Filmmaker Barry Sonnenfeld played a special role in Rob Reiner’s personal life nearly four decades ago. In 1988, Sonnenfeld introduced Reiner to the woman who would become his wife, Michele Singer.
Now, the director behind The Addams Family and the first three Men in Black movies is preparing to honor the late couple at a star-studded event in Beverly Hills.
Sonnenfeld will host Children’s Institute’s 120th Anniversary Cape & Gown Gala on Sunday, Nov. 8, an evening celebrating the Reiners’ legacy of philanthropy and advocacy for children and families.
“Rob and Michele were incredible human beings with an extraordinary capacity to love and serve others,” Sonnenfeld said in a statement announcing his involvement. “I miss them more than words can say, but I’ll try.”
The event will also feature Jamie Lee Curtis, John Mayer and Chelsea Handler, all of whom have connections to the Reiners or their charitable work. They are all coming together to remember the couple who was tragically killed in December 2025 by their son Nick Reiner.
Barry Sonnenfeld Introduced Rob Reiner to His Wife Michele in 1988
Sonnenfeld’s friendship with the Reiners stretched back nearly 40 years, encompassing both a close personal relationship and several memorable Hollywood collaborations.
Before becoming a successful director himself, Sonnenfeld worked as a cinematographer on two of Reiner’s most beloved films, the 1989 romantic comedy When Harry Met Sally and the 1990 psychological thriller Misery.
But his most consequential introduction may have happened offscreen.
According to Martine Singer, Michele Reiner’s sister and the president and CEO of Children’s Institute, Sonnenfeld introduced Rob and Michele in 1988. Sonnenfeld and his wife Susan remained close friends with the couple throughout the decades that followed.
“Barry is the perfect host for an evening that honors the humanitarianism of my sister and brother-in-law,” Singer said in the organization’s Oct. 30 announcement.
She also offered a lighter reason for choosing the filmmaker: “Also, he’s hilarious.”
Sonnenfeld went on to direct Get Shorty, The Addams Family, Addams Family Values and the original Men in Black trilogy, building a career that frequently blended offbeat comedy with larger-than-life characters.
His appearance at the gala, however, will be considerably more personal, as he helps celebrate two longtime friends whose commitment to charitable causes extended far beyond Hollywood.
Related: Rob Reiner Reflected on His Children in Haunting Resurfaced Interview
Jamie Lee Curtis to Receive Award Honoring Rob and Michele Reiner
The gala will also mark the presentation of the inaugural Michele & Rob Reiner Champion for Change Award, which recognizes the couple’s longstanding commitment to children, families and community advocacy.
Jamie Lee Curtis will become the award’s first recipient, with Rob and Michele’s son Jake Reiner presenting the honor.
Curtis, a longtime friend of the Reiner family, is being recognized for her philanthropic work, including her My Hand In Yours charitable initiative, which has raised nearly $2 million for Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. She has also written 14 children’s books and advocated for people in recovery.
“I am so deeply honored to receive this award as a testament to the extraordinary legacy that Michele and Rob shared with so many of us,” Curtis said when the honor was announced in August.
“They didn’t just create together. They lived a life of service, building something greater than themselves and giving so much to the world around them. And that is something worth honoring again and again.”
The award was created in partnership with Jake and Romy Reiner, who have spoken about their parents’ dedication to improving the lives of others.
“Our parents taught us what it means to be good, decent human beings,” Jake said in the original announcement. “And they didn’t just talk about it; they led by example.”
The Reiners were influential supporters of early childhood programs, including the effort to establish First 5 California, which has generated more than $12.5 billion for early childhood development, health and school readiness, according to Children’s Institute.
They also supported marriage equality and helped launch the federal legal challenge to California’s ban on same-sex marriage.
John Mayer and Chelsea Handler Will Also Honor the Reiners
The Nov. 8 event will feature a performance by seven-time Grammy winner John Mayer and an appearance by comedian and television host Chelsea Handler.
Mayer has his own professional connection to Reiner. His song “Say” appeared in Reiner’s 2007 film The Bucket List, starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman, and earned Mayer the Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance in 2009.
Handler also shared a personal tribute when her participation was announced in October.
“It was a privilege to know Rob and Michele, and I adored them both,” she said. “They were extraordinary people who believed in giving back and doing what was right.”
“They left the world better than they found it.”
The gala celebrates the 120th anniversary of Children’s Institute, which was founded in 1906 and provides early childhood education, mental health services and support for families throughout Los Angeles County.
The organization says it serves approximately 30,000 children and families annually, with proceeds from the event supporting its continuing work.
For Sonnenfeld, the evening will also be an opportunity to remember the friends whose lives he helped bring together in 1988, and whose impact continues through the causes they championed.
Related: Rob Reiner’s Son Nick Reiner Once Refused to Go Back to Rehab: ‘I Wanted to Do It My Way’
This story was originally published by Parade on Nov 8, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
