Jamie Lee Curtis became visibly choked up while discussing the legacy of Rob and Michele Reiner during an appearance on The View.
Curtis, 67, was chatting about her new sitcom Newlyweds during her visit to ABC’s daytime talk show when she was asked about being the inaugural recipient of the Children's Institute’s Michele and Rob Reiner Champion for Change Award.
The award was established by the institute (which is run by Michele’s sister, Martine Singer) after the filmmaker, 78, and his wife, 70, were found stabbed to death inside their Los Angeles home in December 2025. Their son Nick, 33, is due back in court next year to face murder charges over their deaths.
After taking an extended pause seemingly to gather her thoughts and emotions, Curtis began: “They're incredible people. Just incredible people.”
“Rob and Michele were very active with this organization. And [their children] Jake and Romy and Martine [Singer, Michele’s sister] wanted to continue their legacy,” Curtis continued.
“It's who they were and what they did and how they did it ... it's just crucial in a time when we are so fractured and everybody is out for something,” she said. “These people were filled with love and expansion.”
Fighting back tears, Curtis continued: “I'm honored, obviously. I'm like, all of us, just grief-stricken by the whole thing.”
“And yet we need to suit up and show up and do what we all can do as a community, as individuals,” she concluded as the audience applauded.
Curtis will receive the award during the institute’s November 8 gala.
The Halloween star’s friendship with the When Harry Met Sally filmmaker goes back decades. Curtis and her husband Christopher Guest were married at Reiner’s house. He served as the best man.
Curtis was part of the tribute to the Reiners at the September Emmy Awards. She recently told The Hollywood Reporter that she found participating “a little tougher than I anticipated.”
She added: “It’s been a little strange because it’s a very private grief, and yet I’m a public-facing person. I’m trying to walk that line a little bit.”
Curtis explained: “I’m here for the Children’s Institute. I’m here to support their work. I’m going to be at the event to support the work that Rob and Michele did, and it shouldn’t be about me. And yet I’ve been the one talking a lot about them.”
Elsewhere in the THR interview, Curtis explained that she often admired the Reiners’ activism work.
“Every day with them was activism. They were enraged at the way the current administration had decimated progressive policies toward children, women, people of color, gay people and transgender people,” she said.
“I mean, don’t even get me started. Rob was a firebrand. I can talk a good game, and I’m a passionate advocate, but Rob had the acumen and the political savvy. I don’t have political savvy. He was able to find common ground with people he disagreed with and was a powerful leader,” she said.
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