Description: Billy Crystal revisited his “Grandpa Mike” nickname on Jimmy Fallon's October 26, 2026 show. Discover why his grandchildren wanted Mike Wazowski on the phone, where Miracle Max fits in, and why the story is older than the headlines.
Billy Crystal's grandchildren called him “Grandpa Mike” because he provided the original English voice of Mike Wazowski in Pixar's Monsters, Inc. When the children discovered that, they called their grandfather and asked to speak to Mike. His celebrated acting career had turned him into an on-demand character hotline at home.
What happened on October 26?
Crystal appeared on NBC's The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Monday, October 26, 2026, scheduled for 11:35 p.m. Eastern. While discussing his Broadway one-man show 860, he recalled how his four grandchildren gradually came to understand his career. The show's official YouTube channel carried the interview clip, and entertainment outlets reported the anecdote on October 27.
Why did they ask whether Mike was there?
Mike Wazowski is the little round green monster with one enormous eye who works alongside Sulley in the 2001 Pixar movie. Crystal performed Mike's voice in the English original. For children who adored the character, having the performer in the family was irresistible: call Grandpa, request Mike, and listen as Grandpa switches voices.
The family casting service extended beyond animation. The children also asked for Miracle Max, the eccentric healer Crystal played in the 1987 fantasy comedy The Princess Bride. A routine family call became a miniature show where the audience chose the role.
What's funny, and why is it news again?
The punchline is a reversal of status. Adults see a Hollywood star; small children see the man who can put Mike on the phone. His professional achievement generated an extra domestic obligation, and the fictional character even took over Grandpa's name.
This is a rediscovered anecdote, not a newly invented 2026 nickname. Crystal told CityNews Toronto in June 2013 that he had spent about a year as “Grandpa Mike,” having to talk like the character. The Fallon appearance brought the story back to entertainment headlines; multiple articles do not establish a measured worldwide viral trend. Also, Crystal's performance belongs to the original English track. International dubbed versions may feature other actors.
The answer
“Grandpa Mike” was an affectionate family nickname. The joke is that the actor who gave Mike a voice on screen couldn't always clock out of the role at home.
