Rob Reiner remembered as Hollywood legend amid murder investigation

As the investigation into the death of Rob Reiner and his wife continues, tributes are pouring in – celebrating his life and legacy.

Reiner made a huge impact on Hollywood, first as an actor on a groundbreaking sitcom, and also as a director and producer, who created beloved films and shaped the course of American cinema.

“I’ve often said no matter what happens to me I will always be, you know I could win the Nobel prize, it’ll say “meathead wins Nobel,” Reimer had said.

His two-time Emmy-winning role as Meathead or Mike Stivic on the ground breaking 1970s TV sitcom All In The Family, saw him argue with his conservative bigoted father-in-law Archie Bunker – debating difficult political, social and cultural topics.

The show still runs on CHCH.

“The character of Meathead was pivotal to the success of that show cause you had this egregious main character Archie Bunker, he needed something to bounce off of,” says Film and TV Expert Rob Salem.

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But he arguably made a much greater impact during the 1980s and 90s, as a director and producer.

Creating the original mockumentary Spinal tap in 1984.

“I wanted to capture the sights, the sounds, the smells of a hard working rock band on the road, but I got more, a lot more,” Reimer had said about Spinal Tap.

And following it with a string of diverse and massive hits.

“As a director, as a filmmaker it really ran the gamut, I mean from films like Stand By Me which was about human emotion, and then Harry Met Sally, and Spinal Tap, Princess Bride. I mean they’re all such different films and he was equally good at all of them, he was a wonderful, wonderful director,” Salem says.

He also directed 1990’s Misery – which Kathy Bates won an Oscar for, and 1992’s A Few Good Men.

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He occasionally stepped back in front of the camera – for some memorable roles.

The son of legendary TV comedy pioneer Carl Reiner, Rob had said he found it a challenge to step out of his father’s shadow.

“Having staying power and being able to sustain a career, at least on the level of [your famous father] is very, very difficult. I mean, you are under enormous pressure and scrutiny,” Reimer says.

But it also exposed him to a list of Hollywood A-listers at a young age.

“He was influenced by all of that and took in all those influences and all those people that he met. Carl Reiner’s best friend was Mel Brooks so he grew up with Uncle Mel,” says Salem.

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Outside of his film career, Reiner was a staunch supporter of progressive causes and supported democratic U.S. presidential candidates.

Tributes from around the world have poured in over social media, as have many in the film business and those who knew him deal with the shock of his violent death.

Rob’s younger son Nick is being held in custody after being booked in a Los Angeles court for the fatal stabbing of his father and mother Michelle at their Los Angeles home Sunday.

The family appeared together publicly for the last time in September at the premier of Spinal Tap 2.

Rob Reiner – actor, director and producer – was 78-years-old.

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