Arts & Entertainment
Michele Singer Reiner, Photographer Who Influenced 1980s Rom-com’s Happy End, Dies
michele singer Reiner, a photographer, movie producer and advocate for LGBTQ+ rights who inspired the happy conclusion to the 1980s romantic comedy “When Harry Met Sally…,” has died.
She and her husband, director Rob Reiner, were found stabbed to death Sunday at their home in the Brentwood neighborhood of los Angeles. The Reiners’ 32-year-old son, Nick Reiner, was arrested on suspicion of murder and held without bail Monday in connection with their deaths.
Michele Singer was working as a still photographer and Rob Reiner was directing “When Harry Met Sally…” when they met on the film’s set. Within seven months, the couple had married. They had three children: Nick, Jake and Romy.
Rob Reiner told The Guardian in 2018 that meeting his wife influenced his decision to change the ending of the movie so that Harry and Sally got married.
“Originally, Harry and Sally didn’t get together,” he said. “But then I met Michele and I thought: OK, I see how this works.”
As a photographer, Michele Singer Reiner shot the cover image of President Donald Trump for his 1987 bestseller “The Art of the Deal.” She went on to work on the 1990 horror film “Misery” as a special photographer.
Later, she was a producer for “Spinal Tap II: The End Continues,” “God & Country,” “Albert Brooks: Defending My Life” and “Shock and Awe,” according to IMDB.
“Michele was an enormously talented photographer whose eye applied not only to what she captured on film but also to her own personal esthetic,” actor, singer and producer rita Wilson wrote in a
Rob and Michele Reiner: A Legacy of Activism and Love
Rob reiner, the acclaimed director of films like “When Harry Met Sally…” and “Sleepless in Seattle,” and his wife, Michele singer Reiner, have both passed away, leaving behind a meaningful legacy of social justice advocacy and a celebrated partnership. The couple were known for their unwavering commitment to equality, particularly within the LGBTQ+ community, and their decades-long friendship with Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson.
Michele Reiner, inspired by her mother-a Holocaust survivor-dedicated much of her life to fighting injustice. She and Rob were actively involved with the American Foundation for Equal Rights, a key organization in the legal battles against California’s Proposition 8, the 2008 ban on same-sex marriage.
Their work extended beyond financial support. They actively mobilized support, bringing together strategists and legal experts to challenge the ban. This culminated in landmark Supreme Court decisions that ultimately legalized marriage equality nationwide. Kelley Robinson, president of the Human Rights campaign, highlighted their dedication, stating they “organized their peers, brought strategists and lawyers together and helped power landmark Supreme Court decisions…and they remained committed to the cause until their final days.”
Screenwriter and director Dustin Lance Black, a fellow board member of the American Foundation for Equal Rights, collaborated with Rob Reiner on the play “8,” which dramatized the federal trial surrounding Proposition 8. Black mourned their loss, calling them “two of its greatest champions of justice, love and equality” and “two of the most spectacular human beings I will ever know.”
Rob Reiner often credited michele as the driving force behind their activism, saying, “There’s just too much injustice in the world, and she wants to fix it all.”
The couple’s story began on the set of “When Harry Met Sally…” in 1989. Rob Reiner recounted to The New York Times how he was immediately attracted to Michele, who was visiting the set with Barry Sonnenfeld, the film’s cinematographer, and his then-fiancée.Sonnenfeld reportedly predicted to Reiner, “You’re going to marry her,” a prediction that proved accurate. Reiner actively sought her out, joining their lunch and initiating a courtship that led to their marriage.
Beyond their activism, the Reiners were known for their warm hospitality and love of film. Rita Wilson,a longtime friend,shared on Instagram memories of the couple’s screening parties,where they paired themed foods and discussions with classic movies.
Sources:
* https://www.nbcnews.com/news/obituaries/rob-reiner-michele-singer-reiner-dead-n1321486
* https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/12/arts/rob-reiner-michele-singer-reiner-dead.html
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