Glenn Close Remembers the 'Helpful' Advice Robin Williams Gave Ahead of Her FirstSNLHosting Gig (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Glenn Close, Robin Williams.Photo:Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty; Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic

Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty; Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic

Ahead of her first time hostingSaturday Night Live, the actress, 77, got some sound advice from someone in her inner circle to calm her nerves.

“[I went to]Robin Williams, who was my friend,” Close told PEOPLE exclusively while attending the 12th Annual Bring Change to Mind Revels & Revelations Gala.

“I said, ‘Do you have any advice aboutSaturday Night Live? And he said, ‘Just don’t do anything you don’t think is funny, because you get all these different fabulous ideas,’ " she continued.

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Glenn Close on ‘Saturday Night Live’ in 1989.Al Levine/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty

Al Levine/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty

Close first hostedSNLin February 1989, during an episode in which The Gipsy Kings served as the musical guest. She later returned to Studio 8H in December 1992 to hostSNL’sChristmas episode, which featured The Black Crowes as musical guest.

Looking back at her inauguralSNLhosting gig, Close expressed happy sentiments, telling PEOPLE, “Oh, it was great fun.”

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She also recalled how the episode took place “around the time” thatFatal Attractioncame out. “We had askit of my character, Alex Forest, in a group therapy session with her knife and her purse. It was really fun,” Close explained.

Saturday Night Liveairs weekend on NBC. The series is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a special three-hour broadcast,SNL50: The Anniversary Special, live from Studio 8H on Sunday, Feb. 16 at 8 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.

source: people.com