Billy Crystal says he doesn't 'trust' God after house burned in wildfire, Rob Reiner killed
Jewish actor and comedian Billy Crystal says a series of devastating personal losses has shaken his trust in God, including the destruction of his longtime family home in the 2025 Pacific Palisades wildfire and the killing of one of his closest friends.
In an interview with “CBS Sunday Morning,” Crystal, 78, said he no longer turns to God as he once did because too many painful events have changed his outlook.
When asked if he has been talking to God during this difficult time, Crystal replied, “No, because I don’t trust Him. Too many bad things have happened. The Earth is in bad shape. This is a weird, scary time. So no, not anymore.”
Crystal made the remarks as he prepares to bring his new one-man Broadway show, “860,” to audiences. The show draws on memories of his home, his family and the grief he has experienced.
The admission marks a significant shift from Crystal’s earlier work, including his 2004 one-man show, “700 Sundays,” about the 700 Sundays he spent with his father before his father’s death. In that show, Crystal described conversations with God.
Crystal’s frustration stems in part from the January 2025 destruction of the home he shared with his wife, Janice. The wind-driven wildfire that swept through the Los Angeles neighborhood destroyed more than 5,000 homes, including the Crystals’ house.
“Oh God, what a morning. Helicopters and sirens woke us up to the news that there was a big brush fire in the Highlands,” Crystal recalled of the day the fire burned his home.
Crystal described the property as a special place that had helped him feel young. He said the loss remains painful, even though he recognizes that he and his family were fortunate in other ways.
According to Crystal, nothing from his home survived the fire.
In “860,” Crystal has recreated his home office onstage, allowing him to revisit memories tied to the house. But he acknowledged that even an exact replica does not erase the hurt and loss he feels.
“860” is scheduled to officially open Oct. 21 at New York City’s Imperial Theatre for a limited run through Jan. 3. Crystal has said he hopes to bring the production to Los Angeles afterward.
Another devastating loss that shook Crystal’s trust in God was the deaths of filmmaker Rob Reiner and his wife, photographer and producer Michele Singer Reiner.
Crystal and Reiner were close friends for decades. They also worked together professionally, including on the 1989 romantic comedy “When Harry Met Sally,” which Reiner directed and in which Crystal starred.
The couple were found dead in their California home in December 2025. They died from multiple sharp-force injuries, meaning wounds caused by a knife or other sharp object. Their son, Nick Reiner, was later arrested and charged with first-degree murder.
Crystal told CBS that he and Reiner were together at a holiday party the night before the couple was killed. He said the suddenness of the loss has left him struggling to process what happened.
“No, it’s too big,” Crystal said. “It’s so insane, because we were together the night before. We said goodbye, like, late that night, 10:30 or something, at the party we were at together for the holidays, and then … what?!?”
Despite his grief, Crystal said he still looks for reasons to laugh because that’s just what he does.
“You have to, man. You got to, you got to … It’s a healer,” he said. “It always has been that way. You know, we say when life gets tough, all you can do is laugh.”
Samantha Kamman is a reporter for The Christian Post. She can be reached at: samantha.kamman@christianpost.com. Follow her on Twitter: @Samantha_Kamman
