Billy Crystal and more prominent figures are mourning the tragic deaths of Rob Reiner and Michelle Singer Reiner!
Two days after the Backbone After the director and his wife were found dead in their LA home, Billy released a joint statement with his wife Janice Crystal, Martin Short, Larry David, Albert Brooks, Marc Shaiman and Barry Levinson.
In a lengthy statement to the Associated press on December 16, Rob’s friends reflected on the late filmmaker’s prolific legacy.
“Going to the movies in a dark theater full of strangers sharing a common experience, laughing, crying, screaming in fear, or watching an intense drama unfold is still an unforgettable thrill. Tell us a story that the audience asks of us,” the statement began.
“He absorbed everything he learned from his father Carl [Reiner] and his mentor Norman Lear, Rob Reiner was not only a great comedic actor, he also became a masterful storyteller,” the statement continued. “There is no other director with his range. From comedy to drama, from mockumentary to documentary, he was always at the top of his game. He charmed the audience. They trusted him. They lined up to see his films.”
Calling Rob “a great comedic actor,” the filmmaker’s friends added, “To the actors, he loved them. For the writers, he made them better. His greatest gift was freedom. If you had an idea, he listened and included you in the process. They always felt like they were working as a team. It was a privilege to be in his hands as a filmmaker, but that is only part of his legacy.”
“There’s a line from one of Rob’s favorite movies, ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’: ‘Every man’s life touches so many other lives, and when he’s not there, he leaves a terrible hole, doesn’t he?’ You have no idea,” the statement concludes.
For those unfamiliar, Rob and his wife Michelle were found unconscious in their LA home on December 14.
