Rob Reiner wrote himself into movie history with his film When Harry Met Sally. Released in 1989, starring Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan, it got nominated for one Academy Award. However, the ending could have been way different from what we know. When Reiner met his wife, Michele, he decided to change it.
Director, producer, and actor Rob Reiner and his wife Michele were found dead in their home in Brentwood, Los Angeles, on Sunday. Police are still in the early stages of what has happened. Authorities are investigating the incident as an apparent homicide.
Reiner had a long and successful career in Hollywood, from starring in the sitcom All In The Family to directing several classics. One of them is When Harry Met Sally, released in 1989.
While the film became a huge hit, it was most likely not the biggest event of the year, as it was also the year he and his wife, Michele, tied the knot.
The couple met when Reiner directed When Harry Met Sally, and they fell in love. At the time, he had been single since his 1981 divorce from actress and director Penny Marshall.
Not only did Rob Reiner fall in love with Michele, but she also inspired him to make quite the change in When Harry Met Sally. In fact, the director decided to alter the movie’s ending to a heartwarming one.
Why Rob Reiner changed the ending of ‘When Harry Met Sally’ after meeting Michele
Speaking to CNN earlier this year, Reiner explained,
“The original ending of the film that we had was that Harry and Sally didn’t get together,” Rob Reiner said. “I had been married for 10 years, I had been single for 10 years and I couldn’t figure out how I was ever going to be with anybody, and that gave birth to When Harry Met Sally.”
Rob continued by saying that at the time he hadn’t “met anybody.” Therefore, “it was going to be the two of them seeing each other after years, talking, and then walking away from each other.”
But those who remember the film or have seen it recently, that didn’t happen. The ending became one of happy tears instead, as in the movie, Harry raced to a New Year’s Eve party to tell Sally he loved her.
“I came here tonight because when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible,” Harry said in the film.
Married for 35 years
This was the ending Reiner wanted, as he had met his own Sally.
“I met my wife, Michele, who I’ve been married to now 35 years,” Reiner explained to CNN. “I met her while we were making the film, and I changed the ending.”
Rest in peace, Rob and Michele.
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