Rob Reiner, ‘When Harry Met Sally’ director, ‘All in the Family’ actor and political activist, dead at 78

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Rob Reiner, the acclaimed director of films like ‘The Princess Bride’ and ‘When Harry Met Sally,’ passed away Sunday at his home in Brentwood. He was 78 years old. Reiner had a remarkable six-decade career in Hollywood, working as a writer, director, producer, and actor, and was also known for his political activism. His wife, Michele Singer Reiner, was with him when he died.

The family of Michele and Rob Reiner announced their sudden and tragic deaths on Sunday. They are deeply saddened by this loss and have asked for privacy as they grieve.

Reiner is best known for directing the classic 1980s romantic comedy “When Harry Met Sally.” He also gained fame as the actor who played “Meathead” on television, often debating with Archie Bunker. Beyond entertainment, Reiner was a dedicated political activist, championing early childhood education in California and consistently criticizing President Trump.

Born on March 6, 1947, in the Bronx, New York, Rob Reiner is the son of famed comedian Carl Reiner and singer Estelle Reiner. Growing up, he was surrounded by creativity – his father earned 11 Primetime Emmy Awards, a Grammy, and the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. Rob attended Beverly Hills High School and later studied film at UCLA. He began his Hollywood career as an actor and writer before transitioning into directing and producing.

California

Police say veteran Hollywood actor Rob Reiner and his wife were found dead at their home in Brentwood on Sunday, and the deaths are being investigated as a possible homicide.

In the 1960s, Reiner contributed to popular shows like “The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour” and “The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour,” and also wrote the TV movie “Where the Girls Are.” He continued to be a prolific writer in the 1970s, working on multiple episodes of “All in the Family,” the 1978 Primetime Emmy Awards show, and “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.”

Rob Reiner married actress Penny Marshall, known for her role in “Laverne & Shirley,” in 1971. They adopted Penny’s daughter, Tracy, from a previous relationship. The couple later divorced in 1981.

In the 1980s, he co-wrote the mockumentary film “This Is Spinal Tap” and helped create the first “Comic Relief” special, which was hosted by Robin Williams, Billy Crystal, and Whoopi Goldberg. This initial event, and the twelve “Comic Relief” telethons that followed, successfully raised both awareness and funds to combat poverty both in America and around the world.

Rob Reiner solidified his talent for comedy with the 1984 film “This Is Spinal Tap.” He then surprised audiences with a more serious tone in the 1986 adaptation of Stephen King’s “Stand by Me,” featuring young stars Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, and Jerry O’Connell. Reiner returned to comedy in 1987 with the beloved film “The Princess Bride,” starring Cary Elwes, Robin Wright, and Mandy Patinkin. That same year, he also helped establish the production company Castle Rock Entertainment.

He then directed “When Harry Met Sally,” a romantic comedy that would become a classic, starring Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan.

He met photographer Michele Singer while filming and they married in 1989, the same year the movie was released. Together, they had three children: Jake (born in 1991), Nick (born in 1993), and Romy (born in 1997).

In 1994, Rob Reiner received his first Academy Award nomination for Best Picture with the film “A Few Good Men,” featuring Jack Nicholson and Tom Cruise. However, Clint Eastwood’s Western, “Unforgiven,” ultimately won the award that year.

Rob Reiner’s films have had a significant and lasting impact on popular culture. Three of his movies – “When Harry Met Sally,” “The Princess Bride,” and “This Is Spinal Tap” – are considered nationally important and have been added to the National Film Registry. In fact, a line from “This Is Spinal Tap” – “up to eleven” – has become so well-known that it’s now included in the Oxford English Dictionary, originating from an unplanned moment between Reiner and Christopher Guest.

In a September interview on NPR’s “Fresh Air,” Rob Reiner remarked on how quickly a casual phrase can become ingrained in everyday language. He found it odd and surprising how easily these expressions ‘take root’ and become common.

Movies

For years, director Rob Reiner and his wife dealt with their son Nick’s serious drug addiction, constantly going through a cycle of rehab visits – it felt like a never-ending process.

In 2015, Reiner produced the drama “Being Charlie,” which was inspired by his family’s experiences with his son Nick’s struggles with drug addiction, including his time in and out of rehab and periods of homelessness.

Going through all of that initially was incredibly tough, a real rollercoaster of emotions. And honestly, revisiting it while making the film brought everything flooding back, like opening old wounds. It was a difficult process, but I felt it was important to tell the story.

As a child, Rob Reiner had a complicated relationship with his father – he looked up to him greatly, but also felt a distance. This mixed feeling became the basis for a powerful scene in his film “Stand by Me,” where the character Gordie expresses the belief that his own father despises him.

Director Rob Reiner explained on NPR’s ‘Fresh Air’ that admiring your father isn’t always reciprocated, recalling he cried while writing a scene about this dynamic. He also shared that he was fortunate to have two important mentors: his father, who passed away in 2020, and Norman Lear, the creator of ‘All in the Family’.

Reiner’s long and successful career as a comedy writer included work on “The 40th Kennedy Center Honors” in 2017, as well as numerous other variety shows. He finished writing with the film “Spinal Tap II: The End Continues,” and his last directing project will be “Spinal Tap at Stonehenge: The Final Finale,” scheduled for release in 2026.

Norman Lear’s longtime television director, Jack Reiner, received five Emmy nominations for his work on “All in the Family,” winning awards in 1974 and 1978. He earned two more Emmy nominations in 2024 for the documentary “Albert Brooks: Defending My Life.”

Rob Reiner was a dedicated liberal who became actively involved in California politics, particularly regarding children’s issues, education, and presidential elections. He supported Al Gore, endorsed Hillary Clinton, and campaigned for Joe Biden’s reelection, while also being a vocal critic of Donald Trump.

Former California Attorney General Bill Lockyer actively fought against tobacco use, and in 1998, voters approved Proposition 10, a measure he supported that taxed tobacco products to fund early childhood education. He then led the First 5 California Children and Families Commission starting in January 1999. He stepped down in March 2006 following claims that the commission improperly used funds to support his campaign for Proposition 82, a ballot initiative aiming to increase taxes on high-income earners to finance preschool. However, a subsequent audit found no evidence of legal wrongdoing by him or the commission.

Former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger praised Rob Reiner for his dedication to California’s children. In a statement, Schwarzenegger highlighted Reiner’s impactful work over the past seven years, noting that it helped establish California as a leader in early childhood health and education programs for young children and their families.

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2025-12-15 09:02