How an HBO Documentary Captured Robin Williams’s Genius
On June 11, 2004, Billy Crystal was watching Ronald Reagan’s funeral on TV. His phone rang.
“Bill,” the voice on the other end said. “Hi. It’s Ron Reagan.” It sounded just like the 40th president—the friendly voice, the folksy affect. “I wanted to tell you that I’m in heaven now. I’m having a wonderful time.” Crystal played along: “Oh, really? What’s heaven like?” “Well,” the voice replied, “it’s a lot hotter than I thought it would be.”
Crystal tells this story in the new HBO documentary , about one of the many prank calls from on August 11, 2014, and the new film, by director Marina Zenovich, is a reminder of just how singular his talent was.
