Whoopi GoldbergandBilly Crystalbecame emotional remembering their friend, the late, greatRobin Williams, during this year’s Kennedy Center Honors. At the event, which took place in Washington, D.C., on December 3 but was televised on December 27, Goldberg and Crystal both fondly spoke about Williams. During her speech celebrating Crystal, who was one of the night’s honorees alongside Queen Latifah, Dionne Warwick, Renée Fleming, and Barry Gibb, Goldberg became emotional when noting Williams' notable absence:
I want to acknowledge the person who should also be standing here with me is our brother Robin.
The Viewco-host then pointed at the space beside her, where Williams would have been. A quick glance at Crystal also revealed the actor’s emotions during the moment. Turning back to honoring Crystal, Golberg added:
“You’re my big brother, and you have no idea what an honor it is to see you get your due. I love you. You’re a mensch. You’re a national treasure. National treasure. Billy, congratulations.”
Before the event, Crystal spoke with reporters on the red carpet abouttheMrs. Doubtfireactor:
“I’m really feeling I’m missing my friend Robin tonight, very much so, because of all of what we did together.” He added: “I know that he would be here, and he is. So it’s special, and a lot of feelings for me tonight.”
Related:Robin Williams' 10 Greatest Unscripted Movie Moments
Whoopi Goldberg, Billy Crystal and Robin Williams' Special Friendship
Williams, Crystal, and Goldberg’s friendship dates back decades, as the three co-hosted several telethons for the non-profit organization Comic Relief, which helps raise money for those in need, throughout the 1980s and 1990s. In 2006, the trio joined forces for a live comedy event supporting Hurricane Katrina victims.
On-screen, Crystal and Williams have collaborated on several scripted projects, includingFather’s Day, Woody Allen’sDeconstructing Harry, and Kenneth Branagh’sHamlet.The two also appeared in theFriendsepisode"The One With The Ultimate Fighting Champion" during the hit NBC series' third season.
Williams and Crystal were both in attendance when Goldberg received the Mark Twain Prize in 2001; Crystal would go on to earn the same accolade in 2007, with Goldberg and Williams by his side.
Williams died by suicide on July 13, 2025; he was 63. The actor had struggled with depression and Parkinson’s disease, and it was publicly discovered post-death that he had Lewy Body Dementia. Following his death, Crystal and Goldberg both delivered speeches during Williams' funeral.
Just two weeks after Robin’s death, which wasdeeply felt by the entertainment industry and fansof the talented actor, Crystal took the Emmy Awards stage to commemorate Williams:
“He made us laugh hard. Every time you saw him — on television, movies, nightclubs, arenas, hospitals, homeless shelters. As genius as he was on stage, he was the greatest friend you could ever imagine. Supportive, protective, loving. It’s very hard to talk about him in the past because he was so present in all of our lives. For almost 40 years, he was the brightest star in the comedy galaxy.”
