Billy Crystal, Whoopi Goldberg and celebrate the opening of the Robin Williams Center in New York

Record ID: 84493

  • Title: Billy Crystal, Whoopi Goldberg and celebrate the opening of the Robin Williams Center in New York
  • Date: 6th October 2016
  • Summary: NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (OCTOBER 5, 2016) (REUTERS) ****WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** VARIOUS OF BILLY CRYSTAL POSING FOR PICTURES ON RED CARPET WITH WIFE CRYSTAL SPEAKING TO REPORTER (SOUNDBITE) (English) BILLY CRYSTAL, ENTERTAINER, SAYING: "Well I think it means a great deal to all. There's 40,000 SAG-AFTRA members in New York City alone. So to have a place that is dedicated to helping people who are not working and people who need help and connection and mentoring and just a place to come and feel connected, that's a fantastic thing. And that it has his spirit attached to it, which is a tremendous force, I think it's a great thing that SAG has done." CRYSTAL SPEAKING TO REPORTER (SOUNDBITE) (English) BILLY CRYSTAL, ENTERTAINER, SAYING: "He was an incredibly talented man we know, but he was also a gentle spirit and nothing but sharing and kindness and I think that's what people need when times get rough. You know that this building - you walk in - Robin was a big hugger and you'll feel that, I think, when you walk into this building." WIDE OF RED CARPET, PUSH TO WILLIAMS' DAUGHTER ZELDA WILLIAMS PHOTOGRAPHERS MORE OF ZELDA WILLIAMS ENTERTAINER WHOOPI GOLDBERG SPEAKING TO REPORTER (SOUNDBITE) (English) WHOOPI GOLDBERG, ENTERTAINER, SAYING: "He was at the Comedy Show in San Diego and we were just going in a playing and he walked in the room and wanted to play. It was like, really, he was like, yeah, so we did. And that's 1980 maybe one. So he's been part of my life a long time." VARIOUS OF GOLDBERG SPEAKING TO REPORTERS (SOUNDBITE) (English) WHOOPI GOLDBERG, ENTERTAINER, SAYING: "I think he would think it's the silliest thing he ever heard. And he would make all kinds of jokes about it. And you know, there's just not enough of him, for me. You can't name enough things after him, I'd rather have him." ACTOR BOB BALABAN POSING FOR PICTURES (SOUNDBITE) (English) BOB BALABAN, ACTOR, SAYING: "I have no idea what he would think about it. And I think he would enjoy it and I think he wouldn't take it too seriously, but I think he'd be grateful. And I think he could think of three ways of making fun of it and maybe 20." VARIOUS OF ACTRESS BONNIE HUNT ON RED CARPET (SOUNDBITE) (English) BONNIE HUNT, ACTRESS, SAYING: "I think my favorite thing about Robin is our personal connection and the loyalty of our friendship. How much I relied on it and how much I miss him." ACTOR HANK AZARIA POSING FOR PICTURES PHOTOGRAPHERS ACTRESS GABRIELLE CARTERIS POSING FOR PICTURES PHIL DONAHUE AND MARLO THOMAS POSING FOR PICTURES FILM MAKER BARRY LEVINSON POSING FOR PICTURES VARIOUS EXTERIORS OF SAG-AFTRA ROBIN WILLIAMS CENTER
  • Embargoed: 21st October 2016 01:38
  • Keywords: Robin Williams Billy Crystal SAG-AFTRA center New York daughter Whoopi Goldberg Bonnie Hunt Barry Levinson death honor Zelda Williams
  • Location: NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES
  • City: NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Celebrities,Arts/Culture/Entertainment
  • Reuters ID: LVA00152V7J9P
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Late comedian Robin Williams was honored in New York on Wednesday (October 05) night with the SAG-AFTRA (Screen Actors Guild‐American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) Foundation Robin William Center.
    The building will be a space for nurturing the over 40,000 actors in New York City. Williams' long time friend, Billy Crystal, said it means a great deal to those in the industry.
    "To have a place that is dedicated to helping people who are not working and people who need help and connection and mentoring and just a place to come and feel connected, that's a fantastic thing. And that it has his spirit attached to it, which is a tremendous force, I think it's a great thing that SAG has done," said the comedian who worked with Williams both on and off screen.
    Crystal remembered Williams as a 'hugger' and spoke of the warmth the building will bring to visitors.
    "He was an incredibly talented man we know, but he was also a gentle spirit and nothing but sharing and kindness and I think that's what people need when times get rough."
    On the red carpet, entertainer Whoopi Goldberg had fond memories of meeting Williams for the first time.
    "He was at the Comedy Show in San Diego and we were just going in a playing and he walked in the room and wanted to play. It was like, really, he was like, yeah, so we did. And that's 1980 maybe one. So he's been part of my life a long time," said Goldberg who worked with Williams on the charity Comic Relief.
    The center, located in the theater district of Manhattan, has a 154 seat theater and will offer free educational classes to members.
    Opening night was attended by Williams' daughter Zelda and featured a celebration of the late comedian's work, followed by a panel with Crystal, Goldberg, actors Hank Azaria and Bonnie Hunt and film maker Barry Levinson.
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