Billy Crystal Reveals Secret to 54-Year Marriage with Janice: "Enjoy All the Time"

Billy Crystal shares timeless advice on maintaining a long marriage. At the premiere of his new AppleTV+ series, Before, the 76-year-old actor offered insights into his 54 years with wife Janice Crystal, writes People.

Key Ingredients to Lasting Love

Crystal emphasizes four essential elements: "respect, humor, honesty, and respect for our lives as individuals and as a couple." He adds, "Just enjoy all the time that you have together, through the thin and the thinner."

The couple first met during the summer of 1966 as teenagers in Long Beach, N.Y. They married on June 4, 1970. The couple is blessed with two daughters, Jennifer, born January 26, 1973, and Lindsay, born October 21, 1977.

Parenting Changes Everything

At the Before premiere, Crystal discussed parenting with Janice, 75. "Oh, children change everything," he remarked. "When I first became a dad in 1973, Janice was working. I began my stand-up career at night, so I was ‘Mr. Mom’ during the day. That totally changed my life."

Crystal reflects on the responsibility he felt as a 25-year-old father. "You learn to love something much more than yourself. It was the greatest experience of my life." He continues, "My goal has been to leave the world with two amazing daughters. Now they are mothers, teaching our four grandchildren about responsibility in an ever-changing world."

Continuous Discovery and Curiosity

In a May 2021 interview on The Kelly Clarkson Show, Crystal mentioned how he and Janice still learn from one another. "We still love being together," he shared. "We have so much fun and discover new things about each other. Remaining curious is crucial for our bond."

Looking back before their 50th anniversary in 2020, he expressed his desire to emulate his parents' relationship. "My parents appeared to love being together," he noted. "That’s what I took from them. My wife and I still feel like we’re dating."