Rob Reiner's The Princess Bride star Cary Elwes surfaces at Oscars ahead of 'powerful' tribute to slain filmmaker

Cary Elwes, star of Rob Reiner's classic fantasy The Princess Bride, made a rare red carpet appearance at the Academy Awards in Hollywood this Sunday.

The 63-year-old cut a classically dapper figure in a three-piece suit and matching bow tie as he posed alongside his wife of 25 years Lisa Marie Kubikoff.

Elwes paid a shattering tribute to Reiner in December when the filmmaker and his wife Michele were found stabbed to death at their $13.5 million Brentwood estate, where their 32-year-old son Nick lived in the guesthouse.

Nick, who had a long history of drug issues and was also reportedly diagnosed with schizophrenia, is awaiting trial for their murders and has pled not guilty.

This Sunday's Oscars are being hosted by the Reiners' close friend Conan O'Brien, who hosted them at his star-studded Christmas party hours before they were killed and who has promised a 'powerful' homage to them at the awards show.

Ahead of the ceremony, Elwes and his longtime wife strode across the red carpet of at the Dolby Theater side by side, linking arms as they posed.

Elwes still had the silky blonde hair, falling slightly over his face, that fans of The Princess Bride will instantly recognize 39 years after the picture's release.

Kubikoff meanwhile cut an elegant figure in a pink floral mermaid dress that accentuated her willowy frame and featured cap sleeves and a small train.

During the rollout of the red carpet this Wednesday, O'Brien was asked how he would remember Reiner at the Oscars and offered only the barest hint.

'It's hard to sum up in this environment and would sound kind of pithy and weird to sum up here,' he explained to Extra. 'I don't think it would be appropriate, but it's going to be a very powerful part of the show.'

The night before the murders, Rob, Michele and Nick Reiner attended O'Brien's star-studded Christmas party where they were seen having what sources described as a 'very loud argument,' according to TMZ.

Michele, by that point, was alleged to have spent months telling friends about trying to cope with Nick's drug and mental problems, saying: 'We've tried everything.'

'Nick was freaking everyone out, acting crazy, kept asking people if they were famous,' a source told People while describing the party.

One insider told the Daily Mail: 'They got in an argument, the father and son. It got so bad and loud someone wanted to call the police to report it.'

The source added that 'Conan stepped in and said: "It's my house, my party, I'm not calling the police." He talked them out of calling the police.'

After the murders, amid a flood of public testimonials from the couple's friends, a devastated Elwes broke his silence on Instagram on December 30.

His statement was accompanied by on-set footage of Reiner guiding him through a fight scene with André the Giant that will be instantly recognizable to fans of the film.

That clip was followed by one of a 25th anniversary reunion Elwes had with Reiner and The Princess Bride's female lead Robin Wright, with the director joking that the actors looked 'exactly the same' while he himself was 'greyer,' 'fatter' and 'balder.'

The Princess Bride starred Elwes the dashing farmhand Westley in the rollicking tale of his quest to win the hand of Princess Buttercup, played by Wright, 59.

In order to do so, he and his motley crew of fantastical friends must first rescue her from Prince Humperdinck, played by Susan Sarandon's ex-husband Chris Sarandon. 

'Enough time has passed that I can finally put my grief into words,' Elwes wrote in his Instagram tribute, which he shared to the platform on Tuesday.

'I was 24 when I first met Rob Reiner on The Princess Bride. And from that very first meeting I fell in love with him. I was already a fan of his work so meeting him in person was a dream come true. As we began spending more time together I knew this was someone I wanted in my life,' he recalled.

He hailed Reiner as someone who 'wore his heart on his sleeve,' 'felt deeply' and harbored 'love and compassion' in his heart.

'This was a man who felt deeply. Whose heart was filled with love and compassion. He wasn’t impressed by how much money you had or if you had a privileged upbringing. He just wanted to know if you were a “good guy.” He always tried to find the best in people. And if that person had problems he felt bad for them,' wrote Elwes.

'He loved his family and friends immensely. He obviously loved making movies - and was clearly a brilliant filmmaker - but he told me what he really enjoyed the most was the experience itself,' Elwes remembered.

'He used to say, “Once the movie is released it belongs to other people. But while you are making it, that’s your time on the planet, so you wanna make it good.” And boy was my time with him on The Princess Bride beyond great. I can’t remember a single day without laughter,' the Robin Hood: Men in Tights star added.

Elwes also made reference to Reiner's love story with his 'incredibly loving, intelligent' wife,' who was 'passionate about her family and about lifting others up.'

The Reiners were a 'great team' whose 'only interest in fame was that it allowed them to shine a light on causes they believed in, especially helping those who were marginalized,' according to Elwes.

'In a town where many talk the talk, they truly walked it. Whenever we got together we would talk about family, life, movies and politics. But without fail Rob would always find a way to make us laugh. That was important to him. Finding the joy.'

Elwes sweetly added: 'And if I could make him laugh in return, I felt like I had won the lottery. His laugh was one of the greatest sounds I’ve ever known — so heartfelt it still rings in my ears.'

He thanked the Reiners for 'sharing your life and art with us. Because my heart still aches every time I think of you, I know the grief of losing you too soon will likely never go away. Sure, death cannot stop true love but life is pain without you.'

Elwes concluded: 'With this note my family and I send our deepest condolences and heartfelt prayers to their family, friends and fans.'