Rob Reiner’s Love Story With Michele Reiner Is Sweeter Than a Rom Com

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Filmmaker Rob Reiner never imagined that When Harry Met Sally he’d also encounter his forever love. 

The director of This Is Spinal Tap originally envisioned Elizabeth McGovern starring alongside Billy Crystal in his 1989 romantic comedy. He pitched the idea to Nora Ephron, drawing heavily from his own personal experiences with love, and McGovern – who was his girlfriend at the time – was his first choice for the female lead.

He had planned a completely different ending for the story about two friends who start a romantic relationship, one that left their future uncertain.

In a 2024 interview with CNN’s Chris Wallace, the filmmaker revealed the initial ending of the movie involved Harry and Sally not ending up together. He explained that after his divorce from Penny Marshall in 1981 – and becoming a father to their daughter, Tracy Reiner – he spent ten years single and struggled to imagine being in a relationship again.

When photographer Michele Singer Reiner came to set for lunch with her friend, cinematographer Barry Sonnenfeld, everything changed for the world of film.

Rob and Michele were found stabbed to death at their home in Brentwood, NBC News reported on December 14th, marking a tragic end to their relationship, according to a family source.

NBC News reports that Nick Reiner, the 32-year-old son of the couple, has been arrested in connection with their deaths. Nick co-wrote the 2015 film Being Charlie with his father, a drama based on his own experiences with addiction.

Rob and Michele’s love story felt like something out of a movie – the moment they knew they wanted to spend their lives together was incredibly romantic and happened instantly.

Rob shared on The Drew Barrymore Show that the idea for When Harry Met Sally… came from his own experiences with love. After a decade of marriage followed by ten years of navigating the ups and downs of dating – and admitting he often made mistakes – he realized he didn’t have all the answers when it came to relationships. He decided to explore those feelings in the movie.

He explained that when Meg Ryan took over the role of Sally after his split with the original actress, he wasn’t sure how a romantic connection between their characters could realistically happen. As a result, the movie ended with Harry and Sally simply having a conversation and then going their separate ways.

He then fell deeply in love with Michele, a talented photographer who had famously photographed Donald Trump for the cover of his 1987 book, The Art of the Deal.

Sonnenfeld was a natural at bringing people together and suggested the idea to Rob. They immediately hit it off.

I met my wife, Michele, 36 years ago while we were both working on a movie, and we fell in love. That’s why I changed the movie’s ending,” explained Rob Reiner, son of the famous comedians Carl and Estelle Reiner. He first became known for playing Michael ‘Meathead’ Stivic on All in the Family, a role that earned him two Emmy Awards.

Actually, Crystal was the first to write those famous lines about knowing you’ve found the person you want to be with forever.

Rob admitted, “I realized how his final speech could work after he wrote it. So, we rewrote the ending – now Billy runs in and tells her he loves her right at New Year’s Eve.”

But IRL he was very much the one creating his own happily ever after. 

Seven months after they first met, he married Michele, a fellow photographer for the MysteryDisc video games, in 1989—the same year the movie When Harry Met Sally… was released.

After welcoming sons Jake in 1991 and Nick in 1993, and their daughter Romy in 1997, the couple, based in Los Angeles, also worked together on professional projects.

Michele appeared in the 1994 comedy Mixed Nuts and also worked as a producer on many films with her husband. They were nominated for an Emmy in 2023 for the documentary Albert Brooks: Defending My Life, and recently collaborated on God & Country, a 2024 documentary that examines the rise of Christian nationalism.

Rob Reiner built a successful career as a director, helming films like The Princess Bride, Rumor Has It…, and the upcoming Spinal Tap II: The End Continues. He also appeared in a variety of projects, including The First Wives Club, The Wolf of Wall Street, New Girl, and The Bear, most recently playing a business manager in four episodes of The Bear last year.

Despite being nominated for Golden Globes for directing films like The American President, When Harry Met Sally…, Stand By Me, and A Few Good Men, and receiving an Oscar nomination for producing A Few Good Men, his main priority was simply to enjoy his work.

He told The Guardian in 2018 that creating a comfortable and happy environment for those around him was important. He explained that this allowed him to approach work with a positive attitude, feeling grateful to spend the day with his colleagues and considering himself lucky to do so.

I’ve been so moved by all the lovely messages since hearing about the passing of him and Michele. It’s clear he connected with everyone he worked with – people genuinely loved him! I’m eager to learn more about how they’ll both be remembered and celebrated.

The actress, adopted by director Rob Reiner while he was married to the late Penny Marshall, said she last saw her father at a family event the day before he and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, were discovered dead at their home in Los Angeles, in what appears to be a homicide.

In a statement to NBC News on December 14th, she said she came from a wonderful family and was completely shocked by recent events, adding she didn’t know what to say.

The director of A Simple Favor shared a beloved photo and a heartfelt tribute on X, calling Rob her hero, a visionary leader, and a genuinely kind person.

He paused, then said it’s always difficult to know whether sharing something on social media is appropriate after a tragedy. But he wanted everyone to understand something many people in the business already knew: Rob was truly exceptional.

When Rob and Michele’s deaths were announced, the star of Magic of Belle Isle shared a message on Instagram, expressing her sorrow and gratitude. She wrote, “May God comfort those who loved them. Thank you, Rob, for all the happiness you brought into our lives.”

The actor, who worked with Carl Reiner in the 2003 movie Good Boy!, posted on X that Reiner’s comedy was intelligent and genuinely heartfelt. He described Reiner’s films as a constant presence during his upbringing and expressed gratitude for Reiner’s creative contributions and the positive impact he and his wife had on the world.

The Misery star said she was “absolutely devasted” by the news of Rob’s death.

Kathy, who collaborated with the director on a film in the 1990s, shared with NBC that she was a big fan of Rob. She described him as both incredibly talented and a genuinely kind person, someone who constantly pushed his creative boundaries by working on diverse projects.

She shared that he profoundly impacted her life. Michele was a talented photographer who captured stunning images for the Misery campaign. She expressed deep sorrow for both of them and extended her sympathy to their family.

The actor expressed shock and sadness upon hearing of Rob Reiner’s death, remembering him as “a great man.” They had worked together on the 1985 film, The Sure Thing, forty years prior.

The actor shared on X that they were devastated to learn of the deaths of director Rob Reiner and his wife, Michelle. They sent their condolences and love to the couple’s children and family. The actor and Reiner previously worked together on the 1994 film North.

I’ve always been a huge fan of Rob Reiner! He really shaped my generation with some incredible films. It’s amazing to think about how he stepped out from under the shadow of his legendary father, Carl Reiner, and transitioned from being a TV actor to becoming such a fantastic director with an amazing streak of hits. He’s a true inspiration!

He added that Spinal Tap is a truly hilarious film – and that’s just one example. He was also a genuinely kind and very funny person.

The comedian expressed shock and horror upon learning about the incident involving Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele. They called it a terrible situation and offered prayers for a quick resolution and condolences to the family and children, admitting they were speechless.

The Emmy-winning actor posted on Instagram about their sadness following the death of a director they greatly admired. They explained that A Few Good Men inspired them to become an actor, and the director’s overall work motivated them to pursue directing – a desire that continues today.

He said he was deeply saddened by the loss of Rob and his wife, but acknowledged the significant and positive influence they had on his life and the lives of many others.

 

After hearing about the deaths of Rob and Michele, the musician remembered first meeting them while filming Spinal Tap at Stonehenge: The Final Finale, a movie that hadn’t been released yet.

Josh shared on Instagram that he and Michele treated him like family and helped him achieve a lifelong dream. He described their time together as filled with laughter, love, and music, creating a memory he’ll always treasure. He expressed his shock and sadness at their passing, sending his condolences to their family.

I just… I can’t even believe it. He was truly one of the greatest directors ever, and not just that, he was a genuinely wonderful person. Rob Reiner and his wife Michelle were the kindest people you could ever hope to meet – they just had the biggest hearts. He always fought for those who couldn’t fight for themselves, and that meant so much. This loss is absolutely devastating, and honestly, it’s just… it hurts so much. I’m completely heartbroken.

The comedian posted on X that they were heartbroken by the news. They described the director as one of America’s best, whose films have been loved by many, but shared a personal memory of watching his iconic TV show, All In The Family, with their father and laughing until they cried.

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2025-12-15 21:18