Billy Crystal recalled the final conversation he had with Rob Reiner before the latter was fatally stabbed in his Los Angeles home last December.
“We had spent the night before together and [were] talking about our careers together,” the comedian said on “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” Tuesday.
“I met him when I was a guest on ‘All in the Family,’ playing his best friend in 1975 — it was a good year for me. … And we’ve just kept it going all of these years,” Crystal remembered.
The “When Harry Met Sally…” star recalled chatting at Conan O’Brien’s Christmas party about how the movie business has “changed” over the years.
Billy Crystal (seen above on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” Tuesday) recalled his final conversation with Rob Reiner. Scott Kowalchyk /CBS
“We had spent the night before together and [were] talking about our careers together,” the comedian told Stephen Colbert Tuesday (as seen above). Scott Kowalchyk /CBS
“We talked about the fact that you can’t control how a movie is going to do. What you can control is the experience of making it,” he shared.
“And the experiences that we had together and that he had with his cast of his other movies was so extraordinary. He said, ‘That’s something you’ll always have. Hits are great to have, but it’s the people that you hold on to,’” Crystal recalled.
“And so I kept that in my heart.”
Crystal called Reiner (pictured above together at the 2019 Tribeca Film Festival Jury Lunch) a “hilarious, devoted [and] opinionated” friend. Getty Images for Tribeca Film Festival
Crystal said he met Reiner when he had a guest appearance on “All in the Family” in 1975. (Pictured: Sally Struthers, Elaine Princi, Crystal and Reiner.) Everett Collection / Everett Col
“We could talk about everything. He was an uncle to my kids,” Crystal (seen speaking to Reiner in “Misdirection” in 2015) shared. ©FX Networks/Courtesy Everett Collection
Crystal, 78, went on to describe Reiner as “hilarious, devoted, opinionated — in the best way — fighting for the truth for our country and the greatest comedy taste.”
“We could talk about everything. He was an uncle to my kids,” Billy — who shares daughters, Jennifer, 53, and Lindsay, 48, with wife Janice Crystal — shared.
“There are so many moments that I just — when something good happens or ‘Isn’t that crazy?’ — I want to pick up the phone and call. Because that’s what we would do.”
Rob and his wife, Michele Reiner (seen above), were fatally stabbed in their Brentwood, California, home on Dec. 14, 2025. @michelereiner/Instagram
The couple’s youngest son, Nick Reiner (pictured far right), was arrested and charged with the murders. @michelereiner/Instagram
The “Princess Bride” actor said Reiner’s death has been a “profound loss” for humanity.
“He was the most human person that I ever met,” he concluded.
Rob and his wife, Michele Reiner, were stabbed to death in their Brentwood, California, home on Dec. 14, 2025. The filmmaker was 78, and the photographer was 70.
The couple’s youngest son, Nick Reiner, was arrested and charged with murder for his parents’ deaths.
In February, Nick (seen above in court) pleaded not guilty to the double murders. Getty Images
The “Being Charlie” writer (seen above with his dad in 2016) struggled with drug addiction and was diagnosed with schizophrenia. Getty Images
The “Being Charlie” writer, 32, struggled with drug addiction and had a history of violent outbursts.
In the weeks leading up to his parents’ deaths, Nick was diagnosed with schizophrenia.
In February, he pleaded not guilty to the double murders, and his next court appearance is scheduled for April 29.
If you or someone you care about is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).