Hollywood A-Lister Is Unrecognizable at 77 After Sweet Reunion With Fan-Favorite Co-Star — Can You Guess Who He Is? 🎭🛍️
Many fans hardly recognized a Hollywood legend who was recently spotted grocery shopping in New York City.
The adored actor was completely different at 77 than when he was a comedy leading man and a mainstay on the red carpet.
He moved unobtrusively and was dressed modestly, blending in with the city’s daily bustle.
But beyond the understated exterior was a guy whose legacy has influenced almost every aspect of entertainment and whose visage once made millions of people grin.
He started his career in the smokey comedy clubs of Manhattan in the 1970s, long before he became well-known.
He immediately distinguished himself with his keen wit and innate friendliness.
He was also chosen to make an appearance in a sketch for the inaugural Saturday Night Live broadcast in 1975.
Even though that sketch was never shown, it was the beginning of an incredible adventure.
He made his debut in 1977 when he played Jodie Dallas on the sitcom Soap, a daring and then-unprecedented character.
His portrayal was both groundbreaking and moving, as he was one of the first openly gay regular characters on American television.
It defied prevailing societal mores and made him known as a performer who wasn’t scared to take chances in order to deliver stories that had meaning.
A year later, he made the leap to the big screen with an odd beginning, playing a man who gets pregnant in the strange comedy Rabbit Test.
Despite its poor critical and commercial reception, the film, which was written and directed by the renowned Joan Rivers, became a peculiar anecdote in a career that would soon take off.
He went back to his origins in stand-up comedy in the early 1980s, and in 1984 he rejoined Saturday Night Live as a full-fledged cast member.
His character development and comedic timing were immediate hits, and lines like “You look mahvelous” were ingrained in popular culture.
However, he eventually outgrew the concept of the show and was destined for larger roles and screens.
Like Miracle Max, who made a fleeting but amusing appearance in The Princess Bride and stole moments with his charisma, he played memorable supporting roles that still have an impact on fans today.
He collaborated with Danny DeVito on the twisted dark comedy Throw Momma from the Train the same year, which demonstrated his ability to strike a balance between earnestness and silliness.
Then came the turning point: Harry’s first encounter with Sally.
Rob Reiner directed and Nora Ephron wrote the romantic comedy, which was released in 1989.
It starred him and Meg Ryan in what would turn out to be one of the most famous on-screen couples ever.
Audiences responded well to his portrayal of Harry, who was perceptive, charming, and neurotic.
He became a leading man once the movie became a cultural classic.
Like him, it had intelligence, wit, and heart.
With movies like Father’s Day and City Slickers, for which he was nominated for a Golden Globe, he maintained that momentum into the 1990s.
Fans were even taken aback by his brief appearance as one of the gravediggers in Kenneth Branagh’s Hamlet.
He directed Mr. Saturday Night, a poignant look at the life of a deceased stand-up comedian, and Forget Paris, in which he costarred with Debra Winger, during that same decade.
In addition to his acting career, he rose to prominence as one of the Academy Awards’ most adored presenters.
He hosted the Oscars nine times between 1990 and 2012.
He transformed the program into an art form with his opening musical pieces, witty montages, and natural stage presence.
His hosting approach, which was based on celebration and spectacle, was never cruel.
He took on a new role in the 2000s when he voiced the endearing green, one-eyed Mike Wazowski in Pixar’s Monsters, Inc.
His character became a generational favorite, and the movie was a huge hit.
He continued to make young viewers giggle by reprising the role in Monsters University and the Disney+ comedy Monsters at Work.
Never one to sit back and enjoy success, he made a comeback to Broadway in 2022 as Buddy Young Jr. in a musical adaption of Mr. Saturday Night.
His performance received praise, demonstrating that his skill and stage presence remained unwavering.
Returning to a narrative he had written decades before, but with the insight and poignancy that only time can offer, was a full circle experience.
He reconnected with Meg Ryan at the 2025 Oscars earlier this year, giving fans another moment to remember.
When the two took the stage together to deliver Best Picture, they were met with roaring acclaim and a surge of nostalgia.
Their connection, which hasn’t diminished over time, reminded everyone why their movie is still regarded as a classic romantic comedy.
As a result, many people were not instantly familiar with the man wearing the baseball cap and glasses when they saw him strolling around Manhattan looking for groceries.
A living legend whose voice, wit, and heart have influenced contemporary entertainment, the unmistakable spark still shines through the gray hair and reserved manner.
He’s Billy Crystal, of course.
