Billy Crystal, known for his role in ‘When Harry Met Sally,’ has publicly shared his sadness over the recent passing of his friend, director Rob Reiner’s wife, Michele.
I was absolutely devastated to hear about the director and his wife. They were found murdered at their home – a beautiful estate, worth around $13.5 million – just last Sunday, December 14th. It’s just heartbreaking news, especially considering he was 78 and she was 70. Such a terrible tragedy.
The couple’s 32-year-old son, Nick, has been arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree murder. He has battled drug addiction for several years.
Crystal, along with several of Rob’s well-known friends like Larry David and Albert Brooks, publicly shared their grief for the first time in a statement released to the Associated Press on Tuesday.
Just a few days before, Crystal was spotted crying near Reiner’s house soon after he died.
The friends shared a heartfelt tribute, first celebrating Rob’s amazing work in film, and then expressing their admiration for the unique and wonderful connection he shared with his wife, Michele.
The feeling of watching a movie in a dark theater with others – sharing laughs, tears, and even screams – remains a uniquely exciting experience, the statement noted.
Rob Reiner became a highly skilled director, building on the lessons he learned from his father, Carl, and Norman Lear. He wasn’t just a talented comedic actor; he evolved into a masterful storyteller with an unusually broad range of abilities. Audiences consistently expect compelling narratives from him.
Whether he was making comedies, dramas, mockumentaries, or documentaries, he consistently delivered excellent work. He had a remarkable ability to connect with audiences, earning their trust and drawing them to his films.
He was a uniquely gifted comedian, with an incredible ear for rhythm in dialogue and a knack for subtly enhancing dramatic tension. He truly cared for actors and helped writers reach their full potential. His greatest strength was fostering a collaborative environment where everyone felt empowered to contribute their ideas and work together as a team.
‘To be in his hands as a film maker was a privilege but that is only part of his legacy.’
As someone who’s followed his work and known people close to him, I can tell you he was so much more than just a director. He was a truly passionate and courageous man, deeply devoted to this country and constantly striving to improve it. And he had an incredible partner in his wife, Michele – they were a perfect team, both personally and, I believe, in supporting his vision.
As someone who’s observed incredible people throughout my career, I can tell you Michele and Rob Reiner were truly exceptional. They dedicated so much of their lives to making things better for everyone around them. Together, they were a powerhouse – generous, driven, and deeply inspiring. My partner and I were lucky enough to call them friends, and their loss leaves a hole in our hearts that will never fully heal.
The heartfelt statement ended with a poignant quote from one of Reiner’s favorite films.
There’s a quote from Rob’s favorite movie, “It’s a Wonderful Life,” that really sticks with him: “Every person’s life impacts so many others, and when someone is gone, it leaves a huge void.” He often says you don’t realize how true that is.
The statement was signed by Crystal, David, and Brooks, along with their wives Janice, Kimberly, and Ashley Underwood. Other signatories included actor Martin Short, director Barry Levinson and his wife Diana, Ambassador James Costos and his partner Michael Smith, screenwriter Alan Zweibel and his wife Robin, and composer Marc Shaiman with his partner Lou Mirabal.
Crystal appeared very upset while being filmed within the police barrier around a home in the wealthy Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles on Sunday.
I was really saddened to see recent photos of the actor from that classic rom-com – you know, the one directed by Reiner back in ’89. Paparazzi caught him walking with his wife, Janice, and it looked like he was visibly upset, even wiping away tears. From what I understand, they’re very close to the couple involved, which explains the emotion.
Larry David, known for starring in Curb Your Enthusiasm and writing for Seinfeld, is a close friend of Reiner’s and was seen near the property, reportedly quite upset.
Crystal, age 77, and a 78-year-old friend were shocked to learn that police had identified the bodies of Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, as those of a 78-year-old man and 68-year-old woman who had been found.
Police are treating the deaths as a double murder. Authorities found the couple with what looked like knife injuries, TMZ reported. Details have emerged indicating their throats were cut.
The couple’s son, screenwriter Nick Reiner, 32, has been arrested in connection with the deaths.
I was shocked to hear that Nick was officially charged with two counts of first-degree murder yesterday. It’s terrifying to think that if he’s found guilty, he could spend the rest of his life in prison, with no chance of ever being released, or even face the death penalty. It’s just a really difficult situation.
The Reiner family shared news on Sunday night of the unexpected and tragic deaths of Michele and Rob Reiner. They are deeply saddened and have asked for privacy as they cope with this incredibly painful loss.
According to a neighbor who spoke with ABC7 in Los Angeles, David and Crystal each went to the scene of the crime at different times. The neighbor also said Crystal appeared very upset and left crying.
Property records indicate that Reiner and his wife were the owners of the home, according to NBCLA.
Reiner and Crystal became friends a long time ago, meeting in 1975 while working on the TV show All in the Family, where they played best friends.
Back in September 2016, Crystal wrote an article for The Hollywood Reporter discussing their friendship, explaining that their strong on-screen chemistry led them to become friends off-camera as well.
You know, something really special happened for me and my partner. We were performing, and it just clicked. It felt so natural and right up there on stage that we started thinking, ‘Why not carry this energy and connection into our everyday lives?’ It was a really organic decision, and honestly, it’s made all the difference.
We quickly became very close friends, and after I moved, we spent a lot of time together.
Reiner is best known for directing Billy Crystal in the iconic 1989 film, When Harry Met Sally…, which also starred Meg Ryan.
Nora Ephron wrote the beloved film about two friends who meet in college and navigate an eleven-year, sometimes turbulent, relationship after moving to New York City.
Crystal once shared that a highlight of their friendship was experiencing the first showing of ‘When Harry Met Sally’.
He described being in the audience with Rob when the famous scene occurred. The reaction was explosive, with the entire theater erupting in laughter, especially after Rob’s mother, Estelle, delivered her iconic line, ‘I’ll have what she’s having.’ He compared the sound of the laughter to the powerful resonance you’d experience at a concert.
That’s what’s so amazing about filmmaking – sometimes you create a funny moment months before you actually get to see if it lands. We felt a real thrill when we realized this movie was about to deliver something special, and we instinctively reached for each other’s hands.
Comedian Jeff Garlin is well-known for collaborating with Larry David on the hit show Curb Your Enthusiasm. He famously played himself in a memorable episode called “The Thong,” which originally aired in October 2001.
Both Reiner and David are comedy giants. Reiner is famous for directing many classic comedy films, while David is the creative mind behind the hit shows Seinfeld and his other HBO series.
Oh my gosh, you guys, it finally happened! Rob Reiner just dropped Spinal Tap II: The End Continues! I’ve been waiting decades for this! It’s a sequel to the original This Is Spinal Tap from 1984 – that movie is everything, seriously! He wrote it, directed it, and was in it, so it’s basically a piece of his soul. I’ve already watched the trailer like a million times!
Like his father, Carl Reiner – a well-known comedian, actor, and filmmaker – Rob Reiner also pursued a career in Hollywood. Rob Reiner passed away in 2020 at the age of 98.
Reiner began his career as an actor, and he’s most famous for playing Michael ‘Meathead’ Stivic on the classic TV show, All in the Family.
Between 1971 and 1978, he earned two Emmy Awards and received five Golden Globe nominations for his work on the show.
In the 1980s, Reiner successfully changed direction in his career with his innovative comedy, This Is Spinal Tap. The film proved highly influential and paved the way for many mockumentaries that followed.
Over the next twenty years, he became a highly sought-after director in Hollywood, creating beloved films and box office successes like Stand By Me (1986), The Princess Bride (1987), Misery (1990), A Few Good Men (1992), The American President (1995), and The Bucket List (2007).
Even as he concentrated on directing, Reiner kept acting throughout his career. He appeared as Leonardo DiCaprio’s father in the popular film The Wolf of Wall Street (2013), and had roles in his own movie And So It Goes (2014), the Adam Sandler comedy Sandy Wexler (2017), and most recently, the sequel to Spinal Tap.
Rob Reiner’s 1989 film, When Harry Met Sally, is often ranked among the best romantic comedies of all time.
Rob Reiner met his future wife, photographer Michele Singer, while working on a movie. They married in 1989 and later had three children: Jake, Nick, and Romy.
Rob Reiner was married to the late Penny Marshall, a well-known actress and director, and he helped raise her daughter, Tracy Reiner. Marshall passed away in 2018 at the age of 75.
Nick has previously spoken about his struggles with drug addiction and bouts of homelessness.
In 2016, Rob directed the movie Being Charlie, a drama partially based on Nick’s life. Nick explained the film was inspired by his own experiences with rehab, which began when he was about 15 years old.
In a 2016 interview with People, Nick shared that he experienced homelessness in three different states: Maine, New Jersey, and Texas. He described living on the streets for nights and even weeks at a time, saying it was a difficult period in his life.
By 2016, Nick stated he had been to rehab a total of 17 times. He also said that after declining to return to a treatment program, he experienced homelessness.
In 2016, the screenwriter, then 22 years old, revealed he’d last been in rehab three years prior.
When his book, Being Charlie, came out, he expressed his desire to remain sober and avoid homelessness in the future.
He told People that his experience was incredibly dangerous, and he easily could have died. He believes survival in those situations is simply a matter of luck – hoping for the best when facing risky circumstances.
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2025-12-17 07:51