Billy Crystal joins comedy greats in remembering Rob Reiner

The shock that surrounds Rob Reiner‘s violent death reverberated across the comedy world, leaving his close friends and longtime collaborators struggling to come to terms with the loss.

As details of the tragedy continue to emerge, Billy Crystal and a group of comedy legends spoke together, offering a deeply personal tribute that reflects not only Rob’s immense career, but also the deep connection he shared with those who knew him best, both on and off screen.

Crystal joined a group of comedy heavyweights to publicly honor Rob Reiner in a statement released through the Associated Press Tuesday evening.

The group included Albert Brooks, Larry David, Martin Short and director Barry Levinson, all of whom praised the late director as “a great comic actor.”

“No other director is as talented,” the statement said, while reflecting on Rob’s influence across film genres for decades.

Friends noted how much the 78-year-old understood the communal power of films, writing: “Going to a movie theater in a dark room full of strangers having a shared experience, laughing, crying, screaming in fear or watching intense drama unfold is always an unforgettable thrill.” »

They attributed his growth as a filmmaker to lessons learned from his father Carl Reiner and his mentor Norman Lear.

According to them, Rob was not only a great comedic actor, but also a “master storyteller.”

The statement focused heavily on how Rob Reiner worked with actors and writers, describing an environment built on trust and collaboration rather than control.

“From comedy to drama to ‘mockumentary’ to documentary, he has always been at the top of his game,” the friends wrote, adding that audiences trusted him and lined up to see his films.

The icons highlighted Rob’s attention to dialogue, tone and emotional balance, calling his creative instincts “simply elegant.”

For those who worked with him, the producer’s greatest gift was freedom.

“If you had an idea, he listened to you, he included you in the process,” the statement said, explaining that employees felt like they were part of a team rather than just employees.

“Being in his hands as a filmmaker was a privilege but it is only part of his legacy,” the group added.

Beyond the joint statement, Crystal shared personal memories that highlight how close her relationship with Rob truly was.

In a 2016 column for The Hollywood Reporterthe actor explained that their on-screen chemistry led to a true friendship off-screen.

“We became the closest friends. And when I moved here (from New York), we spent all kinds of time together,” he said.

Their most famous collaboration came with the 1989 romantic comedy “When Harry Met Sally,” which paired Crystal with Meg Ryan in a film directed by Rob and written by Nora Ephron.

Crystal later recalled sitting next to her friend at the first screening of the film. “Rob and I were sitting next to each other,” he said, before describing the now-iconic reaction of the deli scene.

“When Rob’s mother, Estelle, said, ‘I’ll have what she’s having,’ it was thunderous, a laugh you can only hear with the best joke in a concert hall,” Crystal recalls.

As tributes poured in, authorities confirmed disturbing details about the deaths of Rob Reiner and his wife Michele.

Police sources revealed the couple had been dead for hours before they were found, with signs of rigor mortis already present.

Investigators believe they were killed between Saturday evening and 3:30 p.m. Sunday.

Their daughter Romy discovered their bodies in the family home in Los Angeles after going to see them.

As The Blast reported, a source close to the investigation claimed their throats were slit and they may have been sleeping when they were attacked.

Their son, Nick Reiner, was later arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree murder.

Although he has not yet been brought to justice, the charges against him carry sentences of life in prison without the possibility of parole or the death penalty.