That Eric Alper

The news that Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Reiner, are gone has sent a shockwave of grief through Hollywood, Washington, and the hearts of anyone who ever felt the warmth of their work. Rob was a cornerstone of American entertainment for decades, and Michele was the quiet, creative force who fundamentally changed his life and, by extension, the movies we love. They were a couple defined by purpose, passion, and an unwavering commitment to making the world better, one laugh and one cause at a time.

1. Robert Norman Reiner was a highly acclaimed American film director, producer, screenwriter, actor, and political activist.
2. He came to prominence as Mike “Meathead” Stivic on the CBS sitcom All in the Family.
3. His performance on All in the Family earned him two Primetime Emmy Awards.
4. The show, All in the Family, was the most-watched television program in the U.S. for five consecutive seasons (1971–1976).
5. He received five Golden Globe nominations for his acting role as Michael Stivic.
6. Reiner studied at the prestigious UCLA Film School.
7. In the early 1960s, he served as a trainee and apprentice at the Bucks County Playhouse.
8. He was credited (as Robert Reiner) with a non-speaking role on the TV series Wagon Train in 1962.
9. He was a writer for The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour (1968–1969) alongside writing partner Steve Martin.
10. His directorial film debut was the cult-classic heavy metal mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap (1984).
11. He earned critical acclaim directing the romantic comedy The Sure Thing (1985).
12. He directed the beloved coming-of-age drama Stand by Me (1986).
13. Stand by Me was the first project Reiner felt was purely an extension of himself, outside his father’s shadow.
14. He directed the highly quotable fantasy adventure The Princess Bride (1987).
15. The Princess Bride is often cited as a gold standard fantasy film blending romance and adventure.
16. He directed the romantic comedy When Harry Met Sally… (1989), ranked among the all-time best of its genre.
17. He directed the tense psychological horror-thriller Misery (1990).
18. Kathy Bates won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in Reiner’s film Misery.
19. He directed the military courtroom drama A Few Good Men (1992), which earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture.
20. Jack Nicholson received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for A Few Good Men.
21. He directed the political romantic comedy-drama The American President (1995).
22. He directed the uplifting comedy The Bucket List (2007).
23. He earned nominations for four Golden Globe Awards for Best Director.
24. He earned nominations for three Directors Guild of America Awards.
25. He co-founded the highly successful film company Castle Rock Entertainment.
26. He collaborated frequently with film editor Robert Leighton.
27. He directed a range of successful films across multiple genres, showcasing his versatile command of the craft.
28. His film The First Wives Club (1996) won the National Board of Review’s Best Cast award.
29. He received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Santa Barbara International Film Festival (2001).
30. He received the Golden Eddie Filmmaker of the Year award from the American Cinema Editors (2010).
31. He received the Remi Career Achievement Award from WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival (2017).
32. He continued acting with roles in major films like Sleepless in Seattle (1993) and The Wolf of Wall Street (2013).
33. He returned to television acting with a recurring role on New Girl (2012–2018).
34. Michele Singer Reiner was an accomplished photographer.
35. She met Rob Reiner while he was directing When Harry Met Sally….
36. Meeting Michele inspired Rob to change When Harry Met Sally… to have a happy ending where the main characters marry.
37. Rob and Michele were married in 1989 and had three children: Jake, Nick, and Romy.
38. Michele was a producer on Rob Reiner’s final film, Spinal Tap II: The End Continues (2025).
39. Rob Reiner was a liberal activist who co-founded the American Foundation for Equal Rights.
40. The Foundation initiated the successful court challenge against California’s Proposition 8 banning same-sex marriage.
41. In 1998, he chaired the campaign to pass California Proposition 10 (the California Children and Families Initiative).
42. Proposition 10 created First 5 California, a program funding early childhood development services via a tax on tobacco.
43. He served as the first chairman of First 5 California from 1999 to 2006.
44. In 1997, he and Michele founded the I Am Your Child Foundation.
45. In 2004, they established Parents’ Action for Children, a non-profit organization.
46. Parents’ Action for Children advanced public policy through parental education and advocacy.
47. He successfully led efforts to preserve California’s Ahmanson Ranch as a state park and wildlife refuge.
48. He was active in environmental causes, including introducing Spinal Tap at the London Live Earth concert (2007).
49. He endorsed Joe Biden for president in the 2020 United States presidential election.
50. He was developing a television project titled The Spy and the Asset at the time of his passing.