Cary Elwes has finally broken his silence on the tragic loss of Rob Reiner, the director who cast him as Westley in the beloved film "The Princess Bride." In a heartfelt tribute posted on Instagram, the 63-year-old actor paid a poignant tribute to the late director.
"Enough time has passed that I can finally put my grief into words," Cary began his lengthy note. "I was just 24 when I first met Rob Reiner on the set of 'The Princess Bride.' From that very first meeting, I fell in love with him. He was a fan of his work, and meeting him was a dream come true for me."
As they spent more time together, Cary explained, he knew that Rob was someone he wanted to have in his life. "He cast me as Westley, and by doing so, he gave me the keys to the castle," Cary continued. "He had a heart filled with love and compassion. He didn't care about how much money you had or if you had a privileged upbringing. He just wanted to know if you were a 'good guy.'"
Cary praised Rob's ability to find the best in people and his immense love for his family and friends. He described Rob as a passionate and "brilliant" filmmaker who believed that the movie belonged to the people while it was being made.
"He used to say to me, '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,'" Cary recalled. "My time with him on 'The Princess Bride' was beyond great."
Concluding his note, Cary added, "I can't remember a single day without laughter. The movie is about love, loyalty, and sacrifice - things that Rob held dear. Which is among the many reasons he was the perfect person to direct it."
For those who may not be aware, Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Reiner, passed away on Sunday, December 14th.
