Longtime friends of Rob Reiner are paying tribute to the beloved director after he and his wife Michele Singer Reiner were tragically killed over the weekend.

Billy Crystal and his wife Janice Crystal, along with other close friends of the Reiners, penned a touching tribute to Rob and Michele in a lengthy statement shared to the Associated Press on Tuesday (December 16) celebrating Rob's impact on filmmaking and the "special force" that was him and Michele.

In addition to the Crystals, the message was also signed by Albert and Kimberly Brooks, Martin Short, Alan and Robin Zweibel, Larry David and Ashley Underwood, Marc Shaiman and Lou Mirabal, Barry and Diana Levinson and Ambassador James Costos and Michael Smith.

"Going to the movies in a dark theater filled with strangers having a common experience, laughing, crying, screaming in fear, or watching an intense drama unfold is still an unforgettable thrill. Tell us a story audiences demand of us," they wrote. "Absorbing all he had learned from his father Carl and his mentor Norman Lear, Rob Reiner not only was a great comic actor, he became a master story teller. There is no other director who has his range. From comedy to drama to 'mockumentary' to documentary he was always at the top of his game. He charmed audiences. They trusted him. They lined up to see his films."

The statement continued, "His comedic touch was beyond compare, his love of getting the music of the dialogue just right, and his sharpening of the edge of a drama was simply elegant. For the actors, he loved them. For the writers he made them better. His greatest gift was freedom. If you had an idea, he listened, he brought you into the process. They always felt they were working as a team. To be in his hands as a film maker was a privilege but that is only part of his legacy."

The group also honored the Reiners' dedication to the "betterment" of the people around them and their passion for making the country a better place for all.

"Rob was also a passionate, brave citizen, who not only cared for this country he loved, he did everything he could to make it better and with his loving wife Michele, he had the perfect partner," the statement read. "Strong and determined, Michele and Rob Reiner devoted a great deal of their lives for the betterment of our fellow citizens... They were a special force together — dynamic, unselfish and inspiring. We were their friends, and we will miss them forever."

The Reiners' friends concluded their heartfelt statement with a poignant quote from "one of Rob's favorite films" that is both fitting for both the season and the legacy Reiner is leaving behind.

"There is a line from one of Rob's favorite films, It's A Wonderful Life, 'Each man's life touches so many other lives, and when he isn't around, he leaves an awful hole, doesn't he?'" they said. "You have no idea."

Rob, the son of TV legend Carl Reiner, and Michele, his wife of 36 years, were found dead in their Brentwood, California, home on Sunday (December 14) by their daughter Romy Reiner. Rob was 78 and Michele was 68. Their son Nick Reiner has since been arrested and charged with two counts of first degree murder in connection with their stabbing deaths.

Not only did Rob make his mark as an actor, such as his notable role as Mike "Meathead" Stivic in All in the Family, but he went on to direct films that have become classics, including When Harry Met Sally, The Princess Bride, Misery, Stand By Me, This Is Spinal Tap and more.

102.9 The Lake