Billy Crystal Reflects on Personal Loss and Struggles with Faith
Billy Crystal recently opened up about how personal tragedies have shaken his faith in God. During an interview with CBS Sunday Morning on October 11, the comedian shared his experience of losing his home and years of memories to wildfires in the Palisades, alongside the deep sorrow he felt following the death of his close friend and longtime collaborator, Rob Reiner.
When asked if he still speaks to God, something he had mentioned before in his show “700 Sundays,” Crystal responded with a firm shake of his head. “No, because I — I don’t trust him,” he said.
This prompted correspondent Tracy Smith to challenge him on whether he was serious about abandoning his faith. The 78-year-old actor confirmed his feelings, stating, “Yeah. Too many bad things have happened.” He went on to express his concern about the state of the world, describing it as a “weird, scary time.” He concluded, “So no, not anymore.”
Crystal recounted the devastation of losing everything in the fires, which was compounded by the loss of Reiner, his longtime friend and colleague, known for their work together on the beloved film “When Harry Met Sally.” Reiner, along with his wife Michele, tragically passed away in December 2025. Crystal reflected on the shock of that sudden loss, admitting it was still overwhelming for him.
“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,” he remembered, struggling to process the events.
In those challenging moments, Crystal turned to humor and comedy. “That’s what I do,” he stated, emphasizing that laughter is a healer during tough times. “You know, we say when life gets tough, all you can do is laugh,” he added.
His interview coincided with the promotion of his new one-man Broadway show titled “860.” He revealed that the title, which is the street address of his lost home, was quickly endorsed by Reiner when he first proposed it. “That’s the one,” he remembered Reiner saying with enthusiasm, expressing his approval for the title.
