Rob Reiner received a moving tribute at the Oscars, with stars gathering on stage to honor the late director’s remarkable career. The moment celebrated his enduring impact on the film industry and the countless lives he’s touched, while highlighting the stories and performances that have made his work unforgettable.
Billy Crystal Led The Rob Reiner Tribute
On March 15, the Academy Awards paid a tribute to Reiner, led by his longtime friend and “When Harry Met Sally” star, Billy Crystal.
Crystal began the 4-minute tribute by saying he met the director in 1975 on the set of the sitcom “All in the Family,” where he played the role of Reiner’s character’s best friend. The actor then went on to mention some of the director’s most notable films, while stills from the movies were shown.
“Rob’s movies will last for lifetimes, because they were about what makes us laugh and cry, and what we aspire to be far better in his eyes: far kinder, far funnier, and far more human,” Crystal noted.
“To the millions who have enjoyed his films all these years, I want you to know, here and around the world, how many times Rob told me that it meant everything to him, that his work meant something to you — and for us who had the privilege of working with and knowing him and loving him,” Crystal concluded.
The Academy’s Tribute To Michele Singer Reiner
In the segment, Crystal also honored Reiner’s wife, Michele Singer Reiner, who was a producer and professional photographer. The couple married in 1989 after meeting on the set of “When Harry Met Sally,” and as Crystal noted, their partnership was “unstoppable.”
“It was her energy that had them working tirelessly to fight social injustice in the country that they both loved. Rob and Michele Reiner became the driving force in the landmark decision for marriage equality across the United States,” Crystal said.
Per Inside Philanthropy, the Reiners co-founded the American Foundation of Equal Rights (AFER) in 2009. AFER led the effort to fight against Proposition 8, a California ballot initiative passed in 2008 to ban same-sex marriage. In 2013, a Supreme Court decision restored marriage equality in California, setting the stage for the nationwide legalization of same-sex marriage in 2015.
The 17 Stars Who Paid Tribute To Rob And Michele Reiner
Toward the end of the tribute, 16 actors and actresses from Reiner’s movies joined Crystal on stage to honor the beloved director. They held hands and took a moment of silence while the audience stood from their seats and applauded.
The list of stars included Crystal and Meg Ryan (When Harry Met Sally), Christoper Guest and Michael McKean (This is Spinal Tap), Jerry O’Connell and Will Wheaton (Stand by Me), Kathy Bates (Misery), Carol Kane, Mandy Patinkin, Carey Elwes, and Fred Savage (Princess Bride), John Cusack and Daphne Zuniga (The Sure Thing), Annette Bening (The American President), and Demi Moore, Keifer Sutherland, and Kevin Pollack (A Few Good Men).
After a heartfelt round of applause, the stars on stage turned their gazes toward the photo of the Reiners projected on the screen as the lights dimmed.
Corey Feldman Claimed He Wasn’t Invited To The Tribute
Reiner has worked with plenty of actors throughout his decades-long career, and Corey Feldman spoke about not being contacted to join the Oscars tribute. Feldman was one of the lead characters in “Stand By Me,” alongside O’Connell and Wheaton, who attended the tribute, and River Phoenix, who passed away in 1993.
According to The Blast, Feldman was reportedly “devastated” over not being included, especially since Reiner has been outspoken about how “Stand By Me” and the late director were influential in his career.
In March, Feldman confirmed via X that he was not invited. “I understand many believe it’s due to being outspoken about the abuse I suffered as a child and the campaign to silence me. However, this isn’t about me. It’s not my moment at all. It’s about the tragic loss of our friend Rob Reiner and his memory,” he wrote.
Rob And Michele Reiner’s Deaths
The couple was discovered deceased in their Los Angeles home on December 14, 2025. Their cause of death was determined to be multiple stab wounds, and their son, Nick, was arrested.
Nick was charged with two counts of first-degree murder and pleaded not guilty in February. He is currently being held without bail and is scheduled to return to court on April 29 for a preliminary hearing. According to reports, if convicted, Nick faces the possibility of life in prison without parole or the death penalty.
