Billy Crystal was joined by greater than a dozen stars from Rob Reiner’s movies to pay an emotional tribute to the late director throughout Sunday’s Oscars 2026.
Main the In Memoriam phase, the “When Harry Met Sally” star mentioned emotionally partially, “Rob’s motion pictures will final for lifetimes as a result of they have been about what makes us snort and cry and what we aspire to be much better in his eyes, far kinder, far funnier, however much more human.”
Crystal, 78, additionally paid tribute to Michele Reiner, sharing that when she entered Rob’s life, “they have been unstoppable.”
“She not solely produced movies with Rob, nevertheless it was her vitality that had them working tirelessly to battle social injustice within the nation that they each liked,” he continued.
Crystal famous that the couple “turned the driving pressure behind marriage equality in america and their loss is immeasurable.”
“Buddy, what enjoyable we had storming the citadel,” Crystal ended the speech, referencing “The Princess Bride.”
After his emotional speech, the curtain rose to disclose over a dozen stars who had labored on Reiner’s motion pictures, together with his “When Harry Met Sally” co-star Meg Ryan and Jerry O’Connell, Kiefer Sutherland and Will Wheaton from “Stand By Me.”
Christopher Visitor and Michael McKean from “That is Spinal Faucet” additionally stood in entrance of the Oscars crowd, in addition to Fred Savage, Carey Elwes, Mandy Patinkin and Carol Kane from “The Princess Bride,” Kathy Bates from “Distress,” Demi Moore and Kevin Pollack from “A Few Good Males,” and John Cusack and Daphne Zuniga from “The Positive Factor.”
Rob and Michele have been discovered lifeless of their Brentwood dwelling on Dec.14.
He was 78, whereas she was 70.
Based on their dying certificates, the couple died inside “minutes” of receiving “a number of sharp pressure accidents” with a “knife, by one other.”
Their youngest son, Nick Reiner, was arrested in reference to their deaths hours after the stabbings.
He has a lengthy historical past of drug dependancy and psychological well being points, and had reportedly been recognized with schizophrenia earlier than his dad and mom’ deaths.
The troubled 32-year-old pleaded not responsible on Feb. 23 throughout an look within the Los Angeles Superior Court docket.
He’s going through two counts of homicide with an enhancement that would carry the dying penalty or life with out parole if he’s convicted.
Crystal not solely starred in “When Harry Met Sally” and “The Princess Bride,” which Rob additionally helmed, however he was additionally the director’s greatest pal.
He and his spouse, Janice Crystal, have been noticed somberly leaving the Reiner dwelling hours after the our bodies have been discovered.
A neighbor instructed ABC 7 that the Crystals have been solely on the dwelling briefly and mentioned the “Analyze This” actor seemed like he was about to cry.”
Following the murders, a group of Rob’s closest pals, together with Crystal, Martin Quick, Alan and Robin Zweibel, Albert Brooks, and Larry David, launched a joint assertion.
“His comedic contact was past examine, his love of getting the music of the dialogue excellent, and his sharpening of the sting of a drama was merely elegant,” learn the assertion.
“For the actors, he liked them. For the writers he made them higher. His best present was freedom. For those who had an concept, he listened, he introduced you into the method. They at all times felt they have been working as a workforce. To be in his fingers as a movie maker was a privilege however that’s solely a part of his legacy.”
“Rob was additionally a passionate, courageous citizen, who not solely cared for this nation he liked, he did all the pieces he might to make it higher and together with his loving spouse Michele, he had the right accomplice. Robust and decided, Michele and Rob Reiner devoted an excessive amount of their lives for the betterment of our fellow residents… They have been a particular pressure together-dynamic, unselfish and galvanizing. We have been their pals, and we’ll miss them endlessly,” the assertion concluded.
