The film world is still grappling with the shocking reports surrounding the deaths of iconic director Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Reiner. As investigations continue and details remain fluid, the loss has prompted fans to revisit the body of work the Spinal Tap director leaves behind. And it’s an extraordinary one. From definitive Stephen King adaptations like Stand by Me and Misery to courtroom classics and the best romantic comedies, Reiner’s filmography helped shape modern Hollywood. What many fans don’t realize about one of his most iconic films, When Harry Met Sally, is that it almost had a depressingly different ending, until he changed it, and Reiner's wife is to thank.
As the former sitcom star explained in a past interview with CNN (via The Hollywood Reporter), the film began from a much more cynical place. Co-written with the late Nora Ephron, When Harry Met Sally was initially conceived during a period when Reiner had spent a long stretch alone, unsure whether lasting love was even possible. That uncertainty shaped the early drafts, including a far sadder trajectory for Meg Ryan’s Sally. He explained:
