Rob Reiner

Robert Norman Reiner (March 6, 1947 – December 14, 2025) was an American film director, producer, screenwriter, actor, and political activist.

The son of Carl Reiner, Rob began his career as an actor before transitioning to filmmaking, directing a series of acclaimed American studio films across multiple genres. He received numerous accolades, including two Primetime Emmy Awards and a Hugo Award, and earned nominations for an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, and nine Golden Globe Awards. Reiner was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1999 and received the Chaplin Award at the Film at Lincoln Center in 2014. Three of his films have been inducted into the National Film Registry.

Reiner rose to prominence as an actor portraying Mike "Meathead" Stivic on the CBS sitcom All in the Family (1971–1979), a role that earned him two Primetime Emmy Awards. His other acting credits include Throw Momma from the Train (1987), Sleepless in Seattle (1993), Bullets Over Broadway (1994), The First Wives Club (1996), Primary Colors (1998), EDtv (1999), and The Wolf of Wall Street (2013).

He made his directorial film debut with the heavy metal mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap (1984). He earned acclaim by directing The Sure Thing (1985), Stand by Me (1986), The Princess Bride (1987), When Harry Met Sally... (1989), Misery (1990), A Few Good Men (1992), which was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture, and The American President (1995).

Early life

Robert Norman Reiner was born into a Jewish family in the Bronx, New York City, on March 6, 1947. 

His parents were the actors Estelle and Carl Reiner. 

His siblings are poet, playwright, and author Annie Reiner and painter, actor, and director Lucas Reiner. During his childhood, Reiner lived at 48 Bonnie Meadow Road in New Rochelle, New York. He graduated from Beverly Hills High School in 1964. He studied at the UCLA Film School.

Career

In the early 1960s, Reiner served as a trainee and apprentice at the Bucks County Playhouse in New Hope, Pennsylvania. He is credited (as Robert Reiner) with the non-speaking role of Thomas, the horse wrangler in Wagon Train, Season 5, Episode 22 "The Lieutenant Burton Story", starring Dean Jones, which aired on February 27, 1962. In the late 1960s, Reiner acted in bit roles on several television shows including Batman, That Girl, The Andy Griffith Show, Room 222, Gomer Pyle – USMC, and The Beverly Hillbillies. 

During this period, he also appeared in several films, including some directed by his father such as Where's Poppa? (1970). He began his career in television writing for The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour in 1968 and 1969, working alongside Steve Martin as his writing partner.

Two years later, Reiner became widely known for playing Michael Stivic, Archie Bunker's liberal son-in-law, on Norman Lear's 1970s situation comedy All in the Family, which was adapted from the British sitcom Till Death Us Do Part<nowiki>. The series was the most-watched television program in the United States for five consecutive seasons (1971–1976). The character's nickname "Meathead" (given to him by his cantankerous father-in-law Archie) became closely associated with Reiner, even after he left the role and established himself as a director. Reflecting on the enduring association, Reiner remarked, "I could win the Nobel Prize and they'd write 'Meathead wins the Nobel Prize.'" For his performance, Reiner won two Emmy Awards, received three additional nominations, and earned five Golden Globe nominations. After an extended absence from television acting, he returned with a recurring role on New Girl (2012–2018).

In October 1971, Reiner appeared as a guest in an episode of The Partridge Family. The following year, Reiner, Phil Mishkin, and Gerry Isenberg created the situation comedy The Super for ABC. Starring Richard S. Castellano, the series depicted the life of a harried Italian American superintendent of a New York City apartment building. It ran for one season during the summer of 1972.

Beginning in the 1980s, Reiner established himself as a director of several successful Hollywood films spanning multiple genres. His early works include cult classics such as the rock-band mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap (1984), the coming-of-age drama Stand by Me (1986), and the comedic fantasy The Princess Bride (1987). He frequently collaborated with film editor Robert Leighton, who also worked extensively with fellow director-actor Christopher Guest.

Reiner directed a number of critically and commercially successful films through his company, Castle Rock Entertainment. These include the romantic comedy When Harry Met Sally... (1989), which has been ranked among the all-time best of its genre, the tense thriller Misery (1990), for which Kathy Bates won the Academy Award for Best Actress, and his most commercially successful work, the military courtroom drama A Few Good Men (1992), which was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture.

Subsequent films directed by Reiner include the political romance The American President (1995), the courtroom drama Ghosts of Mississippi (1996), and the uplifting comedy The Bucket List (2007). In 2015, he directed the semi-autobiographical film Being Charlie, co-written by his son Nick.

Reiner continued to act in supporting roles in a number of films and television shows, including Throw Momma from the Train (1987), Sleepless in Seattle (1993), Bullets Over Broadway (1994), The First Wives Club (1996), Primary Colors (1998), EDtv (1999), and The Wolf of Wall Street (2013). He also appeared in several of his own films, most notably as faux-documentarian Marty DeBirgi in This Is Spinal Tap. Other acting roles in his movies include The Story of Us (1999), Alex & Emma (2001), and a major supporting role in his journalism drama Shock and Awe (2017). Reiner also parodied himself with cameos in works such as Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star (2003), and 30 Rock (2010).

In November 2023, Reiner and journalist Soledad O'Brien launched the ten-part podcast series Who Killed JFK? In December 2023, Reiner opened the primetime CBS special Dick Van Dyke: 98 Years of Magic with a tribute to, and conversation with, Dick Van Dyke. His final film, Spinal Tap II: The End Continues (2025), was released three months before his death.

Political views and activism

Reiner was a liberal activist. He was a co-founder of the American Foundation for Equal Rights, which initiated the court challenge against California Proposition 8 that banned same-sex marriage in the state.

In 1998, Reiner chaired the campaign to pass California Proposition 10, the California Children and Families Initiative, which created First 5 California, a program of early childhood development services funded by a tax on tobacco products. He served as the organization's first chairman from 1999 to 2006. His lobbying, particularly as an anti-smoking advocate, led to his likeness being used satirically in the South Park episode "Butt Out", where he was depicted as a morbidly obese, hypocritical tyrant.

Reiner came under criticism for campaigning for Proposition 82, a ballot measure to fund public preschools, while serving as chair of the First 5 Commission. He resigned from his position on March 29, 2006. An audit later concluded that the commission had not violated state law and had clear legal authority to conduct public advertising campaigns related to preschool. However, the auditor reported that the commission awarded more than $77 million in media contracts without reviewing their costs. Proposition 82 ultimately failed to win approval.

Reiner was a member of the Social Responsibility Task Force, an organization advocating moderation where social issues such as violence and tobacco use intersect with the entertainment industry. He was also active in environmental causes, successfully leading the effort to preserve California's Ahmanson Ranch as a state park and wildlife refuge rather than as a commercial real estate development. In July 2007, he introduced the reunited Spinal Tap at the London Live Earth concert.

Reiner was mentioned as a possible candidate to run against California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2006 but declined for personal reasons. He campaigned extensively for Democratic presidential nominee Al Gore in the 2000 presidential election, and he campaigned in Iowa for Democratic candidate Howard Dean ahead of the 2004 Iowa caucuses. He endorsed Hillary Clinton in the 2008 election, and in 2015 donated $10,000 to Correct the Record, a political action committee supporting her 2016 presidential campaign. After the 2016 election, Reiner continued to campaign against Donald Trump, calling him racist, sexist, anti-gay, and antisemitic. He remarked that Harvey Weinstein is a "bad guy" but that Trump was "also an abuser".

Reiner served on the advisory board of the committee to Investigate Russia. He and David Frum launched the site in September 2017, accompanied by a video narrated by Morgan Freeman warning that "We are at war" and that Russia had attacked the United States.[42] Other advisory board members at the time of launch included James Clapper, Max Boot, Charles Sykes, and Norman Ornstein. 

By November 2020, the board also included Evelyn Farkas, Michael Hayden, Michael Morrell, Leon Panetta, and Clint Watts.

Reiner endorsed Joe Biden for president in the 2020 United States presidential election. In June 2021, Reiner announced he was developing a television project, The Spy and the Asset, about the relationship between Trump and Vladimir Putin. He said the series would explore the leaders' childhoods and trace their lives up to the point where they intersect. Reiner said he was collaborating with writer Ward Parry on the project.

In September 2025, Reiner gave an interview with CNN, where he spoke out against Trump and the Federal Communications Commission. He said it "may be the last time you ever see me", in reference to the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live!

Personal life

Reiner married actress and director Penny Marshall in 1971. He adopted Marshall's daughter, actress Tracy Reiner, from her previous marriage to Michael Henry. Reiner and Marshall divorced in 1981.

While directing When Harry Met Sally..., Reiner was introduced to photographer Michele Singer. The meeting not only influenced his decision to change the film's ending, but also led to their marriage in 1989. They had three children: sons Jake and Nick and daughter Romy.

In 1997, Reiner and Singer founded the I Am Your Child Foundation and, in 2004, they established Parents' Action for Children, a nonprofit organization with a dual purpose of raising awareness of the importance of a child's early years by producing and distributing celebrity-hosted educational videos for parents, and advancing public policy through parental education and advocacy.

Reiner said his childhood home was not observantly Jewish, although he did have a bar mitzvah ceremony. His father, Carl, had become an atheist during the Holocaust. Reiner identified as an atheist on the January 13, 2012, episode of Real Time with Bill Maher. He later said that, while he rejected organized religion, he was sympathetic to the ideas of Buddhism. His son Nick co-wrote Being Charlie, based on his drug addiction, which the elder Reiner directed; the film was released in 2015.

Death

Reiner and his wife, Michele, 68, were found dead at their home in the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles on December 14, 2025. Their daughter Romy discovered their bodies. Reiner was 78. The Los Angeles Fire Department responded to a medical aid call at the residence at approximately 3:38 p.m. PST. Authorities later confirmed that both had sustained fatal stab wounds.

The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) opened a homicide investigation, with its Robbery-Homicide Division leading the inquiry. The official cause and manner of death were pending determination by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office.

On December 15, the LAPD announced that it had charged the Reiners' son Nick with murder. Authorities noted that Rob and Nick had argued on Saturday evening at a Christmas party hosted by Conan O'Brien. He is being held with no bail with the case being presented on December 16, to the Los Angeles County District Attorney.

Tributes and reaction

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass called Reiner's death a "devastating loss for our city and our country", citing his creative work and advocacy for social justice. California Governor Gavin Newsom said he was "heartbroken", praising Reiner's "boundless empathy" and his advocacy for children and civil rights. SAG-AFTRA president Sean Astin honored Reiner as "one of the most significant figures in the history of film and television". Actor-director Ben Stiller called the death "a huge loss" and comedian Eric Idle described Reiner as "a lovely man". Idle had spoken to Reiner hours before the discovery of his body. Actor Jerry O'Connell, who appeared in Stand by Me, said Reiner's death felt like "a parent has passed", adding, "everything I have in my life is because of Rob Reiner. Everything I have, my children, my wife, my, just everything." Actor James Woods, who starred in Ghosts of Mississippi, said he was "devastated by this terrible event".

Former president Bill Clinton said "Hillary and I are heartbroken by the tragic deaths of our friends Rob and Michele Reiner. They inspired and uplifted millions through their work in film and television. And they were good, generous people who made everyone who knew them better through their active citizenship in defense of inclusive democracy, setting an example for us all to follow. Hillary and I will always be grateful for their friendship, unfailing kindness, and support." Former president Barack Obama said he and his wife Michelle were "heartbroken", noting Reiner's "deep belief in the goodness of people". Former Vice President Kamala Harris described the couple as "dear friends". President Donald Trump was instead critical and wrote on Truth Social that Reiner had "Trump derangement syndrome" and died "due to the anger he caused others". Trump's reaction was widely criticized by both Republicans and Democrats; Republican critics included not only opponents of Trump such as Marjorie Taylor Greene, but also Trump ally Mike Johnson, who advocated "appeal[ing] to our better angels".

Legacy

Reiner was a notable figure in the development of mainstream American cinema and television. This Is Spinal Tap popularized the mockumentary genre, and its use of improvisation was revolutionary for a Hollywood film. The movie established conventions that later filmmakers adopted in both cinema and television, particularly in comedy built around realism, parody, and unscripted performance. Its success also contributed to the wider acceptance of mock-documentary formats in mainstream media. It is also considered one of the greatest comedies of all time.

Across the 1980s and 1990s, Reiner directed a series of films that became enduring cultural reference points in multiple genres, including coming-of-age drama Stand by Me, fantasy romance The Princess Bride, and romantic comedy When Harry Met Sally... The Princess Bride is credited with having numerous phrases enter regular lexicon.

When Harry Met Sally..., in particular, helped redefine the modern romantic comedy through its balanced focus on male and female perspectives and is considered one of the greatest romantic comedies of all time. Reiner has regularly been cited by critics as having one of the greatest directing streaks in Hollywood with his first seven films. The Bucket List popularized the eponymous term. Three of Reiner's films — When Harry Met Sally..., The Princess Bride and This is Spinal Tap — have been selected for preservation by the National Film Registry for cultural, historical, and aesthetic contributions.

Following his death, CNN published an article describing how Reiner "changed movies forever by challenging himself as an artist". In their obituary, The Associated Press noted that Reiner was "the son of a comedy giant who became one himself as one of the preeminent filmmakers of his generation".

Beyond his work as a director, Reiner had a significant impact as a producer and studio executive through Castle Rock Entertainment. The company was instrumental in bringing influential film and television projects to a wide audience, most notably Seinfeld, which reshaped expectations of what network television comedy could achieve. Castle Rock also produced several highly regarded films, including The Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile, both of which achieved long-term critical and popular recognition. Reiner was also one of the most prominent liberals within Hollywood due to his activism in the 2000s, and was parodied in South Park as a result.