Whoopi Goldberg Has Tears in Her Eyes During Emotional Segment on ‘The View’ With Billy Crystal

Whoopi Goldberg and Billy Crystal shared an emotional moment on The View that left everyone at home in tears.

The When Harry Met Sally… actor appeared on the talk show on Wednesday, October 23, to discuss one of his latest accolades, being named a Kennedy Center honoree last year.

“It meant a tremendous amount. When you’re chosen for your work, it’s not a competition, a very distinguished board looks at your life’s work. I was incredibly honored,” Billy, 76, told the panelists of the tremendous honor. “You don’t know who’s going to come to do your presentation at the hall. It was Rob Reiner, Mr. [Robert] De Niro, Marc Shaiman, and then Whoopi walked out and it just sealed the deal for me.”

A clip was shown of Whoopi’s speech at the December 2023 event, in which she referenced “the person who also should be standing here with me, our brother Robin [Williams.]” She put her arms out to gesture at the spot on stage where Williams would be standing.

“You are my family, you’re my big brother, and you have no idea what an honor it is to see you get your due,” the EGOT winner continued. “I love you. You’re a mensch. You’re a national treasure. National treasure. Billy, congratulations.”

Williams died by suicide on August 11, 2014, at age 63. The Mrs. Doubtfire actor worked with Whoopi and Billy on the Comic Relief charity specials over the years.

“We’ve been through so much together, that when you came out and put your arm out like we did after he left us, that just made it all just so personal, you know?” Billy said on The View, as he and Whoopi’s eyes filled up with tears. “He was on my mind from the time we got to Washington, because of all of our memories there, the first time we went for Comic Relief back in ’86, it was very special stuff.”

The duo were both visibly emotional by the conversation, as they both remembered their late friend on The View, as Williams meant the world to them.

While speaking with reporters at the Kennedy Center Honors taping last year, Billy remembered Williams and their friendship.

“I’m really feeling I’m missing my friend Robin tonight, very much so, because of all of what we did together,” he said. “I know that he would be here, and he is. So it’s special, and a lot of feelings for me tonight.”

After Williams’ death, Billy paid tribute to the late comedic legend in a speech at the 2014 Emmy Awards.

“He made us laugh hard, every time you saw him,” Billy told the audience during the broadcast. “His brilliance was astounding… I used to think if I could just put a saddle on him and stay on for eight seconds I would be OK.”

“As genius as he was on stage, he was the greatest friend you could imagine,” he shared. “It’s very hard to talk about him in the past, he was so present in all our lives … for 40 years, he was the brightest star in the comedy galaxy.”