Cary Elwes Pays Tribute to Rob Reiner: ‘Death Cannot Stop True Love but Life Is Pain Without You’

On Monday, the British "Princess Bride" star posted a heartfelt message about the director who jump-started his career.

Rob Reiner, who tragically died along with his wife Michele earlier this month, will be remembered for making unforgettable movies that touched generations of viewers. And one of the best and most lasting is 1987’s “The Princess Bride,” a fairytale farce about true love that turned leads Robin Wright and Cary Elwes into household names.

This week, Elwes — who was in his early 20s when he played Westley, the dashing but often hapless hero of the film — joined his co-stars and many of Reiner’s other collaborators and colleagues in paying tribute to the filmmaker, actor, and philanthropist known for titles like “Stand by Me” and “When Harry Met Sally.” Like many who spoke out after the couple’s alleged murder, Elwes described Reiner’s warm personality and graciousness on set, something that often set him apart from other big names in the industry, as well as his willingness to take a chance on a young, relatively unknown actor.

“Enough time has passed that I can finally put my grief into words. I was 24 when I first met Rob Reiner on The Princess Bride. And from that very first meeting I fell in love with him. I was already a fan of his work so meeting him in person was a dream come true. As we began spending more time together I knew this was someone I wanted in my life. I also knew that by casting me as Westley he was giving me the keys to the castle,” the actor wrote in an Instagram post on December 29, adding that the first thing he noticed about the director was that “he wore his heart on his sleeve.” “This was a man who felt deeply. Whose heart was filled with love and compassion. He wasn’t impressed by how much money you had or if you had a privileged upbringing. He just wanted to know if you were a ‘good guy.’”

In the post — which includes behind-the-scenes footage from the making of “The Princess Bride” as well as a snippet of the stars and director discussing the pioneering comedy on its 25th anniversary — Elwes also touched on how Reiner, the son of comedian and industry legend Carl Reiner, had an infectious appreciation for the filmmaking process.

“He obviously loved making movies – and was clearly a brilliant filmmaker – but he told me 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.’ And boy was my time with him on The Princess Bride beyond great. I can’t remember a single day without laughter,” he wrote of the film, which was based on a 1973 romantasy novel by William Goldman.

Later in the post, Elwes, who was close with the Reiners, referred to the director meeting and falling in love with his future wife on the set of “When Harry Met Sally,” where she worked as a photographer. Praising her talent and passion for lifting others up, he wrote, “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. 

“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,” he added. “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.”

As the British actor — who went on to star in a string of ‘90s commercial and cult hits, including “Days of Thunder,” “Bram Stoker’s Dracula,” “The Crush,” and “Robin Hood: Men in Tights” — closed his message, he referenced a line from the film that changed the course of his career. “Sure, death cannot stop true love but life is pain without you. ⚔️💔,” he wrote, invoking the message at the heart of “The Princess Bride.”

In the hours and days following the Reiners’ death on December 14, the people whose lives they touched, either directly or indirectly, expressed both heartbreak and gratitude for what they left behind. But many of those closest to the couple have taken time to process their thoughts and mourn in privacy. Given the immense legacy that Reiner alone forged, it’s safe to assume that it will be a long time before the actors, writers, and directors who had the pleasure of working with him — along with the many people affected by his warmhearted films — will be finished reflecting on the once-in-a-lifetime cinematic personality.