Billy Crystal welcomes many, many costars on Oscar stage to say goodbye to Rob Reiner

Ahead of tonight’s broadcast, host Conan O’Brien promised the In Memoriam would feature a “very powerful” tribute to Rob Reiner. He wasn’t lying. In a year heavy on celebrity deaths, the murder of Reiner and his wife  Michele Singer Reiner still feels like a nightmare we’re never going to wake up from. Leading the tribute to Reiner, his best friend and frequent collaborator, Billy Crystal reminisced about their meeting on an episode of All In The Family before “storming the castle” together on The Princess Bride and When Harry Met Sally. He shouted out his hit films and the role the Reiners played in passing marriage equality. But he wasn’t alone. Joining Crystal on stage were stars from across the Reiner-verse, including Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Fred Savage, Carey Elwes, Kevin Pollack, Demi Moore, Kathy Bates, Wil Wheton, Jerry O’Connell, Mandy Patinkin and Carol Kane, and Sally herself Meg Ryan. 

“My friend Rob’s movies will last a lifetime, because they’re about what make us laugh and cry, and what we aspire to be,” Crystal said. “When Michele Singer entered his life, they were unstoppable. A gifted photographer, she not only produced films with Rob, but it was her energy that had them working tirelessly to fight social injustice in the country that they both loved. Rob and Michelle Reiner became the driving force in the landmark decision for marriage equality across the United States.”

The In Memoriam segment, which had the duty of paying tribute to the likes of Robert Redford and Bela Tarr, also carved out time for Rachel McAdams to honor several women, including Catherine O’Hara, Diane Lad, and her friend and Family Stone co-star Diane Keaton. McAdams shared a Girl Scouts song that she recalled Keaton singing on set, “which was just so her.” “Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver, the other is gold. A circle is round, it has no end. That’s how long I will be your friend.”