Rob Reiner: A Salute
In horrific news out of Los Angeles, Hollywood director and star Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele, were brutally stabbed to death in their own home. Their son Nick has been arrested and is currently being held on $4 million bail.
So a Reiner story.
Back there in the long ago of 2017, the liberals running CNN were tired of my on-air Trump supporting, and used a tweeted joke as an excuse to push me out the door.
Rob was a serious defender of free speech and absolutely willing to speak out on the subject.
And to my amazement, I was quickly supported by no less than Rob Reiner and Bill Maher. I was invited to appear on Bill’s show, and there I met Rob in person on the set of Bill’s late-night show. Rob and Bill both were the epitome of graciousness, making it clear that they thought I had been wrongly dismissed. In chatting with Rob both on and off the air, it was clear that while he was a decided liberal and I, the Trump-supporting conservative, Rob was a serious defender of free speech and absolutely willing to speak out on the subject.
Our conversations gave me the greatest respect for Rob. He was, decidedly, one of Hollywood’s most talented players. The son of another Hollywood movie and TV legend, Carl Reiner, Rob built his own quite considerable career.
Starting out in television, where he famously played the son-in-law of All in the Family’s Archie Bunker (Carroll O’Connor), Rob went on to write, produce, and/or direct a string of huge movie hits. The list includes (per USA Today):
- This Is Spinal Tap (1984 mockumentary)
- Stand by Me (1986 adventure/thriller)
- The Princess Bride (1987 family comedy)
- When Harry Met Sally (1989 rom-com)
- Misery (1990 horror movie)
- A Few Good Men (1992 thriller)
USA Today goes on to note: “Spinal Tap at Stonehenge: The Final Finale,” one of Reiner’s final films, is set to premiere in 2026, according to IMDB.
In short, whether acting, writing, producing, or directing, Rob was a man of serious talent. In addition to being a very nice guy who loved to talk. Even with me!
By coincidence, as seen in the horrific shootings at Brown University in the U.S. and at Bondi Beach in Australia, life can have its horrific moments. But as Rob demonstrated in his life, it can also have its bright moments where, in America, one has the freedom to develop their talents to the max.
Which Rob Reiner did exactly.
May he rest in peace.
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