Hank Azaria celebrates 30th anniversary of ‘The Birdcage’

March 12 (UPI) — Hank Azaria took to social media to celebrate the 30th anniversary of his beloved comedy, The Birdcage, which was directed by Mike Nichols and co-starred Robin Williams and Nathan Lane.

In a video posted Wednesday, Azaria, 61, donned the sleeveless shirt with the words “straight looking” emblazoned across it that his scene-stealing character Agador wore in the 1996 movie.

Speaking with Agador’s distinct accident, Azaria explained that the character’s voice was an impression of his maternal grandmother, Esther.

“We called her Mama. Rest in peace, Mama. Rest in peace, Gene Hackman and Robin Williams and Mike Nichols. And my love to Nathan and Calista and Dan and everybody else in that movie,” Azaria said. “30 years, my God! Anyway, I love you all!”

Hard to believe this week marks 30 years since #TheBirdcage came out… I had to put on my special shirt to celebrate! pic.twitter.com/ySU8ULXZ1z— Hank Azaria (@HankAzaria) March 11, 2026

Inspired by the play and film La Cage Aux Folles, The Birdcage starred Robin Williams and Nathan Lane as Armand and Albert, a gay couple whose son Val (Dan Futterman) is marrying Barbara (Calista Flockhart), the daughter of a conservative senator (Gene Hackman).

Afraid that his future father-in-law will disapprove of his parents’ relationship, Val tries to get Albert to stay away from a dinner party with the two families, which breaks Albert’s heart.

Armand then tries to help Albert pretend to be Val’s straight uncle, so he can attend, but this plan fails spectacularly.

Ultimately, Albert decides to disguise himself as a woman to play Val’s doting mom and Armand’s wife.

Armand responds to the development by chugging wine right from the bottle in the kitchen and exclaiming: “I’ve never felt such tension. It’s like riding a psychotic horse towards a burning stable! It’s a nightmare!” as Agador — Armand and Albert’s adorable, but incompetent house servant — falls to the floor because he isn’t used to wearing shoes.