most personal moments concerned the woman who has shared his life since before his rise to fame. Reflecting on their relationship during the conversation, Billy joked: "I wore her down… I wouldn't let her go."
He also revealed that Janice had been the one to suggest marriage, telling the audience: "She asked me to get married."
Billy and Janice Crystal's 56-year marriage
Billy and Janice met as teenagers in Long Beach, New York, in the summer of 1966. Four years later, they married on 4 June 1970.
They went on to welcome daughters Jennifer and Lindsay and are now grandparents to four grandchildren. Their relationship began well before the success of When Harry Met Sally, making Janice part of Billy's story from its earliest chapters.
That shared family history is now central to his return to the stage. The couple lost their longtime Pacific Palisades home in the January 2025 wildfires. They had lived there for 46 years, raising their daughters and building the memories that inspired his new production.
© Getty ImagesJanice Crystal joins Billy's Broadway show 860
Named after the street number of their former home, 860 brings together stories about family, friendship, love and loss.
Written and performed by Billy and directed by Scott Ellis, the solo show began previews at Broadway's Imperial Theatre on 1 October. Its official opening is scheduled for 21 October, with performances running until 3 January 2027.
Janice is also involved behind the scenes as a producer, adding another shared project to their decades together.
When Whoopi asked how working with his wife played out, Billy had another joke ready, this time about the overlap between his personal and professional lives. "I'm sleeping with the producer… an old Hollywood story."
