Share and Follow
Cary Elwes, known for his iconic role in The Princess Bride, has honored the memory of director Rob Reiner following the tragic passing of Reiner and his wife, Michele. The couple was discovered deceased in their residence on December 14.
The 63-year-old actor, who gained fame portraying Westley in the 1987 classic, took to Instagram on December 29 to share his feelings. Elwes expressed that enough time had passed to finally articulate his sorrow.
Reflecting on his initial encounter with Reiner, Elwes revealed, “I was 24 when I first met Rob during The Princess Bride production. That first meeting was enchanting; I was already an admirer of his work, so meeting him was a dream realized.”
Describing his bond with Reiner, Elwes wrote about how he quickly realized he wanted Reiner to be a part of his life. He noted the significant opportunity Reiner gave him, saying, “Casting me as Westley was like handing me the keys to the kingdom.”
Elwes reminisced about Reiner’s character, recalling, “The first thing I noticed about Rob was his openness. He wore his heart on his sleeve and was deeply compassionate. He didn’t care about wealth or status, just whether you were a ‘good guy.’ Rob always sought the best in others and empathized with those facing difficulties.”
Citing the love Reiner had for his family and friends, as well as for the art of filmmaking, Elwes said that the “brilliant filmmaker” had told him “what he really enjoyed the most was the experience itself.”
“He used to say, ‘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,’” he recalled. “And boy was my time with him on The Princess Bride beyond great. I can’t remember a single day without laughter. The movie is about love, loyalty and sacrifice. Things that Rob held dear. Which is among the many reasons he was the perfect person to direct it.”
Elwes also highlighted Rob and Michele’s love story, as they “met and fell in love” on the set of 1989’s When Harry Met Sally.
“Besides being a gifted photographer she was an incredibly loving, intelligent person,” Elwes wrote of Michele. “Deeply passionate about her family and about lifting others up. To say that they were a great team would be an understatement. Their only interest in fame was that it allowed them to shine a light on causes they believed in, especially helping those who were marginalized. In a town where many talk the talk, they truly walked it.”
He continued, “Whenever we got together we would talk about family, life, movies and politics. But without fail Rob would always find a way to make us laugh. That was important to him. Finding the joy. And if I could make him laugh in return, I felt like I had won the lottery. His laugh was one of the greatest sounds I’ve ever known — so heartfelt it still rings in my ears.”
Elwes concluded his tribute by thanking the late couple “for sharing [their] life and art with us.”
“Because my heart still aches every time I think of you, I know the grief of losing you too soon will likely never go away. Sure, death cannot stop true love but life is pain without you,” he wrote. “With this note my family and I send our deepest condolences and heartfelt prayers to their family, friends and fans.”
Rob and Michele’s 32-year-old son, Nick Reiner, was arrested on Dec. 14 and has since been charged with two counts of first-degree murder with special circumstances in relation to his parents’ deaths, per CBS News. According to the outlet, Nick’s arraignment is scheduled for Jan. 7.
