Meg Ryan has posted a tribute to the late filmmaker Rob Reiner, who was her director in the beloved rom-com When Harry Met Sally.
Reiner was located lifeless with his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, at their home in Los Angeles over the weekend.
“Oh how we will miss this man…” Ryan shared on Instagram, alongside a picture of them together. “Our gratitude, Rob and Michele, for your faith in true love, stories, and joy. Thank you for your faith in the best in people, and for your profound love of our country.”
Reiner’s son Nick, 32, has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder and was in court today. He’s being incarcerated with no bail set. Reports indicate that Reiner’s daughter Romy discovered her father deceased.
“I must hold onto hope that their tale doesn't conclude here, that awareness can be heightened from this,” Ryan went on to write. “I don’t know, but my guess is that they would want that to be hopeful and humane, to be something that brings us all to a greater understanding of one another and to some peace.”
Reiner’s surviving children Jake and Romy shared a statement today. “Language fails to capture the daily agony we endure,” they said. “The tragic, shattering loss of our parents is an experience no one should have to face. Beyond being our mom and dad, they were our dearest friends.”
Ryan’s co-star, Billy Crystal, joined in remembering Reiner through a message shared yesterday together with remarks by Larry David, Martin Short and Albert Brooks.
“No one matched his comic instinct, his dedication to rhythmic dialogue, or his elegant sharpening of drama,” it read. “He adored his actors. He elevated his writers. Freedom was his key offering. He listened to ideas and included you in the creative journey. Everyone felt like part of a crew. His direction was a gift, but his legacy is broader.”
When Harry Met Sally was a box office and critical triumph in 1989, making over $93m at the box office and securing Nora Ephron an Oscar nomination for best original screenplay.
Rob Reiner met Michele Singer Reiner whilst filming When Harry Met Sally. The pair were introduced by Barry Sonnenfeld, a director and friend.
Reiner’s celebrated filmography featured classics such as Misery, Stand by Me and The Princess Bride. The director and his wife were married for 36 years.