Rob Reiner: was discovered dead in his Brentwood home after “When Harry Met Sally…”
Rob Reiner: Actor and filmmaker Rob Reiner, who starred as Michael “Meathead” Stivic in All in the Family and directed iconic films like “This Is Spinal Tap,” “The Princess Bride,” and “When Harry Met Sally…” was discovered dead in his Brentwood home on Sunday afternoon, along with his spouse, Michele Singer. Variety reported that he was 78 years old.
According to accounts, the couple was stabbed to death, and the Los Angeles Police Department is looking into the killings as homicides.
“We regret to inform you of Michele and Rob Reiner’s untimely deaths. The family released a statement saying, “We are devastated by this unexpected death and we kindly request privacy during this really trying time.
The son of renowned comedian and writer Carl Reiner, Reiner initially gained notoriety on CBS’s revolutionary comedy All in the Family as “Meathead,” the hippie son-in-law. In 1974 and 1978, he won an Emmy for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy. Later, he moved into cinema, directing his first improvised mockumentary about a heavy metal band, This Is Spinal Tap (1984).
Reiner produced popular films in a variety of genres over the following ten years, such as the courtroom drama A Few Good Men (1992), romantic comedy When Harry Met Sally… (1989), fantasy classic The Princess Bride (1987), coming-of-age drama Stand By Me (1986), and thriller Misery (1990). According to Variety, he co-founded Castle Rock Entertainment in 1987, which produced the majority of his movies as well as other successes including Needful Things and In the Line of Fire.
Reiner was committed to creating the tales he wanted to convey, even if his latter years saw a drop in financial success. “Studios are trying to make hundreds and hundreds of millions of dollars, and a little film won’t get you there. In 2008, he told The Guardian, “But I came into this business to express myself and tell stories, not just churn out a product.”
Reiner was also a well-known progressive voice in California, supporting political issues, LGBT rights, and Democratic politicians. He once thought about running for office, but decided to put more of an emphasis on activism than elected office.
Reiner was born in the Bronx on March 6, 1947, grew up in Hollywood, and went to UCLA Film School. In addition to appearing in his father’s 1967 picture Enter Laughing, he started starring in television series including Batman, That Girl, and The Beverly Hillbillies.
According to Variety, Reiner was the adoptive father of actress Tracy Reiner, the daughter of his first wife, the late Penny Marshall. Reiner is survived by his children, Jake, Nick, and Romy.