Billy Crystal Still Feels Urge to Call Rob Reiner 10 Months After His Murder
The actor and comedian shared the profound impact of his friendship with the late filmmaker, who was murdered along with his wife in December 2025.
Actor Billy Crystal revealed that he still experiences the urge to call his friend Rob Reiner, nearly 10 months after the filmmaker and his wife Michele were murdered. Reiner and his wife were found stabbed to death on December 14, 2025, at their Brentwood estate, where their son Nick lived in the guesthouse.
Crystal shared his experience in an interview with People, stating that after completing the first run-through of his upcoming one-man show on Broadway, his immediate thought was to share the news with Reiner. "I felt so good. And my first thought was: 'I’ve got to call Rob,'" Crystal said. "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 two men shared a personal and professional bond spanning nearly five decades. Their most notable collaboration was the 1989 romantic comedy "When Harry Met Sally...", in which Crystal starred as a character loosely based on Reiner.
Crystal is currently preparing for the October 21 opening of his play "860," named after the street number of his Pacific Palisades home that was lost in the Los Angeles fires. Reiner had encouraged Crystal to pursue this project and assisted in narrowing down the play's title before his death.
Their friendship began in 1976 when Crystal performed at The Comedy Store. Reiner, along with his father Carl Reiner and Norman Lear, were in the audience. Lear, who had offered Crystal a guest role on "All in the Family" playing Reiner's character's best friend, introduced the two. "I think you and Robbie will be great together," Lear told Crystal, initiating a friendship that lasted 49 years.
Crystal recalled Reiner as "tall" and "in charge" from their first meeting, noting his ability to work 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 remembered. He described their connection as "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."
Elements of Crystal and Reiner's real-life connection also influenced "When Harry Met Sally...", which Reiner co-wrote with Nora Ephron. Crystal explained that during Reiner's divorce from Penny Marshall, they would speak frequently, and shared experiences like watching "Casablanca" together formed scenes in the film.
Crystal delivered a tribute to Reiner at that year's Oscars ceremony. Meg Ryan, who starred opposite Crystal in "When Harry Met Sally...", was among the attendees.
Nick Reiner, 32, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of first-degree murder. He has a history of substance abuse and was reportedly diagnosed with schizophrenia. He is currently being held in solitary confinement awaiting trial.
Reports indicate that Nick was seen arguing with his parents on the evening before the bodies were discovered. His lawyers have stated that his condition has been deteriorating rapidly in custody.
Alan Jackson, a prominent defense attorney, initially represented Nick but withdrew from the case on January 7, citing "circumstances beyond our control." Nick Reiner is now being represented by public defender Kimberly Greene. The Los Angeles County District Attorney's office announced on September 15 that it would not seek the death penalty in the case.
The Reiners also had two other children: Jake, 35, and Romy, 28. Rob Reiner was also the adoptive father of Tracy, 62, from his first marriage to Penny Marshall.