Rob Reiner, Legendary Actor and Director of ‘The Princess Bride,’ Found Dead at 78

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Dec 14

The filmmaker behind ‘When Harry Met Sally…,’ ‘This Is Spinal Tap,’ and ‘A Few Good Men’ leaves behind one of the most influential careers in modern American cinema.

Rob Reiner, the acclaimed actor, filmmaker, and cultural force whose work helped define multiple eras of American film and television, was found dead Sunday afternoon at his home in the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles. He was 78.

Reiner was found alongside his wife, photographer Michele Singer Reiner. Authorities have not publicly released an official cause of death. Multiple outlets, including TMZ, reported that the Los Angeles Police Department is investigating the deaths as a homicide; law enforcement has not yet confirmed further details. The investigation remains ongoing.

Reiner’s death marks the loss of one of Hollywood’s most versatile and influential figures — a filmmaker who seamlessly moved between comedy, romance, drama, fantasy, and political cinema, often redefining each genre along the way.

The son of legendary comedy writer and director Carl Reiner, Rob Reiner first rose to national prominence as Michael “Meathead” Stivic on Norman Lear’s groundbreaking CBS sitcom All in the Family. His performance as Archie Bunker’s liberal, perpetually exasperated son-in-law helped make the series one of the most culturally consequential television shows in American history. Reiner won two Emmy Awards for the role during the show’s nine-season run.

After leaving television, Reiner transitioned into filmmaking with a debut that would become iconic: the 1984 mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap, which he directed, co-wrote, and starred in as documentarian Marty DiBergi. The film’s improvisational style and razor-sharp satire cemented its place as one of the greatest comedies ever made and reshaped the language of screen comedy.

Over the next decade, Reiner delivered an extraordinary run of films that demonstrated rare command across genres. He directed the coming-of-age classic Stand by Me, adapted from Stephen King; the enduring fantasy romance The Princess Bride; the definitive modern romantic comedy When Harry Met Sally…; the psychological thriller Misery; and the courtroom drama A Few Good Men. Each film became a touchstone in its own right, and collectively they established Reiner as one of the most reliable and emotionally intelligent directors of his generation.

In 1987, Reiner co-founded Castle Rock Entertainment, which went on to produce some of the most successful films and television series of the era. The company was later acquired by Turner Broadcasting, further cementing Reiner’s influence behind the scenes as well as on screen.

Though his later career moved increasingly toward political and socially driven projects — including Ghosts of Mississippi, LBJ, and Shock and Awe — Reiner remained a prominent voice in Hollywood and public life. A committed progressive activist, he was deeply involved in California ballot initiatives, advocacy campaigns, and outspoken political commentary, choosing activism over elected office despite repeated speculation about a potential run.

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In recent years, Reiner continued working steadily, directing the documentary Albert Brooks: Defending My Life in 2023 and completing Spinal Tap II: The End Continues, a sequel to his seminal 1984 film.

Rob Reiner married Michele Singer in 1989. He is survived by their children Jake, Nick, and Romy, and by his adoptive daughter Tracy Reiner. His death closes a chapter on a career that helped shape American popular culture for more than five decades.

This story is developing.