Robin Williams is most certainly one of the most beloved actors of all time, as he was viewed as a treasure by fans and peers alike for his wide variety of roles and infectious personality outside the Silver Screen.

Robin Williams is known for his incredible roles in films such as Mrs. Doubtfire, Good Will Hunting, Good Morning, Vietnam, and many more movies that have entertained and taught generation after generation of people how to be human.

Robin Williams in Good Will Hunting

Robin Williams’ Co-Star Was Worried About Getting Invasive Question About Their Life During Oprah Winfrey’s Talk Show

Oprah Winfrey, known for her probing interviews, lived up to her reputation when she interviewed Nathan Lane. Lane sought guidance from his friend Robin Williams beforehand as he expected invasive questions from Winfrey during her talk show.

The two actors had previously portrayed domestic partners in the 1996 comedy film The Birdcage, where Lane portrayed the role of a gay man perfectly. According to Today, Lane spoke to Wiliams before the interview and expressed his unease about discussing his personal life on national television.
“I don’t think Oprah was trying to out me, but I said to Robin beforehand, ‘I’m not prepared…I’m so scared of going out there and talking to Oprah. I’m not prepared to discuss that I’m gay on national television. I was not ready. And he was like, ‘It’s all right, don’t worry about it. We don’t have to talk about it.’”
Naturally, Nathan Lane decided to confide in someone like Robin Williams because he knew Williams was someone he could trust to properly listen to his grievances and find the right solution for the impending problem.

Robin Williams and Nathan Lane in The Birdcage

Robin Williams Came To Nathan Lane’s Defence With A Snappy Reply During Oprah Winfrey’s Show

Robin Williams and Nathan Lane finally appeared on Oprah Winfrey’s talk show. Williams intervened to protect his friend. Lane fondly remembers Williams as a “saint” for swooping in and saving him from that line of questioning.
”And then Oprah said [in the interview], ‘How come you are good at that girly stuff?’ and ‘Are you worried about being typecast?’ And Robin sort of swoops me and diverts Oprah’s attention and protects me because he was a saint.”
In the interview, Oprah asked, “Were you afraid of taking that role and being like typecast and people forever saying ‘Are you or are you not, is he? Oh honey, I don’t know.” This line of questioning clearly bothered Nathan Lane, but Robin Williams knew what to do as he diverted the topic with a snappy and sassy response.
”Um girl, you changed just in the middle of that sentence. I don’t know, I’m telling you. Hmm mn. Don’t make me come out there.”
Robin Williams’ expert response cut the tension and ended up making Oprah Winfrey and the audience members laugh, expertly diverting from the aforementioned topic and saving Nathan Lane, who was not comfortable talking about his sexuality at the time. Nathan Lane would finally come out as gay in 1999 in an interview with The Advocate, as he felt it was the right time.

Oprah Winfrey on her talk show

Robin Williams truly touched the lives of many people he worked with and the likes of Nathan Lane will forever be grateful to Williams for helping him out in such a way. He passed away in 2014, but that doesn’t mean his legacy will be forgotten in any way.