‘He was a very dear friend’: Cary Elwes on life after The Princess Bride – and losing Rob Reiner

While Cary Elwes's illustrious career saw him serve as Marlon Brando's PA and receive invaluable advice from Al Pacino, he is undeniably most celebrated for his iconic role in the beloved, catchphrase-strewn classic, *The Princess Bride*.

Elwes opens up about the enduring legacy of the film and his profound connection with its director, Rob Reiner, whom he described as a 'very dear friend' and will 'miss terribly.' Surprisingly, in 1988, Elwes's career faced a significant downturn. His latest cinematic endeavor, a fantasy featuring him as a farm boy transformed into a dashing hero, had initially underperformed at the box office, leaving him without work for a year.

During this challenging period, Elwes found himself in a New York restaurant where he encountered Al Pacino. Seizing the opportunity, he introduced himself. Elwes recounts, "He asked me if I was working and I said no. He said: 'You need to exercise your acting muscles,' and told me to go back to school and train." Pacino subsequently connected him with the prestigious Lee Strasberg Institute. Elwes, who had previously studied there with his friend and mentor Charlie Laughton, stated, "I auditioned, I got in and ended up working with Al’s mentor, and it changed my life."

However, the encounter with Pacino wasn't the sole pivotal event for Elwes that year. The very film, initially deemed a "dud," where he portrayed the charming farmhand Westley, was none other than *The Princess Bride*. This unique fairy tale spoof, blending adventure for both adults and children, was notoriously difficult to market, as director Rob Reiner himself admitted. Yet, a year after its modest theatrical run, *The Princess Bride* found its true audience and achieved cult status upon its release on VHS, unexpectedly taking on a life of its own.