VIDEO: Billy Crystal Talks Emmy Tribute to Robin Williams: 'It's the Hardest Thing I've Ever Had to Do'

Billy Crystal sat down with TODAY's Matt Lauer for an exclusive interview this morning and revealed that paying tribute to his longtime friend Robin Williams at this year's Emmy Awards was one of the most difficult things he ever had to do.

"He's my closest friend, and to do it with some humor and only in a short period of time that I had to do it was difficult," the comedian and actor told Lauer, adding, "It's the hardest thing I've ever had to do," comparing it to being "the spokesman for everybody in front of 17 million people."

Watch the appearance below!

About TODAY:

NBC News pioneered the morning news program when it launched TODAY in 1952 with Dave Garroway as host. For more than 60 years, TODAY has provided a daily live broadcast of the latest in domestic and international news, weather reports, and interviews with newsmakers from the worlds of politics, business, media, entertainment and sports.

TODAY is renowned for providing its audience with a "window on the world," bringing viewers breaking news as it happens and often broadcasting from locations around the globe. TODAY's longtime home at New York's Rockefeller Plaza attracts thousands of visitors each year to peer into its windows and become part of TODAY's broadcast. The Emmy Award winning program is anchored by Matt Lauer, Savannah Guthrie, Al Roker and Natalie Morales. Don Nash is the executive producer.