Rob Reiner, the late Hollywood icon, has made a surprise posthumous appearance in an HBO sketch show, delivering a pointed political jab at President Donald Trump. The 78-year-old filmmaker, known for classics like The Princess Bride and When Harry Met Sally, died in December 2025 alongside his wife Michele Singer Reiner, 70, after an alleged attack by their son Nick. His final TV role, kept secret until its release, features him as George Washington in a sketch that mocks Trump's refusal to concede the 2020 election and his golf habits.
Secret cameo unveiled on Independence Day weekend
The performance aired on July 3, 2026, in episode two of HBO's Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness, timed to coincide with American Independence Day and the US's 250th anniversary. Director Jeff Schaffer told Variety that Reiner got the 'last laugh' against Trump, noting: 'It's coming out on Fourth of July weekend, and if it in any way spoils a sad octogenarian's weekend, then oh well!' The sketch was filmed in November 2025, shortly before Reiner's death.
Sketch targets Trump's election denial and Epstein ties
In the scene, Washington declares he won't run for a third term and will prevent future presidents from doing so. Larry David asks: 'Well, what if there's some a**hole in office, some narcissistic p***k who doesn't follow the Constitution?' Washington then launches into a rant, calling any president who can't admit losing a 'sociopath' and 'insecure, lying asshole who would even cheat at golf.' The sketch also alludes to Trump's connections with Jeffrey Epstein, ending with Washington exclaiming: 'We're f***ed.' An in memoriam card follows the sketch.
Reiner's outspoken criticism of Trump
Reiner was a vocal critic of Trump, who after Reiner's death called the director 'very bad for our country' on social media, accusing him of 'Trump Derangement Syndrome.' The sketch, which also features Jimmy Kimmel, required Reiner to shave his beard to physically resemble Washington. Schaffer described the decision to keep the cameo secret as difficult, saying: 'It just didn't feel like the right way to show the world. We thought long and hard about where the sketch should air … and ultimately we decided that July 3 was the perfect time.'
Reiner's legacy and family tragedy
Reiner also appeared posthumously in Disney Plus's The Bear series five, following a tribute in series four. His son Nick, 32, faces two murder charges for the deaths of his parents and is currently in prison, pleading not guilty. He claims he is owed over $1 million in inheritance to hire a high-powered lawyer; his next preliminary hearing is scheduled for September 2026.
