'When Harry Met Sally' : Where Billy Crystal, Meg Ryan and the Rest of the Cast Are Now

In honor of Billy Crystal's 71st birthday, let's check in with the cast of one of the most popular romantic comedies of all time

Billy Crystal as Harry Burns

The “mahvelous” man of the hour, Billy Crystal, who turns 71 on Friday, played the lead role of Harry Burns in When Harry Sally — a performance that garnered him a Golden Globe nomination. Of all the movies he's starred in, Crystal told the Orlando Sentinel that When Harry Met Sally is the one he’s asked about most often – saying that it became the romantic comedy of his generation, passed down like a favorite book.

Since his role as Harry in 1989, Crystal went on to host nine Academy Award shows, becoming a go-to favorite, and voiced Mike in Monsters Inc. He also authored five books, including children’s books, and he returned to comedy (prior to the film he was on Saturday Night Live) by going on tour in 2017 with his show Spend the Night with Billy Crystal.

Meg Ryan as Sally Albright

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Meg Ryan, 57, played Crystal’s counterpart, Sally Albright. Her performance also garnered her a nomination for a Golden Globe and helped propel her career in Hollywood. After Sally, Ryan snagged roles in popular romantic comedies like Sleepless in Seattle and You’ve Got Mail.

While she enjoyed her work in those films, Ryan felt her real passion for filmmaking was with directing, Vanity Fair reported.

In 2015, she starred in and directed the American period drama, Ithaca. Earlier this year she revealed that she’s currently working on a new romantic comedy — however she didn’t give away any details.

Carrie Fisher as Marie

Playing Sally’s best friend, Marie, Carrie Fisher gave a hilarious performance that was key in helping Sally and Harry ultimately fall in love.

Fisher, most known for her prior role in the Star Wars films as Princess Leia, passed away in 2016 at the age of 60.

“She was a friend. She’s great in [When Harry Met Sally…],” Crystal told the Orlando Sentinel of Fisher’s passing. “She was brilliantly talented, a wonderful actress and an amazing writer. It’s a terrible loss."

Bruno Kirby as Jess

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Bruno Kirby, filled the role of Fisher’s love interest and happy ending, Jess. When originally set-up with Sally (Albright), Kirby’s character soon finds himself mutually in-love with Marie (Fisher) mid-double date.

Kirby also starred in City Slickers,The Godfather Part II and Good Morning, Vietnam — among many other films. In 2006, he passed away at the age of 57, from complications related to leukemia.

Steven Ford as Joe

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As Joe, Steven Ford played Harry’s neighbor who Sally ends up dating, five years after their initial road trip to New York.

Ford, 62, who is the son of former President Gerald Ford and former First Lady Betty Ford, also had a notable role playing Andy Richards on the CBS soap opera, The Young and the Restless. Most recently, he appeared in the 2007 Transformers.