Legendary actor and director Rob Reiner’s tragic death at 78 has come to a shock to many. Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, were found dead at their home on December 14. Their deaths are being investigated as a homicide.
Fans who are revisiting Reiner’s sizable filmography in the wake of his passing will no doubt appreciate his ability to combine earnestness and comedy in some of his best works, such as the 1989 romantic classic “When Harry Met Sally.” The movie might not be quite as heartwarming, however, had Reiner chosen to use the original, sadder ending he had planned for it.
In a 2024 interview with CNN Entertainment, Reiner discussed the film’s original finale. It was considerably bleaker than the finished product, which opts for a “happily ever after” approach. He also revealed that this more dour ending had its roots in his personal experiences.
“The original ending of the film that we had was that Harry and Sally didn’t get together,” the director said. “It was going to be the two of them seeing each other after years, talking and then walking away from each other. Because I had been married for 10 years, I’d 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.'”
Several important scenes in When Harry Met Sally went through quite a journey
