Billy Crystal paid tribute at Sunday’s 98th Academy Awards to best friend and collaborator Rob Reiner, following the December 2025 murders of the beloved director and his wife Michele Singer Reiner.
Crystal, 78, at the start of the Oscars’ In Memoriam segment recalled meeting “master storyteller” Reiner when they played best friends on “All in the Family,” with the latter suggesting they “keep it going.”
“My friend Rob’s movies will last for lifetimes, because they were about what makes us laugh and cry, and what we aspire to be: far better in his eyes, far kinder, far funnier and far more human,” said Crystal, who reunited with Reiner for “The Princess Bride” and “When Harry Met Sally.”
“And when Michele Singer entered his life, they were unstoppable,” said Crystal, of the producer and photographer.
Patrick T. Fallon / AFP via Getty Images
(L. to R.) Michael McKean, Christopher Guest, Jerry O’Connell, Wil Wheaton, Fred Savage, Cary Elwes, Mandy Patinkin, Carol Kane, Billy Crystal, Meg Ryan, Kiefer Sutherland, Demi Moore, Kevin Pollak, Kathy Bates, Annette Bening, John Cusack and Daphne Zuniga stand onstage in front of a screen showing a photo of Rob Reiner and Michele Reiner during the Academy Awards on Sunday. (Photo by Patrick T. Fallon / AFP via Getty Images)
Among their activism, Crystal dubbed the couple a “driving force” for nationwide marriage equality.
“Their loss is immeasurable,” said Crystal. “And for us, who had the privilege of knowing him and working with him and loving him, all we can say is, ‘Buddy, what fun we had storming the castle.”
A screen showing the posters for Reiner’s most notable directorial efforts rose to reveal 18 of those films’ stars.
“This Is Spinal Tap” stars Michael McKean and Christopher Guest — who co-wrote the 1984 film with Harry Shearer, and co-wrote the 2025 sequel with Reiner — appeared next to “Stand By Me” stars Jerry O’Connell and Wil Wheaton.
“The Princess Bride” stars Fred Savage, Cary Elwes, Mandy Patinkin and Carol Kane joined Crystal, who bridged the gap for two films, standing alongside “When Harry Met Sally” co-star Meg Ryan.
“A Few Good Men” stars Kiefer Sutherland, Demi Moore and Kevin Pollak reunited, while Kathy Bates and Annette Bening respectively represented “Misery” and “The American President.” John Cusack and Daphne Zuniga, who co-starred in “The Sure Thing,” also appeared.
Reiner, 78, and 70-year-old Singer Reiner — who shared three adult children — were fatally stabbed on Dec. 14. Their 32-year-old son Nick has been charged and faces life in prison without the possibility of parole or the death penalty. He pleaded not guilty last month to two counts of first-degree murder.
