Rob Reiner

Reiner was born into a Jewish family in the Bronx, New York, on March 6, 1947. His parents were Estelle and Carl Reiner. As a child, Reiner lived at 48 Bonnie Meadow Road in New Rochelle, New York; the home of the fictional Petrie family in The Dick Van Dyke Show, created by Rob's father, was 148 Bonnie Meadow Road. He studied at the UCLA Film School.{{cite web|url=http://www.tft.ucla.edu/alumni/notable—-directors/ |title=Alumni of the UCLA Film School |publisher=Tft.ucla.edu |access-date=February 24, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140810194339/http://www.tft.ucla.edu/alumni/notable%E2%80%94-directors/ |archive-date=August 10, 2014 }}

File:All in the Family cast 1976.JPG, Carroll O'Connor and Jean Stapleton), as Michael Stivic on All in the Family, 1976]]

In the early 1960s Reiner served as a trainee/apprentice at the Bucks County Playhouse in New Hope, Pennsylvania. In the late 1960s, Reiner acted in bit roles in several television shows including Batman,{{Citation|title="Batman" The Penguin Declines (TV Episode 1967) |work=IMDb|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0519542/fullcredits|access-date=2019-12-30}} That Girl, The Andy Griffith Show, Room 222, Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. and The Beverly Hillbillies. During this time he also appeared in several films, including some by his father such as Where's Poppa? (1970). He began his career writing for the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour in 1968 and 1969, with Steve Martin as his writing partner as the two youngest writers on the show.

Two years later, Reiner became famous playing Michael Stivic, Archie Bunker's liberal son-in-law, on Norman Lear's 1970s situation comedy All in the Family, which was inspired by the British sitcom Till Death Us Do Part. It was the most-watched television program in the United States for five seasons (1971–1976). The character's nickname "Meathead" (given to him by his cantankerous father-in-law Archie) became closely associated with him, even after he had left the role and went on to build a career as a director. Reiner has stated, "I could win the Nobel Prize and they'd write 'Meathead wins the Nobel Prize'."{{cite web |url=http://www.yehey.com/entertainment/celebs/article.aspx?id=106489 |title=Yehey! Entertainment |publisher=Yehey.com |access-date=February 24, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070311133819/http://www.yehey.com/entertainment/celebs/article.aspx?id=106489 |archive-date=March 11, 2007}} For his performance, Reiner won two Emmy Awards, in addition to three other nominations, and five Golden Globe nominations. After an extended absence, Reiner returned to television acting with a recurring role on New Girl (2012–2018).

In October 1971, he had a guest role in an episode of The Partridge Family.{{cite web |url=https://www.biography.com/movies-tv/partridge-family-fun-facts |title=7 Surprising Facts About 'The Partridge Family' |last=Ulster |first=Laurie |date=16 October 2020 |website=biography.com |publisher=Biography |access-date=17 December 2023 |quote=}} In 1972, Reiner, Phil Mishkin, and Gerry Isenberg created the situation comedy The Super for ABC. Starring Richard S. Castellano, the show depicted the life of the harried Italian American superintendent of a New York City apartment building and ran for 10 episodes in the summer of 1972. Reiner and Mishkin co-wrote the premiere episode.

Beginning in the 1980s, Reiner became known as a director of several successful Hollywood films that spanned many different genres. Some of his earlier films include cult classics such as the rock-band mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap (1984) and the comedic fantasy film The Princess Bride (1987), as well as his period piece coming of age tale Stand by Me (1986). He often collaborates with film editor Robert Leighton, whom he also shares with fellow director-actor Christopher Guest as their go-to editor.

Reiner has gone on to direct other critically and commercially successful films with his own company, Castle Rock Entertainment. These include the romantic comedy When Harry Met Sally... (1989), which has been critically ranked among the all-time best of its genre,{{cite news | publisher = American Film Institute | title = AFI's 10 Top 10 | date = 2008-06-17 | url = http://www.afi.com/10top10/romanticcomedy.html | access-date=2008-06-18}} the tense thriller Misery (1990), for which Kathy Bates won the Academy Award for Best Actress, and his most commercially successful work, the military courtroom drama A Few Good Men (1992), which was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture.{{cite web|url=https://boxofficemojo.com/people/chart/?id=robreiner.htm |title=Rob Reiner |website=Box Office Mojo |access-date=February 24, 2010}} Subsequent films directed by Reiner include the political romance The American President (1995), the courtroom drama Ghosts of Mississippi (1996), and the uplifting comedy The Bucket List (2007).

Reiner has continued to act in supporting roles in a number of films and television shows, including Throw Momma from the Train (1987), Sleepless in Seattle (1993), Bullets Over Broadway (1994), The First Wives Club (1996), Primary Colors (1998), EDtv (1999), New Girl (2012–2018), and The Wolf of Wall Street (2013). He has also acted in several of his own films, most notably as faux-documentarian Marty DeBirgi in This is Spinal Tap. Other acting roles in his movies include The Story of Us (1999), Alex & Emma (2001), and a major supporting role in his journalism drama Shock and Awe (2017), among others. Reiner has also parodied himself with cameos in works such as Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star (2003), and 30 Rock (2010).

In December 2023 Reiner opened the primetime CBS special Dick Van Dyke: 98 Years of Magic with a tribute to, and conversation with, Dick Van Dyke.{{Cite web |last=Solzman |first=Danielle |date=December 21, 2023 |title=Dick Van Dyke 98 Years of Magic Airs on CBS |url=https://www.solzyatthemovies.com/2023/12/21/dick-van-dyke-98-years-of-magic-airs-on-cbs/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231228164217/https://www.solzyatthemovies.com/2023/12/21/dick-van-dyke-98-years-of-magic-airs-on-cbs/ |archive-date=December 28, 2023 |access-date=December 28, 2023}}

{{BLP sources|date=November 2023}}

File:Rob Reiner at Howard Dean rally.JPG rally on October 29, 2003]]

Reiner has devoted considerable time and energy to liberal activism.{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2022/08/bill-maher-asks-a-question-even-a-meathead-cant-answer-on-real-time-1235101440/ |title=Bill Maher Asks A Question Even A Meathead Can't Answer On 'Real Time' |last=Haring |first=Bruce |date= 26 August 2022 |website=Deadline Hollywood |publisher= Deadline Hollywood |access-date= 15 November 2023 |quote=}}

Reiner is a co-founder of the American Foundation for Equal Rights, which initiated the court challenge against California Proposition 8 that banned same-sex marriage in the state.{{cite web|url=http://www.wehoconfidential.com/2010/08/civil-rights-activist-director-rob.html |title=Civil Rights Activist: Director Rob Reiner |publisher=WeHo Confidential |date=August 2010 |access-date=April 14, 2012}}

In 1998, Reiner chaired the campaign to pass Prop 10, the California Children and Families Initiative, which created First 5 California, a program of early childhood development services, funded by a tax on tobacco products. He served as the first chairman of First 5 California, from 1999 to 2006. His lobbying, particularly as an anti-smoking advocate, prompted his likeness to be used in a satirical role in a South Park episode titled "Butt Out", in which he is depicted as a morbidly obese, hypocritical tyrant.{{Citation|last=Parker|first=Trey|title=Butt Out|date=2003-12-03|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0705898/|type=Animation, Comedy|others=Trey Parker, Matt Stone, Mona Marshall, Eliza Schneider|publisher=Braniff|access-date=2020-11-11}}{{cite web | publisher=Reddit | title=Rob Reiner here signing in for my first AMA. Here we go… | url=https://old.reddit.com/r/movies/comments/7bnkna/rob_reiner_here_signing_in_for_my_first_ama_here/dpjcmoy/?context=10000 | date=November 8, 2017 | accessdate=July 21, 2023}} Reiner came under criticism for campaigning for a ballot measure (Prop 82) to fund state-run preschools while still chair of the First Five Commission, causing him to resign from his position on March 29, 2006. An audit was conducted, and it concluded that the state commission did not violate state law and that it had clear legal authority to conduct its public advertising campaigns related to preschool. Prop 82 failed to win approval, garnering only 39.1% support.

Reiner is a member of the Social Responsibility Task Force, an organization advocating moderation where social issues (such as violence and tobacco use) and the entertainment industry meet. He is also active in environmental issues, and he successfully led the effort to establish California's Ahmanson Ranch as a state park and wildlife refuge rather than as a commercial real estate development. He introduced Spinal Tap at the London Live Earth concert in July 2007.

File: Rob Reiner LBJ Library 2016 - DIG13955 105.jpg in 2016]]

Reiner was mentioned as a possible candidate to run against California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2006 but decided not to run for personal reasons. He campaigned extensively for Democratic presidential nominee Al Gore in the 2000 presidential election, and he campaigned in Iowa for Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean just before the 2004 Iowa caucuses. He endorsed Hillary Clinton for president for the 2008 election. In 2015, he donated $10,000 to Correct the Record, a political action committee that supported Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign.{{cite web|title=Correct the Record: Contributors, 2016 cycle|url=https://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/pacgave2.php?cycle=2016&cmte=C00578997|website=opensecrets.com|publisher=OpenSecrets|access-date=September 5, 2016}} Since the 2016 election, he has continued to campaign against Donald Trump, calling him racist, sexist, anti-gay, and anti-Semitic. Reiner said that Harvey Weinstein is a "bad guy" but Trump is "also an abuser".{{cite news |title=Rob Reiner Says Donald Trump Is Even Worse Than Harvey Weinstein |url=https://observer.com/2017/10/rob-reiner-harvey-weinstein-donald-trump-comments-details/ |work=Observer |date=October 9, 2017}}

Reiner serves on the advisory board of the Committee to Investigate Russia.{{cite web | title = Committee to Investigate Russia: Advisory Board | url = https://investigaterussia.org/advisory-board | website = Committee to Investigate Russia | access-date = February 10, 2018 |archive-date=February 11, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180211131257/https://investigaterussia.org/advisory-board}}{{cite news |last=Johnson |first=Ted |url= https://variety.com/2017/politics/news/rob-reiner-david-frum-committee-to-investigate-russia-1202563293/ |title= Rob Reiner Helps Launch Committee to Investigate Russia |work=Variety |date=September 19, 2017 |access-date=November 20, 2020 |archive-date=November 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201107104301/https://variety.com/2017/politics/news/rob-reiner-david-frum-committee-to-investigate-russia-1202563293/}} He and David Frum launched the site in September 2017 with Morgan Freeman warning people that "We are at war" and that Russia has attacked the United States. Others on the committee's advisory board at the time of launch included James Clapper, Max Boot, Charles Sykes, and Norman Ornstein.{{cite web |url=https://investigaterussia.org/advisory-board |title=Committee to Investigate Russia: Advisory Board |work=InvestigateRussia.org website |access-date=November 20, 2020 |archive-date=September 20, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170920012402/https://investigaterussia.org/advisory-board}} Additionally, in early November 2020, the advisory board included Evelyn Farkas, Michael Hayden, Michael Morrell, Leon Panetta, and Clint Watts.{{cite web |url=https://investigaterussia.org/advisory-board |title=Committee to Investigate Russia: Advisory Board |work=InvestigateRussia.org website |access-date=November 20, 2020 |archive-date=November 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109030122/https://investigaterussia.org/advisory-board}}

Reiner endorsed Joe Biden for president for the 2020 election.{{cite news|last1=Kurtz|first1=Judy|title=Rob Reiner backs Biden's 2020 bid|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/in-the-know/440728-rob-reiner-backs-bidens-2020-bid|work=The Hill|date=April 25, 2019|access-date=April 25, 2019|archive-date=April 25, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190425222300/https://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/in-the-know/440728-rob-reiner-backs-bidens-2020-bid}}

In June 2021, Reiner said that he was working on a 10- to 13-episode TV project covering the relationship between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump. The project, he said, would cover the leaders' childhoods up until the point where their lives cross. Reiner said he is working with writer Ward Parry on the project, which he is calling The Spy and the Asset.{{Cite web |last=Pedersen |first=Erik |date=2021-06-30 |title=Rob Reiner Says He's Working On TV Project About Donald Trump & Vladimir Putin |url=https://deadline.com/2021/06/donald-trump-vladimir-putin-rob-reiner-tv-series-spy-and-the-asset-1234784437/ |access-date=2022-04-10 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |author=Matthew Gilbert |date=July 1, 2021 |title=Rob Reiner creating a Trump-Putin limited series |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/07/01/arts/rob-reiner-creating-trump-putin-limited-series/ |access-date=2022-04-10 |website=The Boston Globe |language=en-US}}

Rob Reiner married actress/director Penny Marshall in 1971. He adopted Marshall's daughter, actress Tracy Reiner (A League of Their Own), from a previous marriage to Michael Henry. Reiner and Marshall divorced in 1981.Abramowitz, p. 291

Reiner was introduced to his future wife, photographer Michele Singer, while directing When Harry Met Sally. The meeting not only resulted in his decision to change the ending of that film,{{cite web |last1=Ihnat |first1=Gwen |url=https://www.avclub.com/article/rob-reiner-his-favorite-films-and-why-he-changed-e-242010 |title=Rob Reiner on his favorite films, and why he changed the ending of When Harry Met Sally… |date=2016-09-03 |work=The A.V. Club |access-date=2016-09-04 |archive-date=2016-09-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160905171252/https://www.avclub.com/article/rob-reiner-his-favorite-films-and-why-he-changed-e-242010}} but he also married Singer in 1989. They have three children, Jake (born 1991), Nick (born 1993), and Romy (born 1997).

In 1997, Reiner and Singer founded the "I Am Your Child Foundation", and in 2004, they founded the "Parents' Action for Children", a non-profit organization with a dual purpose: 1) to raise awareness of the importance of a child's early years by producing and distributing celebrity-hosted educational videos for parents, and 2) to advance public policy through parental education and advocacy.{{cite book |last=Lavoie |first=Richard|title=It's So Much Work to Be Your Friend |year=2005 |publisher=Touchstone |location=New York |isbn=978-0-7432-5463-2 |page=xvii |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/itssomuchworktob00rich}}

Reiner has stated that his childhood home was not observantly Jewish, although he did have a bar mitzvah ceremony;{{cite web |url=http://www.thejc.com/lifestyle/lifestyle-features/76866/rob-reiner-at-last-i%E2%80%99m-having-what-she%E2%80%99s-having |title=Rob Reiner: At last, I'm having what she's having |access-date=2013-04-12 |archive-date=2013-09-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130913023207/http://www.thejc.com/lifestyle/lifestyle-features/76866/rob-reiner-at-last-i%E2%80%99m-having-what-she%E2%80%99s-having |url-status=dead}} Reiner's father Carl acknowledged that he himself had become atheistic as the Holocaust progressed.{{cite web |url=http://www.momentmag.com/funnyman-carl-reiner/ |title=Funnyman Carl Reiner |date=2013-05-01}} Reiner identified himself as having no religious affiliation and as atheistic on the January 13, 2012, episode of Real Time with Bill Maher.{{cite news |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/debra-ollivier/rob-reiner-on-the-magic-o_b_1618957.html |title=Debra Ollivier: Rob Reiner On The Magic Of Belle Isle And 'Living Your Life Until You Can't' |publisher=HuffPost |date= June 23, 2012 |access-date=2012-10-11}}"We're not equal? How are we not equal?" Rob Reiner on Real Time with Bill Maher, in response to Maher's statement, "I would argue atheists are [not considered equal under the law]". Maher then stated, "For a group that is about 17 percent now... no representation in congress..." to which Reiner replied, "You're right about that-that we don't have that representation. I include myself in that same 17 percent...." "Real Time with Bill Maher". Reiner later said that while he rejected organized religion, he was sympathetic to the ideas of Buddhism.

TV writer

TV movies

Television

Film

• Directors with three films rated A+ by CinemaScore

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{{Commons|Rob Reiner}}

• {{IMDb name}}
• {{C-SPAN|39948}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20150205232816/http://www.afer.org/ American Foundation for Equal Rights]
• [http://www.parentsaction.org/ Parents Action for Children]
• {{EmmyTVLegends name|rob-reiner|Rob Reiner}}
• [http://www.hellisforhyphenates.com/blog/2013/10/31/november-2013/ The films of Rob Reiner]{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, Hell Is for Hyphenates, October 31, 2013

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