The entertainment world is in mourning following the death of the celebrated actor, director, and producer Rob Reiner, who has died at the age of 78. He and his wife, Michele Singer, were found deceased at their Los Angeles home in what police have described as "an apparent double homicide".
From "Meathead" to Hollywood Royalty
Reiner's career spanned over five decades, beginning with his iconic role as the liberal Mike "Meathead" Stivic in the groundbreaking 1970s sitcom All in the Family. For this part, which he won over contenders including Harrison Ford, he secured two Emmy Awards. This early success paved the way for an extraordinary transition behind the camera, where he would become one of Hollywood's most beloved directors.
His directorial debut, the rock mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap (1984), became an instant cult classic. This launched a remarkable string of hit films that defined a generation of cinema. He followed this with the poignant Stephen King adaptation Stand By Me (1986), the beloved fantasy The Princess Bride (1987), the iconic romantic comedy When Harry Met Sally (1989), the terrifying thriller Misery (1990), and the powerful courtroom drama A Few Good Men (1992).
A Legacy of Storytelling and Activism
Beyond directing, Reiner co-founded the influential production company Castle Rock Entertainment. Under this banner, he produced or oversaw a slate of major films including The Shawshank Redemption, In the Line of Fire, and The Green Mile, as well as the seminal TV comedy Seinfeld. After selling Castle Rock to Turner Broadcasting in 1993 for a deal worth hundreds of millions, Reiner increasingly turned his focus to political and social activism.
A committed liberal, he co-founded the American Foundation for Equal Rights, which played a key role in overturning California's ban on gay marriage. He was also a passionate advocate for increased funding for child development programmes. His later films often reflected these interests, including The American President (1995), Ghosts of Mississippi (1996), and Shock and Awe (2017).
A Life in the Spotlight
Born in the Bronx, New York, on 6 March 1947, Robert Norman Reiner was the son of comedy legend Carl Reiner and actor Estelle Reiner. He was immersed in entertainment from childhood, growing up around figures like Mel Brooks. His personal life often informed his work; the script for When Harry Met Sally was based heavily on his own post-divorce dating experiences, and it was on that film's set he met his second wife, Michele Singer. His mother, Estelle, delivered the film's most famous line: "I'll have what she's having."
His 2015 film Being Charlie, co-written with his son Nick, fictionalised Nick's battles with addiction. Reiner's final film was the sequel Spinal Tap II: The End Continues (2025). He also hosted a 2023 podcast, Who Killed JFK?, exploring his lifelong interest in the assassination.
Rob Reiner is survived by his children, Romy, Nick, Jake, and his daughter Tracy from his first marriage to director Penny Marshall. His death marks the loss of a colossal figure in film and a fearless voice for social change.
