Whoopi Goldberg and Billy Crystal Shed Tears During Emotional Remembrance of Robin Williams
Goldberg gave a sweet nod to Williams while paying tribute to Crystal at the 46th annual Kennedy Center Honors
LAS VEGAS, NV – NOVEMBER 18: Actor/comedians (L-R) Robin Williams, Whoopi Goldberg and Billy Crystal, pose after hosting the “Comic Relief 2006” show at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace November 18, 2006 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The benefit was held to help families in the Gulf Coast affected by Hurricane Katrina. Ethan Miller/Getty Images
Whoopi Goldberg and Billy Crystal shared an emotional moment while thinking back on their friend, the late Robin Williams.
Goldberg gave a nod to Williams while paying tribute to Crystal at the 46th annual Kennedy Center Honors, which aired on Wednesday. “I want to acknowledge that the person who should also be standing here with me is our brother Robin,” Goldberg said as she she fought back tears.
The camera panned to Crystal, who was also crying. Goldberg, Crystal and Williams were close friends, known to host multiple charity telethons for Comic Relief over the years.
Both Crystal and Goldberg paid tribute to Williams following his death in 2014, delivering speeches during the unveiling of a New York City acting center that was named after the late comedian. Sponsored by the SAG-AFTRA foundation, the Robin Williams Center offers free educational programs to performers.
“I think of him as my brother,” Whoopi Goldberg said at the time, per Variety. “He was my big brother and the funniest person that I knew, and anybody that dared to be as free as he did, has a shot to be as good as he was. That’s the legacy. He dares you to be as good if you can be as free.”
Crystal added, “We miss him terribly, but I think his spirit will live on through the building.”
Williams died by suicide after struggling with a brain disease called diffuse Lewy body dementia, his widow Susan said in a 2015 interview with Good Morning America. She revealed that the comedian was “just disintegrating” mentally and physically in the months leading up to his death.
As for her relationship with the actor, she said, “It’s the best love I ever dreamed of.”
