Funnyman Billy Crystal reveals the three things that make a successful marriage

Billy Crystal is one of the world’s favourite comedians but one thing many people may not know is that he has enjoyed wedded bliss for 54 years.

Now the funnyman has revealed the secret to his happy marriage is down to three things: humour, respect and trust.

Crystal admitted it was love at first sight when he met his now wife, Janice, while working at a summer camp in Long Beach, New York in 1966.

They tied the knot four years later and went on to have Jennifer, 51, as well as 47-year-old Lindsay who are both mothers themselves.

Speaking to Fox News Digital the City Slickers star revealed it was the “respect” he and his wife have given each other over the years that kept the couple together more than half a century later.

“Humour and trust and constantly be interested in what each of us are doing and respecting our separate lives and who we are,” Crystal said.

“But our common goal was always just to raise a beautiful family, which we have and continue to do.

“And just respect each other. And she’s an extraordinary person.”

The comedian also admitted some kismet may have played a part in their relationship, noting that most long-distance relationships rarely work.

“I’m lucky. I was 18. She was 17. And here we still are,” he said.

As for many couples, their relationship changed once they had their first child in 1973 but the couple did things their way, challenging the gender roles of the time.

Speaking to People magazine Crystal said his wife Janice went to work during the day while he tried to establish a stand-up career during the night.

“So, during the day, I was ‘Mr. Mom’ and that changed my life totally,” Crystal confessed.

“The responsibility as a 25-year-old with an infant that can’t get through the day without you.

“When you learn that you can love something much more than yourself, it was the greatest experience in my life as a person.

“That’s been my total effort of my life is to leave the world with two amazing daughters – grown women now, mothers of their own.”

In addition to enjoying a loving marriage and happy family life, Crystal has also enjoyed a hugely successful entertainment career.

After starting out as a stand-up comic, Crystal went on to star in the TV sitcom Soap during the show’s four-season run from 1977 to 1981.

Though Joan Rivers’ 1978 comedy Rabbit Test marked his film debut, he went on to appear in Rob Reiner’s 1984 rockumentary This is Spinal Tap, and later on in the director’s 1987 fantasy romantic comedy The Princess Bride.

While more film roles followed, Crystal rocketed to stardom when Reiner cast him in the 1989 hit romantic comedy When Harry Met Sally.

The versatile performer went on to host the Academy Awards nine times, become a Broadway star and publish five books while continuing with a successful Hollywood career.

– with BANG