Cary Elwes Opens Up About the Loss of His Close Friend Rob Reiner: ‘It’s Still Very Fresh’

Rob Reiner and Cary Elwes in 2012.
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Cary Elwes spoke candidly about the profound impact of the recent deaths of his friends Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner. In an interview on the Today show on January 12, Elwes described his grief, stating, “It’s still very raw.”

Rob Reiner, aged 78, and his wife Michele, 70, were tragically found dead in their Los Angeles home on December 14. Their son, Nick Reiner, 32, has been arrested and charged with two counts of murder in connection with their deaths, and is currently being held without bail.

Elwes recalled forming a friendship with Rob Reiner during the filming of the 1987 classic The Princess Bride. “We became friends right away,” he reflected. Their bond deepened over the years, and after Rob met Michele while working on the 1989 film When Harry Met Sally…, Elwes noted that “we all fell in love with her too.”

“It’s a great loss. It’s hard to put in words, really. I’m still, actually, kind of processing it,” Elwes expressed. “Yeah, it’s very sad, very, very sad but I cherish their memory and the fun times we had together.”

Nearly three decades after The Princess Bride, Elwes and Rob collaborated once more on the 2016 film Being Charlie, which Nick co-wrote. Elwes portrayed a father figure in this semi-autobiographical work that explores Nick’s struggles with addiction.

In the wake of the Reiners’ deaths, Elwes initially conveyed his shock on Instagram, sharing a poignant image of empty director’s chairs and noting he had “no words.” By December 29, he expressed his emotions more fully, praising the couple as a “great team” and highlighting their dedication to advocating for marginalized communities.

Elwes fondly remembered the conversations held during their gatherings, touching on family, movies, and politics, but emphasized how Rob consistently brought laughter to their interactions. “Finding the joy,” he remarked, was always important to Rob.

As Elwes continues to come to terms with the loss, he also remains busy with his acting career, starring in the new film Dead Man’s Wire, directed by Gus Van Sant, which delves into a real hostage incident from the 1970s in Indianapolis.

Cary Elwes on the ‘Today’ show on Jan. 12.

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Rob Reiner, Cary Elwes and Mel Smith on the set of ‘The Princess Bride.’

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Michele Singer Reiner and Rob Reiner in 2025.

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