Which comedian created and starred in the 1992 film Mr. Saturday Night?

Billy Crystal created and starred in the 1992 film Mr. Saturday Night.

Crystal wrote the screenplay with Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel, directed the film, and played Buddy Young Jr., a fictional comedian whose career stretches from the early days of television into old age. The movie explores the costs of ambition, fame, family conflict, and a performer’s difficulty accepting that his biggest successes are behind him.

Mr. Saturday Night was Crystal’s feature-film directorial debut. He also portrayed Buddy at several ages through makeup and performance, making the role one of his most demanding dramatic-comic parts.

The title refers to the era when television variety and entertainment programs made Saturday-night appearances especially valuable to performers. The character is fictional, although the film draws on recognizable patterns from the careers of older comedians and entertainers.