Owen Wilson made a public appearance Thursday night – briefly showing up at the Los Angeles premiere of his movie, The Darjeeling Limited.

Wilson, 38, sidestepped the red carpet and entered the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences’ Samuel Goldwyn Theatre through a private entrance, surprising the audience by joining costars Jason Schwartzman, Natalie Portman and Anjelica Huston onstage.

Shown a very warm welcome back into the spotlight, Wilson was introduced by director Wes Anderson as “my best friend,” and the audience erupted into applause. Onstage, Wilson looked healthy and confident in a dark suit and white button-down shirt.

It is Wilson’s first major appearance since being hospitalized in August after what police called a suicide attempt.

As the cast left the stage for the film’s presentation, Wilson was embraced by producer/writer Roman Coppola and then Huston, who shared her support by telling PEOPLE what a “cool guy” Wilson is.

“I have to say, I have a crush on Owen.” Huston, 56, said before Wilson (who also costarred with her in Anderson’s 2001 The Royal Tenenbaums) joined her for a few moments in the front row. He then exited the theater.

“Owen is doing very well and he is with us tonight, and I love him,” Wilson’s Darjeeling costar, Schwartzman, told PEOPLE on the red carpet.