Rob Reiner's final role draws fierce criticism 6 months after legendary director's tragic death
Rob Reiner's final on-screen appearance in Larry David's latest HBO comedy provoked online criticism.
A once vocal critic of the current administration, the late director's surprise cameo in "Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness: An Almost History of America," was considered Reiner's "last laugh" against President Donald Trump, director Jeff Schaffer told Variety.
"It’s coming out on Fourth of July weekend, and if it in any way spoils a sad octogenarian’s weekend, then oh well," Schaffer told the outlet.
Social media users quickly criticized the posthumous cameo and its political framing nearly six months after Rob and wife Michele Reiner were found dead inside their Brentwood home.
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"Pretty sure Reiner would have preferred to be alive instead of getting the 'last laugh' here," one user wrote, while another quipped: "I'm going to go ahead and say that he definitively did not get the last laugh."
"Sorry but if your son stabs you and your wife to death there are no 'last laughs,'" another user wrote. "That’s basically as bad a thing as could possibly happen. I know we’re 11 years into this now and you haven’t figured it out yet but you really don’t need to do this stuff anymore."
Another X user noted, "The man and his wife were murdered by their son. He spent his last years on our planet obsessing over Trump and believing every media lie he was told. There isn’t a last laugh to be had. It was a tragic end."
While portraying George Washington in the historical comedy, Reiner declares he will not seek a third term in office and proposes Congress pursue a constitutional amendment prohibiting presidential power.
David, dressed in colonial attire, asked, "Well, what if there’s some a------ in office, some narcissistic p---- who doesn’t follow the Constitution?"
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Reiner stressed the importance of a peaceful transfer of power before David interjects, "He could use the presidency to enrich himself and his family. He could send troops into American cities to terrorize and even kill American citizens, all to distract from the fact that he’s friends with a pedophile!"
Fellow Trump antagonist Jimmy Kimmel made a surprise appearance and offered, "Are you suggesting that the president would taketh the time to challenge anyone who dare make fun of him? As if he were a big baby?"
As the colonists argue among themselves, Reiner notes, "We're f---ed" before an In Memoriam card honored the late "Princess Bride" director.
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The sketch was reportedly filmed on Nov. 13, nearly one month before Reiner's son, Nick Reiner, allegedly killed his parents.
Los Angeles Fire Department officials responded to a Brentwood-area home at around 3:30 p.m. on Dec. 14, where two bodies were discovered. Officials later confirmed the bodies to be of Rob and his wife, Michele.
Nick quickly became a person of interest and was taken into custody the night of Dec. 14. He was formally charged two days later with two counts of first-degree murder with a special circumstance of multiple murders.
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Nick pleaded not guilty during his Feb. 23 arraignment. A spokesperson for the Reiner family told Fox News Digital, "They have the utmost trust in the legal process and will not comment further on matters related to the legal proceedings."
Last month, Nick demanded access to his $1.5 million trust fund after he was allegedly blocked from a massive payout that would have funded his decision to hire top-notch celebrity attorney Alan Jackson.
According to court documents obtained by Fox News Digital, the trustees' alleged refusal to release money forced Nick into using a court-appointed public defender despite Jackson's firm already devoting substantial resources to his defense.
Nick is facing a maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole or the death penalty after being charged with two counts of first-degree murder.
White House representatives did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment about Reiner's cameo.
Fox News Digital's Lauryn Overhultz contributed to this report.