Billy Crystal reflects on acting challenges and regrets turning down Toy Story role

Comedian Billy Crystal enjoys being “stretched” as an actor.

The 76-year-old star of the new psychological thriller mini-series Before said he relished the challenge of making the show.

“It’s a long way from ‘I’ll have what she is having’ for sure,” he said on The Graham Norton Show.

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“But, at any time in our careers, it is great to do something new, to be stretched to do something different.

“I love this job, and I love being in this very dark, mysterious world.”

Crystal, who starred alongside Meg Ryan in 1989’s When Harry Met Sally, has enjoyed huge success in his career but still regrets rejecting a role in Toy Story, the 1995 animated comedy.

“I was the dope that turned it down, but it wasn’t about the character — it was a business thing, and my agent said not to do it, so I passed,” Crystal said.

“Then it comes out, and it is genius.”

Toy Story remains one of the most influential and popular animated films of all time.

Crystal said Toy Story’s success influenced his decision to join the Monsters, Inc. franchise.

“Two years later when the producers of Toy Story first mentioned Monsters, Inc., I said ‘whatever it is, say yes’,” he said.

“They convinced me by showing me a screen test they had done of me as Buzz Lightyear in the scene from When Harry Met Sally ... where I am yelling about a wagon wheel coffee table.

“They even had a little Buzz under the table.

“It was astonishing, and if I had seen that, I would definitely have done Toy Story.”