When Harry Met Sally, directed by Rob Reiner, features the incredible chemistry between Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal, captivating audiences with their unforgettable romantic-comedy portrayal. Following the journey of Harry Burns (played by Crystal) and Sally Albright (played by Ryan), the film takes us through their initial meeting in Chicago and explores the ups and downs of their friendship amidst numerous missed opportunities. Penned by the late Nora Ephron, this beloved movie grossed over $92.8 million in the United States upon its release in July 1989, continuing to charm viewers to this day.
Both fans and critics praised When Harry Met Sally, earning Ephron an Academy Award nomination and a Golden Globe nod for her impressive screenplay. Crystal revealed that significant changes were made to the script to achieve its now-iconic final version. According to him, the script evolved extensively, incorporating perspectives from both the male and female protagonists, along with contributions from Nora and Meg, resulting in a powerful screenplay.
Keep scrolling to see what the cast of When Harry Met Sally is doing now:
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'When Harry Met Sally' Cast: Where Are They Now?
When Harry Met Sally, directed by Rob Reiner, is a perfect romantic-comedy masterpiece created by Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal. Even today, viewers continue to be captivated by their exceptional performances.
Taking place in Chicago, the film portrays the journey of Harry Burns (Crystal) and Sally Albright (Ryan). It encompasses over a decade of friendship, filled with numerous missed connections and heartfelt moments. Nora Ephron, who is sadly no longer with us, wrote this remarkable script.
Upon its release in July 1989, When Harry Met Sally became a major box-office success, grossing more than $92.8 million in the U.S.
When Harry Met Sally received accolades from both fans and critics, with Ephron earning an Academy Award nomination and a Golden Globe nod for her impressive screenplay. However, Crystal revealed that there were significant changes made to the script to arrive at its now-iconic final version. Speaking at the TCM Classic Film Festival in April 2019, in celebration of the film's 30th anniversary, Crystal explained, "The script underwent a complete transformation from what we initially agreed upon. It continued to evolve and expand, combining the perspectives of the male protagonist and the contributions of Nora and Meg. This is what makes it such a compelling screenplay."
Keep scrolling to see what the cast of When Harry Met Sally is doing now:
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Meg Ryan (Sally Albright)
Ryan received her first Golden Globe nomination in 1990 for her leading role in When Harry Met Sally, propelling her into Hollywood's list of top actresses. She is well-known for her performances in Sleepless in Seattle (1993), When a Man Loves a Woman (1994), You've Got Mail (1998), Kate & Leopold (2001), and The Women (2008). In October 2015, she made her directorial debut with the film Ithaca.
Between 1991 and 2001, Ryan was married to Dennis Quaid, with whom she shares a son named Jack. In January 2006, she adopted a daughter named Daisy. In 2010, she began an on-off relationship with John Mellencamp. Although they got engaged in November 2018, we exclusively confirmed that they ended their relationship one year later.
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Billy Crystal (Harry Burns)
Prior to transitioning to the big screen, the renowned actor from New York had already achieved considerable success in television, notably appearing in ABC's Soap and NBC's Saturday Night Live during the 1970s and 1980s. Crystal also delivered memorable performances in several notable films, including The Princess Bride (1987), City Slickers (1991), Monsters Inc. (2001), and Monsters University (2013). Over the course of his extensive career in the entertainment industry, Crystal has been honored with multiple accolades, including a Tony Award and six Emmy Awards. More recently, he showcased his talent alongside Josh Gad in the FX series The Comedians, which had only one season, and reprised his beloved role as Mike Wazowski in the Disney+ series Monsters at Work.
The comedian has been married to his wife, Janice Crystal, since 1970.
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Carrie Fisher (Marie)
Renowned for her portrayal of Princess Leia in the Star Wars franchise, the native of California passed away from sudden cardiac arrest in December 2016, just one day before her mother, Debbie Reynolds, tragically suffered a fatal stroke. Fisher also gained recognition for her role in the 1980 film Blues Brothers, and later received two Emmy nominations for her outstanding guest appearances in 30 Rock and Catastrophe. Furthermore, she was posthumously honored with a Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album for the audiobook version of her memoir, The Princess Diarist, released in 2016.
She is survived by her daughter, Billie Lourd, who joyfully welcomed her first child with Austen Rydell in September 2020.
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Bruno Kirby (Jess)
Also renowned for his roles in The Godfather Part II (1974), City Slickers (1991), and Stuart Little (1999), the comedian passed away in August 2006 due to complications associated with leukemia. Just three years prior to his demise, he tied the knot with Lynn Sellers, who is known for her performance in My Girl.
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Lisa Jane Persky (Alice)
Quentin Tarantino received his first onscreen kiss from Persky in the film Destiny Turns on the Radio in 1995. Additionally, Persky appeared as a guest on various television shows, including Private Eye, NYPD Blue, The X-Files, King of the Hill, and The Golden Girls. When not acting, this New York City native pursued a career in journalism and fine art photography. In 2010, Persky became a founding editor and art director for the Los Angeles Review of Books. Later, she contributed to the documentary I Am Divine, directed by Jeffrey Schwartz, which delves into the life of actor and drag performer Divine, who passed away in 1988.
Persky married music producer Andy Zax in 2008.
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Steven Ford (Joe)
Steven, the son of former president Gerald Ford and former first lady Betty Ford, made his debut on The Young and the Restless in 1981, taking on the role of Private Investigator Andy Richards. Throughout his career, he also starred in popular films such as Heat (1995), Eraser (1996), Starship Troopers (1997), and Armageddon (1998). Having graduated from Utah State University, he delivered his final film performance in Transformers (2007) and currently serves on the board of trustees for the Gerald R. Ford Foundation.
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Harley Jane Kozak (Helen)
Following her appearances in the films Parenthood (1989) and Arachnophobia (1990), along with a few other projects in the late '90s, the talented author from Pennsylvania saw her writing career flourish. Her debut novel, Dating Dead Men, was published in January 2004 and received critical acclaim. In her most recent work, Kozak made a significant contribution to the mystery anthology titled For the Sake of the Game: Stories Inspired by the Sherlock Holmes Canon, which was released in 2018. Kozak is also the proud mother of three adult children that she shares with her ex-husband, Gregory Aldisert, who is an entertainment lawyer.
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Kevin Rooney (Ira Stone)
Even though Rooney did not pursue his acting career after his minor appearance in When Harry Met Sally, he has achieved considerable success as a writer and producer, particularly for ABC's My Wife and Kids between 2001 and 2005.
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Michelle Nicastro (Amanda)
Following her portrayal as Harry's college sweetheart in the 1989 romantic comedy, Nicastro went on to land minor roles on Full House and the NBC soap opera Santa Barbara. In 1983, she originated the character of Ariadne in Merlin on Broadway, and five years later, she embarked on a U.S. tour playing the role of Éponine in a production of Les Misérables. Tragically, Nicastro passed away in November 2010, succumbing to breast and brain cancer.