Years After Working With Robin Williams In The Birdcage, Nathan Lane Shared Thoughts On His Co-Star That Have Me In My Feels

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The Birdcage” is widely recognized as one of the most entertaining films from the ’90s, largely due to the side-splitting scenes between Robin Williams and Nathan Lane. As we approach the comedy’s poignant 30th anniversary next year (with a sad reminder that Robin Williams passed away in 2014), Lane is reminiscing about his time working with his late co-star, sharing memories that are at once heartwarming and evocative.

Nathan Lane discussed his role in The Birdcage during an interview on the Dinner’s On Me With Jesse Tyler Ferguson podcast. This is what he shared about collaborating with Robin Williams:

“Nathan Lane talked about his experience working alongside Robin Williams in The Birdcage on the Dinner’s On Me With Jesse Tyler Ferguson podcast. Here’s a snippet of what he had to say about their collaboration:

He was a well-known figure in the world of movies. In other words, he could have demanded any famous actor like Billy Crystal to star in the movie. However, when they showed him my screen test, he wasn’t familiar with me at all. But he responded positively, saying “Yes, absolutely.” He was incredibly generous, sensitive, kind-hearted, and had a gentle soul. We seemed to understand each other on some deeper level. He was hysterically funny, exceptionally talented, a comic genius, an outstanding actor, and we shared a special bond from that film.

Indeed, that was him – Robin Williams. Nathan Lane only had praise for the character of Armand in relation to Albert during “The Birdcage,” as we approach thirty years since its debut in 1996.

Williams has been renowned for his numerous successful films throughout his career, starting from his days in “Mork and Mindy” to his Academy Award-winning performance in “Good Will Hunting.” To this day, these movies including “The Birdcage” remain as timeless classics, showcasing the actor’s exceptional talent. As a testament to this, Lane mentioned that he recently rewatched the film they worked on together, and it was an emotional journey for him.

Previously, I performed an act for the New Yorker Festival, and they exhibited a segment from that performance. Remarkably, I hadn’t watched it for quite some time, not since he had passed away. As soon as it was shown, I found myself moved to tears. The scene you may recall at the bus stop, where he delivers the palimony speech – it remains my favorite in the film. There’s something so honest and uncomplicated about Robin’s portrayal in that moment that resonates deeply with me.

Oh, what a heartwarming sight! It stirs emotions within me to see Nathan Lane and Robin Williams together in “The Birdcage”. Their camaraderie during filming was evidently joyous, and we still miss the talent that was Robin Williams after his passing.

In the 1996 film directed by Mike Nichols, the duo portray a gay couple. Robin Williams plays Armand, the proprietor of a drag club, while Nathan Lane’s character is Albert, the top queen of the club. A series of humorous events unfold when they disguise themselves to hide their identities from Armand’s 20-year-old son, who is about to marry the daughter of a conservative senator. Enjoy some standout scenes featuring the witty banter between the stars in “The Birdcage”.

The Birdcage stands out as an influential film for the LGBTQ+ community due to its rarity among major studio productions featuring queer characters. Although Robin Williams wasn’t gay, Nathan Lane was, but his fame didn’t match that of Williams during the filming of this movie.

In the conversation about landing the role, Lane mentioned that initially, he had to reject it since he was performing “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” on Broadway. However, after Nichols persisted that he was the perfect fit for the part, he managed to persuade the film’s producer to postpone production so he could film the movie. It’s a good thing everything worked out this way because otherwise, we wouldn’t have had the opportunity to learn about such fascinating stories.

In the club one evening, I performed a musical number titled ‘Can That Boy Foxtrot!’. The entire performance was accompanied by a lively crowd, which meant that [Robin] had some free time while I was on stage. However, he decided to come in for the day and attend my performance. When I asked him why he was there since it was his day off, he explained that he wanted to be present to support me during this event.

Originally, the movie “The Birdcage” was planned with Steve Martin as Armand and Robin Williams as Albert. However, Martin couldn’t participate, and Williams declined playing Albert after his role in “Mrs. Doubtfire.” As a result, Nathan Lane was brought on board, forming an exceptional pair indeed!

In terms of acting as these characters from the 1996 movie, no other duo comes to mind that would be as fitting. If you’re keen on watching them together, I recommend checking out “The Birdcage,” which is currently a top pick on Max and can be streamed with an Amazon Prime subscription.

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2025-02-03 17:37