Hollywood luminaries and political heavyweights expressed their shock and sadness Sunday night after news broke that prolific filmmaker Rob Reiner and his wife, Michelle Singer Reiner, had been found dead in their Los Angeles home.
The outpouring of grief underscored Rob Reiner’s towering stature in the entertainment industry.
Reiner, 78, earned a lasting place in American culture as one of the stars of the landmark sitcom “All in the Family” and, in his second career act, the director of era-defining movies like “This Is Spinal Tap,” “Stand by Me,” “The Princess Bride,” “When Harry Met Sally...,” and “A Few Good Men.”
Kathy Bates, who won an Oscar for her leading role as a novelist’s deranged fan in Reiner’s “Misery,” described him as “brilliant and kind, a man who made films of every genre to challenge himself as an artist.”
“I’m horrified hearing this terrible news. Absolutely devastated. I loved Rob,” Bates said in a statement, adding that Reiner, a committed progressive activist, “fought courageously for his political beliefs.”
Bates also praised Michele Reiner, calling her a “gifted photographer.”
Stephen King, who wrote the books that inspired “Stand by Me” and “Misery,” praised Reiner as a “wonderful friend, political ally, and brilliant filmmaker.”
“You always stood by me,” King wrote in a post on X.
“Spinal Tap” star and co-writer Christopher Guest said he was “numb and sad and shocked.”
“There will be plenty of time later to discuss the creative lives we shared [and] the great political and social impact they both had on the entertainment industry, early childhood development, the fight for gay marriage and their global care for a world in crisis,” Guest said in a joint statement with his wife, Jamie Lee Curtis. “We have lost great friends. Please give us time to grieve.”
Reiner’s movies drew praise for their emotional honesty and sentimentality. He was known for his deft touch with performers, from the child actors of “Stand by Me” to industry veterans like Billy Crystal and Jack Nicholson.
“The humor is smart and the heart is real,” Kevin Nealon, the comedian and former “Saturday Night Live” cast member, said in statement. “His films were part of the air for us. Grateful for what he made, and for what he and his wife gave the world.”
Reiner’s run of commercial hits and critical triumphs made him an inspiration to a younger cohort of filmmakers. Paul Feig, the director of “Bridesmaids,” posted a photo of himself and Reiner at Comic-Con, an annual pop culture event.
“Rob was my true hero,” Feig wrote in part. “One never knows if it’s proper to post during something as tragic as this. But I just want the world to know what so many of us know in the industry. Robert was the best.”
Ben Stiller — who, like Reiner, has worked behind the camera and in front of it — said on X that the late filmmaker “was a kind caring person who was really really funny,” and “made some of the most formative movies for my generation.”
“I cannot express how much this hurts,” the actor Josh Gad wrote in a post on Instagram. “He cared so much for those who had no voices. This loss is devastating.”
SAG-AFTRA President Sean Astin said Reiner was “one of the most significant figures in the history of film and television.”
“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,” Astin said.
Reiner's life and work was also recognized by political figures. He was a mainstay of fundraising support for the Democratic Party and some of its top candidates.
Former President Barack Obama said Reiner’s work gave America “our most cherished stories on screen,” which frequently tapped into “the goodness of people.”
“Michelle and I are heartbroken by the tragic passing of Rob Reiner and his beloved wife, Michele. Rob’s achievements in film and television gave us some of our most cherished stories on screen,” Obama said in a statement.
“But beneath all of the stories he produced was a deep belief in the goodness of people — and a lifelong commitment to putting that belief into action. Together, he and his wife lived lives defined by purpose. They will be remembered for the values they championed and the countless people they inspired. We send our deepest condolences to all who loved them.”
Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., the former House speaker, called Reiner and Singer's deaths "devastating."
"Rob was creative, funny, and beloved," Pelosi said in a statement. "In all of their endeavors, Michelle was his indispensable partner, intellectual resource, and loving wife."
California Gov. Gavin Newsom hailed Reiner's work for its wide range of themes and genres.
"His boundless empathy made his stories timeless, teaching generations how to see goodness and righteousness in others — and encouraging us to dream bigger," Newsom said in statement.
"Rob will be remembered for his remarkable filmography and for his extraordinary contribution to humanity."
