‘When Harry Met Sally’ Filmmaker Rob Reiner Has Died at the Age of 78
Reiner’s long career also included making movies such as ‘Misery,’ 'This is Spinal Tap,’ ‘A Few Good Men,’ ‘The Princess Bride’ and ‘Stand By Me.’
(L to R) Christopher Guest and Rob Reiner in Bleecker Street's 'Spinal Tap II: The End Continues'. Credit: Bleecker Street / Kyle Kaplan.
Preview:
- Rob Reiner and his wife Michele, have been found dead at their home.
- Reiner was a noted director and actor.
- His work includes 'Misery,' 'Stand By Me' and 'When Harry Met Sally...'
Rob Reiner, the American filmmaker whose humane wit and classical storytelling helped define modern Hollywood comedy and drama, was found dead on Sunday at the age of 78. The cause has not yet been officially revealed.
When Harry Met Sally...
Among Reiner’s most enduring credits are ‘This Is Spinal Tap,’‘Stand by Me,’‘The Princess Bride,’‘When Harry Met Sally…,’‘Misery,’ and ‘A Few Good Men’ — a body of work remarkable not only for its success, but for its range.
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Rob Reiner: Early life and Beginnings
(L to R) Jean Stapleton, Rob Reiner, Carroll O'Connor and Sally Struthers in 'All in the Family'. Photo: Sony Pictures Television,
Born March 6, 1947, in New York City, Reiner was raised inside the machinery of American entertainment. The son of comedy legend Carl Reiner and actress Estelle Reiner, he grew up absorbing the rhythms of humor, performance, and timing almost by osmosis.
He first became a household name as an actor, playing the opinionated, self-assured Mike “Meathead” Stivic on ‘All in the Family.’ The role made him a cultural lightning rod in the 1970s — but behind the scenes, Reiner was already preparing for a different kind of authorship.
Rob Reiner: Films and Creative Reach
(L to R) Kathy Bates as Annie Wilkes and James Caan as Paul Sheldon in director Rob Reiner's 'Misery' (1990).
Reiner’s directorial debut, ‘This Is Spinal Tap,’ announced a filmmaker with a rare gift for satire — one sharp enough to skewer ego and absurdity without cruelty. What followed was one of the most astonishing runs in modern American cinema.
With ‘Stand by Me,’ he captured childhood with aching tenderness. ‘The Princess Bride’ became a timeless fairy tale, balancing irony and sincerity with effortless grace. ‘When Harry Met Sally…’ redefined the romantic comedy, pairing adult intelligence with emotional vulnerability.
Reiner refused to be boxed into a single genre. He pivoted to psychological horror with Misery, courtroom drama with ‘A Few Good Men,’ and political movies like ‘The American President,’ each time bringing a classical sense of structure and character-driven storytelling.
Reiner also continued to act through his directing career, showing up in movies such as ‘Sleepless in Seattle’ and a wide variety of TV series including ‘The Bear,’‘30 Rock’ and ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm.’
Rob Reiner: Voice and Values
(L to R) Rob Reiner and Christopher Guest in 'This Is Spinal Tap.' Photo: Embassy Pictures.
Beyond filmmaking, Reiner has remained an outspoken civic presence, unafraid to align his art with his convictions. His work often grapples with power, responsibility, and the cost of silence — themes that echo his own engagement with social and political discourse.
He has also been a tireless advocate for creative collaboration, frequently crediting writers, actors, and crew as equal architects of his films’ success. In an industry increasingly dominated by spectacle, Reiner’s reverence for story has only grown more pronounced.
Rob Reiner: Legacy
Jack Nicholson in director Rob Reiner's 'A Few Good Men.' Photo: Columbia Pictures.
Rob Reiner’s legacy is not defined by a single masterpiece but by an extraordinary consistency of craft. Few directors have moved so fluidly between comedy, romance, horror, and drama — fewer still have done so while leaving behind films that feel deeply personal and universally beloved.
Reiner was found dead at home alongside his wife, Michele. The couple is survived by their children, Jake, Nick and Romy.
(L to R) Christopher Guest and Rob Reiner in Bleecker Street's 'Spinal Tap II: The End Continues'. Credit: Bleecker Street / Kyle Kaplan.
Movies and TV Featuring or Directed by Rob Reiner:
- 'All in the Family' (1971)
- 'This Is Spinal Tap' (1984)
- 'The Sure Thing' (1985)
- 'Stand By Me' (1986)
- 'The Princess Bride' (1987)
- 'When Harry Met Sally...' (1989)
- 'Misery' (1990)
- 'A Few Good Men' (1992)
- 'The American President' (1995)
- 'The Story of Us' (1999)
- 'Rumor Has It...' (2005)
- 'The Bucket List' (2007)
- 'The Wolf of Wall Street' (2013)
- 'And So it Goes' (2014)
- 'LBJ' (2016)
- 'Spinal Tap II: The End Continues' (2025)
Buy Rob Reiner Movies & TV on Amazon
