A piece of rock mockumentary history appeared on the Oscars stage this week, when stars from This Is Spinal Tap reunited to honour the late filmmaker Rob Reiner during the ceremony’s In Memoriam segment.
Actors including Michael McKean and Christopher Guest — best known as members of the fictional heavy metal band in Reiner’s beloved 1984 cult classic — were among roughly 20 performers who walked onstage together in tribute to the director.
The moment came following a speech from Billy Crystal, who reflected on Reiner’s decades-long career and the impact he had on collaborators and audiences alike.
Reiner, who was found dead alongside his wife Michele Singer in their California home in December in an apparent homicide, was remembered for a body of work that spans some of Hollywood’s most enduring films, including This Is Spinal Tap, Stand By Me, The Princess Bride, and When Harry Met Sally.
Crystal, who first met Reiner while working on All in the Family, spoke about their long friendship and the filmmaker’s commitment to social causes alongside his creative achievements.
“Their loss is immeasurable,” Crystal told the audience. “And to the millions who have enjoyed his films over the years, I want you to know how many times Rob told me that it meant everything to him that his work meant something to you.”
“For us who had the privilege of working with and knowing him and loving him, all we can say is, ‘Buddy, what fun we had storming the castle.’”
After Crystal’s speech, a long line of actors from across Reiner’s filmography — including Jerry O’Connell, Fred Savage, Mandy Patinkin, Carol Kane, Meg Ryan, Demi Moore, and John Cusack — emerged from backstage to stand shoulder to shoulder in tribute.
