Chris Knipp
12-17-2025, 04:45 PM
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Reiner (with Sally Struthers), as Michael Stivic in "All in the Family," 1976
ROB REINER (Mar. 6, 1947-Dec. 14, 2025)
The murder of Rob Reiner and his wife Michelle has shaken the whole country. Rob was an extraordinary cultural and political figure whose importance will only grow in memory. He came to fame as the son Michael Stivic in the iconic TV series "All in the Family" in the seventies, a time when you could still say "everybody is watching" something and mean it almost literally. As an actor he performed in the films Throw Momma from the Train (1987), Sleepless in Seattle (1993), Bullets Over Broadway (1994), The First Wives Club (1996), Primary Colors (1998), EDtv (1999), and The Wolf of Wall Street (2013).
As a director Reiner deepened his imprint on the culture significantly with an extraordinary first run of seven great and, yes, iconic films: the heavy metal mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap (1984), the romantic road comedy The Sure Thing (1985), the coming-of age drama Stand by Me (1986), the adventure romance The Princess Bride (1987), the romantic comedy When Harry Met Sally... (1989), the psychological horror thriller Misery (1990), and the legal drama A Few Good Men (1992), which was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture, and the political romance The American President (1995). ] Three of Reiner's films – When Harry Met Sally..., The Princess Bride and This is Spinal Tap – have been selected for preservation by the National Film Registry.
Beyond his work as a director, Reiner had a significant impact as a producer and studio executive through Castle Rock Entertainment. The company was instrumental in bringing influential film and television projects to a wide audience, most notably Seinfeld, which reshaped expectations of what network television comedy could achieve. Castle Rock also produced several highly regarded films, including The Shawshank Redemption (1994) and The Green Mile (1999), both of which achieved long-term critical and popular recognition. Again, he had the magic touch and made significant choices.
While not losing his connection with show business, Rob turned more later in life, in the 2000's, to liberal politics, and again his impact was wide-ranging and important. He was especially active in the campaign to make same-sex marriage a constitutional right, an initiative to fund childhood programs with taxes from the sale of tobacco, and his outspoken criticism of Donald Trump. The latter explains Trump's mean-spirited and typically deranged statement on Truth Social about his death.
Rob Reiner and his wife struggled for years to help their middle son Nick through his frequent periods of addiction. The 32-year-old Nick was living when his parents when on the fatal day they all three attended a party given by Cohan O'Brien where a verbal fight between Rob and Nick broke out. Rob and Michelle were found dead of stab wounds at home the next morning by their daughter Romy. Nick was arrested under suspicion and has been charged with two counts of murder. In future we must remember all that Rob Reiner did and not this horrific finale.
Reiner (with Sally Struthers), as Michael Stivic in "All in the Family," 1976
ROB REINER (Mar. 6, 1947-Dec. 14, 2025)
The murder of Rob Reiner and his wife Michelle has shaken the whole country. Rob was an extraordinary cultural and political figure whose importance will only grow in memory. He came to fame as the son Michael Stivic in the iconic TV series "All in the Family" in the seventies, a time when you could still say "everybody is watching" something and mean it almost literally. As an actor he performed in the films Throw Momma from the Train (1987), Sleepless in Seattle (1993), Bullets Over Broadway (1994), The First Wives Club (1996), Primary Colors (1998), EDtv (1999), and The Wolf of Wall Street (2013).
As a director Reiner deepened his imprint on the culture significantly with an extraordinary first run of seven great and, yes, iconic films: the heavy metal mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap (1984), the romantic road comedy The Sure Thing (1985), the coming-of age drama Stand by Me (1986), the adventure romance The Princess Bride (1987), the romantic comedy When Harry Met Sally... (1989), the psychological horror thriller Misery (1990), and the legal drama A Few Good Men (1992), which was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture, and the political romance The American President (1995). ] Three of Reiner's films – When Harry Met Sally..., The Princess Bride and This is Spinal Tap – have been selected for preservation by the National Film Registry.
Beyond his work as a director, Reiner had a significant impact as a producer and studio executive through Castle Rock Entertainment. The company was instrumental in bringing influential film and television projects to a wide audience, most notably Seinfeld, which reshaped expectations of what network television comedy could achieve. Castle Rock also produced several highly regarded films, including The Shawshank Redemption (1994) and The Green Mile (1999), both of which achieved long-term critical and popular recognition. Again, he had the magic touch and made significant choices.
While not losing his connection with show business, Rob turned more later in life, in the 2000's, to liberal politics, and again his impact was wide-ranging and important. He was especially active in the campaign to make same-sex marriage a constitutional right, an initiative to fund childhood programs with taxes from the sale of tobacco, and his outspoken criticism of Donald Trump. The latter explains Trump's mean-spirited and typically deranged statement on Truth Social about his death.
Rob Reiner and his wife struggled for years to help their middle son Nick through his frequent periods of addiction. The 32-year-old Nick was living when his parents when on the fatal day they all three attended a party given by Cohan O'Brien where a verbal fight between Rob and Nick broke out. Rob and Michelle were found dead of stab wounds at home the next morning by their daughter Romy. Nick was arrested under suspicion and has been charged with two counts of murder. In future we must remember all that Rob Reiner did and not this horrific finale.