Hank Azaria Pays Tribute to Robin Williams and Gene Hackman As He Celebrates 30th Anniversary of The Birdcage

The unforgettable comedy was nominated for both Golden Globes and Oscars after winning over critics and audiences.

Mar. 12, 2026 at 4:54pm

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Hank Azaria, who starred as Agador Spartacus in the 1996 film The Birdcage, celebrated the 30th anniversary of the movie by wearing his "straight-looking" shirt and doing his character's accent. Azaria paid tribute to his co-stars Robin Williams and Gene Hackman, as well as director Mike Nichols, who have all passed away. The Birdcage was a surprise box office hit and was loved by critics and viewers alike.

Why it matters

The Birdcage was a groundbreaking LGBTQ+ comedy that tackled important themes of love, family, and acceptance. Thirty years later, the film remains a beloved classic that continues to resonate with audiences. Azaria's tribute highlights the lasting impact of the movie and the indelible mark left by its talented cast and crew.

The details

In the film, Azaria played the flamboyant housekeeper Agador Spartacus to Nathan Lane's Albert Goldman and Robin Williams' Armand Goldman, a gay couple who must pretend to be straight when Armand's son gets engaged to the daughter of a conservative political couple, played by Gene Hackman and Dianne Wiest. Azaria shared that the role of Agador was originally intended for a Black actor, but he and director Mike Nichols decided having a Black actor in the role could bring issues of racism into the story, so Azaria took on the part instead.

  • The Birdcage was released in 1996.
  • The film is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2026.

The players

Hank Azaria

An American actor who starred as Agador Spartacus in the 1996 film The Birdcage.

Robin Williams

An acclaimed American actor and comedian who starred as Armand Goldman in The Birdcage.

Gene Hackman

An American actor who played the role of Kevin Keeley, the conservative political father of the bride, in The Birdcage.

Mike Nichols

The director of The Birdcage, who passed away in 2014.

Nathan Lane

An American actor who played the role of Albert Goldman, the flamboyant partner to Armand Goldman, in The Birdcage.

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What they’re saying

“Fun fact, this is an impression of my maternal grandmother. My grandma Esther, we called her Mama. Rest in peace, Mama, and rest in peace Gene Hackman and Robin Williams and Mike Nichols, and my love to Nathan [Lane] and Calista [Flockhart] and Dan [Futterman], and everybody else from that movie. 30 years, my God!”

— Hank Azaria, Actor (Instagram)

“It's one of the great comic plots of all time. It was successful as a play and then as a foreign film and then as a musical and then there's our version. So, you know, that story really holds up because it's a story about love and family and this long-term gay couple who, because of their love for their son, go to extremes to try to make it all work for him.”

— Nathan Lane, Actor (PEOPLE)

“When I did the movie, I remember Mike Nichols, who was very sweet to me and very inclusive, and he would say to me, 'You know, Nathan, I only want nice people on this movie.' And I said, 'Oh, okay. I'm sure there are a few nice people left in show business.' And he really somehow managed to do that. They were all very nice and professional and it was led by Robin Williams who was just such a beautiful, kind and sensitive soul and so funny and brilliant.”

— Nathan Lane, Actor (PEOPLE)

The takeaway

The Birdcage remains a beloved comedy classic that continues to resonate with audiences 30 years after its release. Hank Azaria's tribute to his co-stars and the film's enduring legacy highlights the movie's importance as a groundbreaking LGBTQ+ story that tackled themes of love, family, and acceptance with humor and heart.