Whoopi Goldberg and Billy Crystal Help Dedicate Robin Williams Center for Media and Entertainment

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With light being shown on Robin Williams’ struggle as recently as the end of September in an editorial on neurology.org by his wife, a glow will also be cast on his professional legacy. A dais of entertainment industry legends with professional and person ties to the namesake gathered to dedicate the SAG-AFTRA Foundation’s Robin Williams Center for Media and Entertainment.

Whoopi Goldberg and Billy Crystal shared stories of working with the comedian across three decades for Comic Relief while “Good Morning Vietnam” director Barry Levinson and “Birdcage” star Hank Azaria recalled different strategies of managing the actor’s unrelenting energy. Other speakers included Pamela Reed, Williams’ colleague on “Cadillac Man” and Williams himself through a 30-minute clip from an interview entitled “Conversations”. Every speaker was unanimous in their recollections of their unbelievably talented, generous, exhausting friend. Besides entertaining casts and crews, Williams would discreetly offer to entertain oncology nurse Helen Hunt’s patients and help them forget their suffering with laughter.

The Center launches with $16 million in funds to support programming featuring greats across all arenas of acting, broadcasting and recording. $6 million has been allocated to the Center with the remaining $10 million reserved for the foundation’s endowment. The Center is also gearing up for a career retrospective with anchor Tom Brokaw in the near future. All future events will be available online through the SAG-AFTRA Foundation’s website and YouTube channel.

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Rachel Crowe

The most notable lies Rachel Crowe has ever told were that she has 10 children (no twins), she’s running a marathon retracing the path her ancestors took to evade the IRS and that she found childcare for 10 on a Saturday night. She’s also a stand-up comedian and dog walker living in Los Angeles. Follow Rachel on Twitter @Racheddar or on Instagram @thelma_and_disease. Or don’t, but at least appreciate those fresh hot puns.
Rachel Crowe
Rachel Crowe
The most notable lies Rachel Crowe has ever told were that she has 10 children (no twins), she’s running a marathon retracing the path her ancestors took to evade the IRS and that she found childcare for 10 on a Saturday night. She’s also a stand-up comedian and dog walker living in Los Angeles. Follow Rachel on Twitter @Racheddar or on Instagram @thelma_and_disease. Or don’t, but at least appreciate those fresh hot puns.