Rob Reiner

Filmmaker and actor Rob Reiner died December 14, 2025, at his home in Los Angeles, alongside his wife, photographer Michele Singer. The couple died of injuries sustained in a stabbing at the ages of 78 and 68.

The son of the legendary filmmaker, screenwriter, actor, and comedian Carl Reiner (1922–2020), Reiner followed in his father's footsteps as a multitalented great of the entertainment world. From his early days as a star of "All in the Family" to directing an impressively diverse collection of American classics, he helped define pop culture in the 1970s, '80s, and '90s.

Actor and SAG-AFTRA president Sean Astin called Reiner "one of the most significant figures in the history of film and television." He continued, "The impact he made on American culture simply can't be overstated. Tributes will pour in and the impossibly long list of genre defining films and indelible performances will play in our minds and hearts… Mr. Reiner's films and performances made me think, made me emotional and especially they made me laugh really hard. That's how I will remember him."

Born March 6, 1947, in New York City, Reiner grew up among entertainment royalty. Not only was his father a comedy great; his mother, Estelle Reiner (1914–2008), was also an esteemed actress. At the height of his career, Reiner cast his mother in one of his films, giving her a chance to deliver one of comedy's immortal lines: "I'll have what she's having" from "When Harry Met Sally..." After an early life in New York, Reiner moved to California with his family and attended Beverly Hills High School, then film school at UCLA.

Before his career as a filmmaker, Reiner got his start as a screenwriter for "The Smothers Brothers
and then as an actor with small roles in such TV shows as "That Girl," "Batman," and "The Beverly Hillbillies." It wasn't long before he broke out as one of the stars of All in the Family." Playing Michael "Mike" Stivic, son-in-law to Carroll O'Connor's (1924–2001) classic character Archie Bunker, he became known to a generation of TV viewers as "Meathead." His liberal standoffs with his conservative father-in-law helped drive the show's highly topical comedy and presaged his later outspoken liberal activism.

Reiner spent eight seasons on "All in the Family," and while he was there, he began adding screenwriting to his resume as he penned several of the show's episodes. He continued to act, making appearances on such shows as "The Odd Couple" and "The Rockford Files" and in movies like "The Jerk" and "Throw Momma from the Train," but increasingly, he focused on filmmaking. That began with a box office bomb that quickly became a cult classic.

"This Is Spinal Tap" wasn't the first mockumentary, but it helped define the genre as it followed the exploits of a fictional heavy metal band. Reiner developed the film's concept along with its stars, Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, and Harry Shearer, and he appeared alongside them as the documentary filmmaker capturing their concert tour and personal lives. But though he had a writing credit for "Spinal Tap," Reiner made it clear that the credit belonged to all the movie's actors, as it was largely improvised. He gave the stars the reins in a low-key approach he'd continue to take in later films, letting the scripts and actors shine without grandstanding as a director.

Though "This Is Spinal Tap" wasn't a box office smash, future Reiner films would be, starting with "Stand By Me." The coming-of-age drama, adapted from the Stephen King novella "The Body," captured hearts in the summer of 1986 and remains a beloved classic. It was also the first of a string of five can't-miss films for Reiner, followed by "The Princess Bride," "When Harry Met Sally…" "Misery," and "A Few Good Men."

It was an impressive run of films for more than just the classic quality of each entry – though that was undeniable. Most were box office hits ("The Princess Bride" took a little time to shine as a cult classic), and all boast scores of 84 percent and better on Rotten Tomatoes today. But these five high-quality, audience-pleasing movies have very little in common beyond their popularity. Reiner didn't focus on one or two genres. Instead, he captured hearts with a coming-of-age drama, a rollicking fantasy adventure, a romantic comedy, a suspenseful horror film, and a military legal drama.

Following those back-to-back classics, Reiner continued to make films for the rest of his life, most recently with the long-awaited sequel, "Spinal Tap II: The End Continues." Other films include "The American President," "Ghosts of Mississippi," and "The Bucket List."

Reiner also never left acting behind. Even as he maintained a busy schedule as a filmmaker, he continued to appear in such movies as "Postcards from the Edge," "Mixed Nuts," "EdTV," and "The Wolf of Wall Street," and he reprised his role as documentary filmmaker Marty DiBergi in "Spinal Tap II: The End Continues." He also appeared as himself on several episodes of "It's Gary Shandling's Show," and he had recurring roles on "New Girl" and "The Bear."

In addition to his career in entertainment, Reiner was also known for his outspoken liberal political views. He was active in California politics, championing the court challenge against Proposition 8 to ban same-sex marriage and fighting for Proposition 10, which taxed tobacco sales to fund early childhood initiatives. He campaigned for Democratic candidates like Al Gore and Howard Dean, and he endorsed the presidential runs of Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden.

Prior to his marriage to Singer, Reiner was married to "Laverne and Shirley" star and fellow filmmaker Penny Marshall (1943–2018). They divorced after 10 years of marriage, though they remained friends for the rest of her life. He wed Singer in 1989, and they had three children together.

By Linnea Crowther

(Image: Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images for Tribeca Film Festival)