Rob Reiner Tributes: Hollywood Remembers an Icon

Following the shocking news of Rob and Michelle Reiner’s death on Sunday evening, tributes to the Hollywood legend and his wife began pouring in from those who knew the couple through the entertainment industry or politics, and fans eager to express their love of films like “When Harry Met Sally,” “Stand by Me,” “The Princess Bride,” and “A Few Good Men.” Celebrities who worked with Reiner during his prolific career as an actor, director, and producer took to social media to acknowledge the loss, with many describing how their lives were changed by working with him.  

Jerry O’Connell and Corey Feldman, who were just kids when they starred in Reiner’s 1986 coming-of-age classic “Stand by Me,” both posted messages on X hours after the news broke. Feldman expressed shock in an all-caps post, while O’Connell delivered a simple, heartfelt tribute in the form of a photo of himself as a young actor and the director, captioned “Love you, Rob. Sincerely.” Both actors, as well as their “Stand by Me” co-star Wil Wheaton, have spoken in the past about the impact that Reiner had on them as young actors and how he fostered a bond between them that made the film what it was.

Stephen King, who wrote the books that inspired “Stand by Me” and Reiner’s 1990 film “Misery,” described the director as a “Wonderful friend, political ally, and brilliant filmmaker,” ending his post on X with “Rest in peace, Rob. You always stood by me.” And Kathy Bates, who won an Oscar for her portrayal of the obsessed fan at the heart of “Misery,” Anna Wilkes, gave a statement to Deadline on Sunday evening, saying: “He was brilliant and kind, a man who made films of every genre to challenge himself as an artist. He also fought courageously for his political beliefs. He changed the course of my life.” 

Tim Robbins, who starred in 1994’s “Shawshank Redemption” — which was produced by Reiner and also based on a novel by King — also praised the late director’s brilliance, noting 1985’s “The Sure Thing” was the first film he “could be proud of being in.” Meanwhile, John Cusack, who had a starring role in “The Sure Thing,” simply wrote, “At a loss for any words that make sense.”

Multiple stars of Reiner’s 1996 political thriller, “Ghosts of Mississippi,” which recounted the events surrounding the murder of activist Medgar Evers, joined in to honor the director. Virginia Madsen acknowledged the news on Instagram with a photo with the director and a note ending with “Life and talent always turned up to 11.” James Woods, who led the film alongside Alec Baldwin and Whoopi Goldberg, posted about his friendship with Reiner, which began on set and continued over the years, despite what the actor referred to as “political differences.” Meanwhile, Goldberg, who plays Evers’ widow in the drama, delivered an on-air tribute to Reiner during Monday morning’s episode of “The View.”

As of Monday afternoon, some of Reiner’s closest friends in the business, including “When Harry Met Sally” star Billy Crystal and “Curb Your Enthusiasm” creator Larry David, had not issued formal statements. (Both Crystal and David — whose ex-wife, Laurie David, posted about the tragedy on Threads — were seen outside of the Reiners’ home after news of the couple’s death broke.) But the chorus of praise for Reiner continued to ring out from industry figures who spoke about his contributions to TV and cinema.  

Jamie Lee Curtis and husband Christopher Guest, who starred in Reiner’s directorial debut “This Is Spinal Tap,” and “The Princess Bride,” released a joint statement to People, praising the Reiners for “the great political and social impact they both had on the entertainment industry, early childhood development, the fight for gay marriage and their global care for a world in crisis.” Norman Lear’s family spoke with The Hollywood Reporter, echoing those sentiments, and describing how the “All in the Family” creator saw Reiner, who starred in the series as Mike Stivic, as a son. And industry icons, like longtime TCM host Ben Mankiewicz, along with more filmmakers and creators — from Ben Stiller to Eric Idle and Ron Howard — expressed their devastation.

But it wasn’t just Hollywood mourning the tragedy on Monday. Figures from across the political world and people involved with Reiner and his wife through their philanthropic endeavors added their tributes to the outpouring of personal and professional admiration. In the early hours of Monday morning, former president Barack Obama posted a lengthy tweet on his and the former first lady’s behalf: “Rob’s achievements in film and television gave us some of our most cherished stories on screen. But beneath all of the stories he produced was a deep belief in the goodness of people — and a lifelong commitment to putting that belief into action. Together, he and his wife lived lives defined by purpose. They will be remembered for the values they championed and the countless people they inspired.” 

Other Democratic leaders, from Nancy Pelosi to Kamala Harris, Joe Biden, and Elizabeth Warren joined in with similar messages, with many citing the Reiners’ work as activists for the party and their outspoken stance on social justice issues, including LGBTQ+ rights. Meanwhile, Republican politicians and other conservative figures, including the British TV host Piers Morgan, weighed in, with some denouncing President Donald Trump’s controversial comments following the couple’s death.

Maria Shriver, a longtime friend of the Reiners, posted several times throughout the day, addressing Trump’s comments and also speaking to the close bond she and her family shared with the couple and their children. In one message, she wrote: “I loved Michele and Rob Reiner. They were among my closest friends. We raised our kids together, from mommy and me on up. We laughed together, we cried together, we played together, we dreamed together. We had dinner this past week, and they were in the best place in the their lives: loving one another, loving their friends, their family, their country. They never gave up on our country. They wanted to make it better. They always, always wanted to make our world better, and they were willing to fight to make it the country they loved.”

Below, more tributes to Rob and Michelle Reiner: