Jewish actor and comedian Billy Crystal says a series of devastating personal losses has shaken his trust in God, including the destruction of his longtime family home in the 2025 Pacific Palisades wildfire and the killing of one of his closest friends. In an interview with “CBS Sunday Morning,” Crystal, 78, said he no longer turns to God as he once did because too many painful events have changed his outlook.
When asked if he has been talking to God during this difficult time, Crystal replied, “No, because I don’t trust Him. Too many bad things have happened. The Earth is in bad shape. This is a weird, scary time. So no, not anymore.” Crystal made the remarks as he prepares to bring his new one-man Broadway show, “860,” to audiences.
The show draws on memories of his home, his family and the grief he has experienced. The admission marks a significant shift from Crystal’s earlier work, including his 2004 one-man show, “700 Sundays,” about the 700 Sundays he spent with his father before his father’s death. In that show, Crystal described conversations with God. Crystal’s frustration stems in part from the January 2025 destruction of the home he shared with his wife, Janice.
The wind-driven wildfire that swept through the Los Angeles neighborhood destroyed more than 5,000 homes, including the Crystals’ house. “Oh God, what a morning. Helicopters and sirens woke us up to the news that there was a big brush fire in the Highlands,” Crystal recalled of the day the fire burned his home. Crystal described the property as a special place that had helped him feel young.
He said the loss remains painful, even though he recognizes that he and his family were fortunate in other ways.