Cary Elwes, beloved for his role as Westley in the classic film The Princess Bride, has broken his silence with a deeply personal tribute to the movie's director, Rob Reiner. This comes in the wake of the horrific discovery of Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, murdered in their Los Angeles-area home on December 14, 2025.
A Bond Forged on a Classic Film
In an emotional Instagram Reel posted on December 31, Elwes shared behind-the-scenes footage from the 1987 fantasy adventure. He explained that he needed time to process his grief before finding the words. "I was 24 when I first met Rob Reiner on The Princess Bride," Elwes wrote. "And from that very first meeting I fell in love with him."
The actor described Reiner as a man who "wore his heart on his sleeve" and was unimpressed by wealth or status, instead valuing character above all. Elwes credited Reiner with giving him "the keys to the castle" by casting him as the iconic farmhand-turned-pirate, a career-defining role.
Remembering a Brilliant Filmmaker and a Great Team
Elwes, who later reunited with Reiner for the 2015 film Being Charlie, praised the director's brilliant filmmaking philosophy. He recalled Reiner saying, "Once the movie is released it belongs to other people. But while you are making it, that’s your time on the planet, so you wanna make it good."
The tribute also honoured Michele Reiner, whom Rob met while directing When Harry Met Sally in 1989. Elwes called the couple "a great team" who used their platform for advocacy, genuinely walking the walk in a town known for empty talk. He noted that Michele's influence famously led Rob to change the ending of the romantic comedy to a more hopeful conclusion.
A Family Tragedy and a Legal Sealing
The Reiners' deaths have been ruled a homicide by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner, caused by "multiple sharp force injuries." The couple died within minutes of each other. Their son, Nick Reiner, 32, was arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree murder later on December 14. He has pleaded not guilty.
In a recent development, the Medical Examiner's Office announced that all records related to the case, including the official reports, have been sealed under a court order and are no longer publicly available. This move restricts the flow of further official details about the investigation.
Elwes concluded his heartfelt message by directly quoting a famous line from The Princess Bride, adapting it to express his profound loss: "Sure, death cannot stop true love but life is pain without you." The actor's tribute stands as a powerful testament to the personal and professional legacy of Rob and Michele Reiner, whose tragic end has sent shockwaves through the entertainment world and beyond.
