In memory of Hollywood greats Rob Reiner and Michelle Reiner
The tragic deaths of Rob Reiner and Michelle Reiner shocked the entertainment world and beyond.
Billy Crystal is worried about how he is coping with the death of his best friend Rob Reiner.
“There are a lot of moments when something good happens or (I) think, ‘Isn’t that crazy?’ I want to pick up the phone and call (him) and say, ‘Did you see that?’ Because that’s what we do,” the 78-year-old actor said during an April 14 appearance on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.”
Crystal remembered his “When Harry Met Sally…” director, who died in December along with his wife Michele Reiner after being accused of serial murder, at the age of 78, as “a hilarious, dedicated man who spoke his mind in the best possible way and fought for the truth of our country.”
“We could talk about anything. He was an uncle to my kids,” Crystal told Colbert.
The City Slickers actor, who is promoting his upcoming one-man show on Broadway, also revealed his last conversation with Reiner during Oscar host Conan O’Brien’s Christmas party the night before his murder.
When Colbert asked about the ensemble tribute to Reiner at last month’s Oscars, Crystal seemed choked up at the beginning of the interview.
After Krystal struggled to find words for several seconds, Colbert said, “I know it’s very difficult to talk about this because he was a great friend to you, a great artist, loved by so many people, but (the Reiners’ deaths) happened in such a shocking and horrifying way.”
“No, I’m fine. It was right after the tragedy. We had spent the night before together talking about each other’s careers,” Crystal said. “We were talking about the movie business and how it’s changing and how people aren’t going to movie theaters like they used to. And we were also talking about the fact that you can’t control what happens to movies.”
“What you can control is the experience of making it. And what we went through together and what he went through with the rest of the cast of the movie was so extraordinary. He said that’s something he’ll always have,” he continued. “It’s great to get hits, but the important thing is to keep people around.”
Rob Reiner’s Oscar eulogy ‘would have really made him smile’
It was this philosophy that inspired Crystal to begin coordinating special moments for Reiner during the Oscars telecast.
Crystal and When Harry Met Sally co-star Meg Ryan were joined on stage by Demi Moore, John Cusack, Cary Elwes, Mandy Patinkin, Kiefer Sutherland, Kathy Bates, Annette Bening, Daphne Zuniga, Michael McKean, Christopher Guest, Jerry O’Connell, Wil Wheaton, Fred Savage, Kevin Pollack and Carol Kane.
“It would have really put a smile on his face if we could get the cast of these movies together and go out together,” Crystal said. “So I reached out to everyone.”
Reiner and Crystal became frequent co-stars after Crystal appeared on All in the Family in 1976 as Mike’s (played by Reiner) friend Al. Other film collaborations include “The Princess Bride” and “This Is Spinal Tap.”
Nick Reiner, the 32-year-old son of Michelle and Rob Reiner, is being held without bail after pleading not guilty to murdering his parents.
Reiner’s death remains under investigation. The Los Angeles Police Department said at a Dec. 14 press conference that “numerous family members” will be questioned during the process. Police have released few details about the alleged murder, including the couple’s injuries.
