Billy Crystal Recalls the 'Fantastic Chemistry' He Shared with Meg Ryan onWhen Harry Met Sally,35 Years Later (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Meg Ryan (left) and Billy Crystal in ‘When Harry Met Sally’ in 1989.Photo:Everett

Everett

It was romantic comedy magic in the making.

“You knew it was special,” the 76-year-old actor tells PEOPLE of working on the movie. “You don’t know that it’s 35 years special.”

Meg Ryan (left) and Billy Crystal in ‘When Harry Met Sally’ in 1989.Hulton Archive/Getty

Hulton Archive/Getty

“All you can control is the experience,” theMonsters Inc.star explains. “And it was a great script, phenomenal director, great director of photography, Barry Sonnenfeld, who later became a terrific director himself. It came at a perfect time for us in our lives, and it just felt good. But you don’t know what’s good until you see it all put together.”

“Rob had to add footage on the other side of [the line] because the laugh was so big,” Crystal says.

The actor is thrilled that “all these years later” there’s still “so much affection” for the film andits title couple. Not only is the movie “so revered,” he says, but “new generations, they love it too.” He says, “It’s not like, ‘Oh, it’s my parents' movie.’ This still is for everybody. That’s really good.”

Meg Ryan (left) and Billy Crystal in 2019.Michael Buckner/Variety/Penske Media via Getty

Michael Buckner/Variety/Penske Media via Getty

He also saysWhen Harry Met Sallyis still the movie he’s recognized most for, thoughMonsters Inc., in which he played Mike Wazowski, also has vocal fans. “It’s fortunate, I’ve been in movies that there are some moments that stick with people,” he says. “I’m glad that the movies have meant something.”

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Crystal’s Harry is a divorced lawyer with a cynical side that was based in part on Reiner, now 77, while Ryan’s Sally was based in part on Ephron. And both Crystal and Ryan, 62, becameautumn style icons, with theYou’ve Got Mailstar inspiringMeg Ryan Fall, and Harry’s wardrobe beloved for one particularly iconic sweater.

But Crystal tells PEOPLEhe doesn’t know where that cozy, white sweater is now. “I made a donation,” he says. “I believe it was to UCLA’s theater department with tons of clothes for costumes. I have a feeling it’s there.”

source: people.com