Legendary Hollywood director Rob Reiner and wife Michele Singer Reiner have been found dead at their LA home, and LAPD have launched a homicide investigation
Rob Reiner’s wife inspired him to change the ending of his iconic film When Harry Met Sally.
Director Rob Reiner and wife Michele were found dead at their LA home on Sunday (December 14), and LAPD said they have launched a homicide investigation. The pair were reportedly found dead with stab wounds and, according to US media, a family member is being questioned.
Last year, Reiner revealed that he ended up changing the ending to his beloved 1989 romcom, When Harry Met Sally, after meeting his wife. When he first moved into directing, he’d been single and unlucky in love.
He’d been married to actress and director Penny Marshall for 10 years before they divorced. After this, he had a string of “disastrous” and “confusing” relationships and this affected his vision for When Harry Met Sally.
When Rob teamed up with writer Nora Ephron for the movie, he opened up to her about his string of failed relationships. He had initially wanted to make a film about two people who become friends and don’t sleep with one another as they know it’ll ruin their relationship.
Reiner based the character of Harry and a lot of his dialogue on himself and best friend Billy Crystal, who landed the role. The “true ending” of the movie would have seen Harry and Sally (played by Meg Ryan) meet up after years, talk, and walk away from each other.
Speaking to CNN’s Chris Wallace, he said: “I had been married for ten years, I’d been single for ten years and I couldn’t figure out how I was ever going to be with anybody and that gave birth to When Harry Met Sally.”
But everything changed when Rob met photographer Michele during filming. Eventually, the ending of the film (spoiler incoming) would see Harry and Michelle reunite on New Year’s Eve and later get married.
He added: “I met my wife Michelle, who I’ve been married to now for 35 years, I met her while we were making the film and I changed the ending.” Rob and Michele were married for 36 years and shared three children; sons Jake and Nick, and daughter Romy.
Crystal was spotted at Reiner’s property after his tragic death. According to ABC 7, a neighbour said Crystal “looked like he was about to cry” during his time at the apparent murder scene.
A spokesperson for Reiner’s family said: “It is with profound sorrow that we announce the tragic passing of Michele and Rob Reiner. We are heartbroken by this sudden loss, and we ask for privacy during this unbelievably difficult time.”
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