Whoopi Goldberg Fights Back Tears While Reminiscing Robin Williams With Billy Crystal On 'The View'

ByChristian Saclao

Sep 20, 2014 07:57 AM EDT

Whoopi Goldberg appeared to hold back tears on the Friday (Sept. 19) episode of "The View" as her buddy Billy Crystal remembered their late, mutual longtime friend, Robin Williams, who succumbed to his depression just last month at the age of 63.

Crystal, 66, was having an interview with Goldberg to talk about his book "Still Foolin' 'em: Where I've Been, Where I'm Going, and Where the Hell Are My Keys?" when the conversation sidetracked to their dear friend Williams, ABC News reported.

The "When Harry Met Sally" actor, who recently paid tribute to Williams at the Emmy Awards last month, opened up about his experience of delivering a eulogy for their friend in national television.

"It was one of the hardest, if not the hardest thing I've ever had to do," Crystal said. "He was such a great, dear friend of ours, such a joyous spirit, so when it all happened ... that's why I tweeted that, 'No words,' 'cause I didn't have any. I just had pain. So, that night [at the Emmys] was the first night I would talk and say something about our buddy. It was hard to craft it and make it humorous and personal ... and sort of being a two-minute eulogy in front of the country."

Crystal, Williams and Goldberg co-hosted the first Comic Relief USA fundraiser in 1986, which aimed to raise funds for healthcare for the homeless. The charity organization was formed by Bob Zmuda, and its slogan were: "Where there's laughter, there's hope," "Comic Relief, it's no joke" and "Laughter is the best medicine, according to E! News.

Since then, Crystal and Williams became closest of friends. "Robin and I just bonded in the quiet moments," Crystal shared.

Crystal added the he and Williams were very protective of Goldberg, recalling how they would spend hours on the phone talking to one another every time the 58-year-old comedienne would host the Oscars.

"When you would host the Oscars and... Robin would be in San Francisco and I'd be in L.A... she'd do an opening, phone would ring. 'How do you think she's doing, boss?' and I was going, 'It was good, really strong opening; it was great.' Five minutes later you'd done your first intro (and he'd call again): 'What do you think?' [I'd reply], 'I think it was really good,'" he told Goldberg. "The whole show would be the two of us on the phone."

That specific story brought tears to Goldberg's eyes and she had a difficult time regaining her composure as she held Crystal's hand, WENN reported.

After wiping away her tears, Goldberg also shared a story about her two old pals during the Comic Relief USA charity shows, saying, "I would just sit and you didn't want to do anything, you'd just want to watch these fools."

The "Good Will Hunting" star took his life on Aug. 14 after a long struggle with depression.