‘Princess Bride’ Star Breaks Silence on Rob Reiner’s Death
It has now been more than two weeks since the world learned of the horrific murders of Oscar-nominated filmmaker Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner. And it has taken actor Cary Elwes that much time to gather his thoughts and share his memories of the man who gave him his breakthrough part.
On Tuesday, Elwes took to social media to share his grief about the loss of Reiner, writing that “Enough time has passed that I can finally put my grief into words. I was 24 when I first met Rob Reiner on The Princess Bride. And from that very first meeting I fell in love with him. I was already a fan of his work so meeting him in person was a dream come true. As we began spending more time together I knew this was someone I wanted in my life.”
Elwes went on to share his gratitude for Reiner, for entrusting him with the role of Westley, the farmhand who spends the movie making friends and fighting off enemies in an attempt to rescue the love of his life, Princess Buttercup, played by Robin Wright. As Elwes put it, he realized that Reiner was “giving me the keys to the castle.”
“The first thing I noticed about Rob was that he wore his heart on his sleeve,” Elwes continued. “This was a man who felt deeply. Whose heart was filled with love and compassion. He wasn’t impressed by how much money you had or if you had a privileged upbringing. He just wanted to know if you were a ‘good guy.’ He always tried to find the best in people. And if that person had problems he felt bad for them. He loved his family and friends immensely. He obviously loved making movies—and was clearly a brilliant filmmaker—but he told me what he really enjoyed the most was the experience itself.”
No words… pic.twitter.com/7BOzND7vpB
— Cary Elwes (@Cary_Elwes) December 15, 2025
Elwes described his time on the set as a joyful experience, writing that, “I can’t remember a single day without laughter.”
Elwes shared that being on the set was always a happy experience for Reiner, too—perhaps never more so than when he directed When Harry Met Sally, which is where Reiner “met and fell in love with Michele. Besides being a gifted photographer she was an incredibly loving, intelligent person. Deeply passionate about her family and about lifting others up.”
https://www.facebook.com/reel/2122772245131055
“To say that they were a great team would be an understatement,” according to Elwes. “Their only interest in fame was that it allowed them to shine a light on causes they believed in, especially helping those who were marginalized. In a town where many talk the talk, they truly walked it. Whenever we got together we would talk about family, life, movies and politics. But without fail Rob would always find a way to make us laugh. That was important to him. Finding the joy. And if I could make him laugh in return, I felt like I had won the lottery.”
Elwes went on to describe Reiner’s booming laugh, calling it “one of the greatest sounds I’ve ever known—so heartfelt it still rings in my ears.”
He concluded his post by thanking the Reiners for sharing their “life and art with us. Because my heart still aches every time I think of you, I know the grief of losing you too soon will likely never go away. Sure, death cannot stop true love but life is pain without you.”
How Did Rob and Michele Reiner Die?
On December 14, the bodies of Rob and Michele Reiner were discovered in their Brentwood mansion by their daughter, Romy Reiner. The couple’s 32-year-old son, Nick Reiner, who has struggled with mental health issues throughout his life, was taken into custody just a few hours later and eventually arrested and charged with their murders.
Nick is currently being held without bail at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility in downtown Los Angeles. He has not yet been arraigned due to ongoing issues regarding his competency to stand trial. He made a brief court appearance on December 17, wearing shackles and a suicide prevention vest, but his arraignment is not officially scheduled until January 7.