Billy Crystal Still Feels Urge to Call Rob Reiner 10 Months After Filmmaker's Murder
The actor and comedian reflects on his enduring friendship with the late filmmaker, who was found stabbed to death in December 2025.
Billy Crystal has revealed that the urge to call his longtime friend Rob Reiner persists, nearly 10 months after the filmmaker and his wife, Michele, were murdered. Reiner and his wife were discovered stabbed to death on December 14, 2025, at their Brentwood estate. Their son, Nick, who resided in the guesthouse, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of first-degree murder and is awaiting trial.
Crystal shared that immediately after completing the first run-through of his upcoming one-man show on Broadway, his first instinct was to reach out to Reiner. "I felt so good. And my first thought was: 'I’ve got to call Rob,'" Crystal told People. "I don’t know if I don’t want that to keep happening or I do want it to keep happening…I don’t know."
The friendship between Crystal and Reiner spanned nearly half a century, marked by significant professional collaborations, most notably the 1989 romantic comedy When Harry Met Sally... Crystal starred as a character reportedly based on Reiner. The pair first met in 1976 when Crystal performed a stand-up set that Reiner's father, Carl Reiner, and Norman Lear attended. Lear introduced himself to Crystal that night and soon after offered him a guest spot on All in the Family, playing the best friend of Reiner's character.
"I think you and Robbie will be great together," Lear told Crystal, initiating a bond that lasted until Reiner's death. Crystal recalled their initial meeting, describing Reiner as "tall" and "in charge," and noting how Reiner collaborated effectively with writers. "We just met and he said: 'Billy, what do you think we should do here?' And then so many times, we couldn’t keep a straight face during the tapings. And then it continued and we moved to California and then we were just inseparable," Crystal said.
He reflected on the profound nature of their connection, stating, "Chemistry like that, it’s undefinable sometimes. I knew it from the first week that this is going to be a forever thing. It’s not something you can define and that makes the loss even more profound."
The personal connection between Crystal and Reiner influenced When Harry Met Sally..., a film Reiner directed and co-wrote with Nora Ephron. Crystal explained that elements of their real-life conversations and shared experiences, such as watching Casablanca together, were incorporated into the film, especially during a difficult period for Reiner, who was undergoing a divorce from Penny Marshall at the time.
Crystal led a tribute to Reiner at this year's Oscars ceremony, which included Meg Ryan, his co-star in When Harry Met Sally....
Crystal is currently preparing for the October 21 opening of his play, titled 860, named after the street number of his Pacific Palisades home that was lost in the Los Angeles fires last year. Reiner had encouraged Crystal to pursue this project and helped him finalize the title before his death.
The Reiners also had two other children: Jake, 35, and Romy, 28. Rob Reiner also adopted Tracy, 62, from his first marriage to Penny Marshall.
Reports indicate that Nick, who had a history of substance abuse and was reportedly diagnosed with schizophrenia, was seen arguing with his parents the night before their bodies were discovered. His lawyers have stated that he has been "rapidly deteriorating" in custody. His initial defense attorney, Alan Jackson, withdrew from the case in January, citing "circumstances beyond our control." Nick is now represented by public defender Kimberly Greene. In September, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office announced it would not be seeking the death penalty in the case.