Rob Reiner’s circle was broad and eclectic, spanning comedians honing punchlines and Oscar-winning actors and filmmakers shaping Hollywood itself.
Because the son of comedy legend Carl Reiner, he entered the world of leisure early, however went on to make a reputation for himself as a director, filmmaker, and actor in his personal proper.
He is maybe finest identified for his breakout function at age 23 as Archie Bunker’s liberal son-in-law, Michael “Meathead” Stivic within the hit Seventies sitcom “All within the Household,” although others might know him extra just lately as Bob Day, the daddy of the quirky Jess Day in “New Lady.” Reiner additionally directed iconic movies akin to “The Princess Bride,” “When Harry Met Sally…,” “That is Spinal Faucet,” “Stand By Me” and “A Few Good Males.”
Associates and colleagues who labored with Reiner by means of the years sat down with CBS Information to share their private anecdotes and fond recollections of him following the information of his tragic loss of life. Reiner and his spouse, Michele, have been discovered useless of their Los Angeles dwelling on Dec. 14 and their son, Nick, was charged of their murders.
Here is a have a look at some tributes from those that knew Reiner finest, featured in “CBS Information: Rob Reiner – Scenes from a Life,” a one-hour particular broadcast Sunday after “60 Minutes” on CBS and streaming on Paramount+.
Albert Brooks
Albert Brooks stated he is nonetheless in disbelief over the loss of life of his good buddy, who he is identified for the reason that pair attended drama class collectively at Beverly Hills Excessive Faculty greater than 60 years in the past. He stated he was heartbroken, however he loves to speak about his friendship with Reiner as a result of it is “real and it is uncommon.”
“Rob was my oldest buddy. It is that easy. He is the person who I’ve identified the longest. I met him after I was 14 years previous. So I am nonetheless in that not believing it stage,” he instructed CBS Information.
Brooks stated he nonetheless finds himself dialing his pal’s quantity to speak, after which freezes when he realizes what he is performed.
“I do know it occurred, however, you understand, I am driving round and impulsively — I really two days in the past, I known as his quantity,” he recalled.
Kathy Bates
Oscar-winning actress Kathy Bates has credited Reiner with altering “the course of [her] life” by directing her unforgettable efficiency as Annie Wilkes in “Distress” in 1990.
“If I hadn’t performed ‘Distress,’ it will be like George Bailey going again and seeing what his life would have been like if he had by no means been there,” she stated. “I would not have had a number of the buddies that I’ve now. I would not have had the richness in my life. I fairly frankly in all probability would have stayed within the theater and I doubt I might have had a film profession. I may need dropped out altogether.”
She recalled Reiner’s enthusiasm when she walked on stage to simply accept her Oscar for Finest Actress in 1991.
“After they known as my identify, I regarded over and Rob was standing and he was simply pounding his fist collectively going, ‘Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!'” she recalled.
Kiefer Sutherland
Kiefer Sutherland who performed Lt. Jonathan Kendrick within the 1992 authorized drama “A Few Good Males” stated Reiner had an unforgettable presence on set as director. He recalled the tense courtroom scene the place Jack Nicholson – Colonel Nathan Jessup – needed to ship his now well-known line, “You possibly can’t deal with the reality!”
After the primary transferring take, Sutherland recalled Reiner asking Nicholson if he wished to go once more.
“Nobody stated a phrase, and Rob went as much as Jack Nicholson and whispered in his ear, ‘Do you need to do one other one?’ And Jack Nicholson stated, ‘Properly, we’re right here,'” Sutherland recalled. “In order that they did one other one, and it was simply as extraordinary.”
The actors deliberate a marathon filming day, however Sutherland stated Reiner was so blown away by Nicholson’s efficiency that day that he despatched everybody dwelling early.
“They’d deliberate to shoot the entire day, and Rob checked out all people and stated, ‘I could not ask for something extra, so that you guys all have the remainder of the time without work,” Sutherland stated.
Annette Bening
Annette Bening performed Sydney Ellen Wade, an environmental lobbyist and love curiosity of widower President Andrew Shepherd, portrayed by Michael Douglas within the 1995 political romantic comedy, “The American President.” Throughout filming, Bening stated Reiner made it a precedence because the film’s director to make sure the solid and crew might spend high quality time with their households.
“On the set, he had that form of enthusiasm that’s infectious. The chief units the tone, proper? So he was fantastic that method. And an actual avid household man,” Bening stated.
She added, “He would insist that the day ended at a sane time, which in present enterprise is form of uncommon. However, he stated, ‘No, we would like everybody to have the ability to have dinner with their youngsters.'”
Michael Douglas
Like Reiner, Michael Douglas was additionally born to Hollywood royalty, the son of Kirk Douglas.
“Properly, my expertise was, watching him, that I might by no means be the person that my father was. He might do every little thing, you understand, I imply he was Spartacus. When you go into the identical enterprise, it stares you within the face,” Douglas stated. “And, in Rob’s case, are you as humorous as your father? However that I believe can be what created his tenacity, his power, and that is one thing that is probably not talked about sufficient with Rob, about his endurance.”
Douglas stated Reiner was “spectacular” to work with in “The American President.” “He was looking for you,” he stated.
Jerry O’Connell
When Jerry O’Connell was 11, he was solid because the shy however loyal Vern Tessio within the 1986 coming-of-age drama “Stand by Me.” He met Reiner for the primary time at his audition for the movie, and recalled Reiner placing him comfortable. He stated Reiner was like a father determine to him throughout that point, and the years after.
Months after the film got here out, when he was 12 years previous, O’Connell stated Reiner took him out to lunch in Los Angeles.
“He took me out to lunch, man. He did not have to do this, You understand what I am saying? It was months after the film got here out. He was a busy man, and he took a 12-year-old me out to lunch. Simply to be like, ‘Thanks a lot. What an incredible film,'” O’Connell recalled, with tears in his eyes. “That lunch meant a lot to me, you understand? It is simply stuff that children want to listen to.”
Mandy Patinkin
Mandy Patinkin performed Inigo Montoya, a Spanish swordsman, in Reiner’s 1987 movie adaptation of “The Princess Bride.” It was the function of a lifetime.
After wrapping up filming, Patinkin stated the solid was invited to return out to Los Angeles to see the primary tough lower collectively. When the movie was over, Patinkin turned within the screening room and stated he “by no means dreamed” he would get to be in one thing like this.
“I did not even have time to dream it. And he made that dream for me. And I do not go anyplace, the place some youngster or grownup or grandfather comes as much as me and says, ‘Say the road,'” stated Patinkin of his well-known line, “Hiya, my identify is Inigo Montoya, you killed my father. Put together to die.”
The phrase that got here to min when Patinkin heard the information about Reiner and his spouse, Michele: “Inconceivable.” He stated he does not know the best way to course of it and he is not seeking to perceive the best way to course of it.
“Rob labored laborious to attempt to get me the perfect human being I may very well be. One time he stated to me, ‘I simply want you might get out of your individual method.’ And I have never been in a position to obtain that to this present day, however I will not give up making an attempt. He cared about my nature. He confirmed it to me over and over,” Patinkin stated. “I imagine that we will join with Rob and Michele. And each time we’re occupied with this or speaking about it or anyone tells a narrative, he is right here. He is right here with you. He won’t be forgotten.”
