"Reiner grew up thinking his father, Carl Reiner, didn't understand him or find him funny. But the younger Reiner would in many ways follow in his father's footsteps, working both in front and behind the camera, in comedies that stretched from broad sketch work to accomplished dramedies. "My father thought, 'Oh, my God, this poor kid is worried about being in the shadow of a famous father,'" Reiner said, recalling the temptation to change his name to "60 Minutes" in October."
"After starting out as a writer for "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour," Reiner's breakthrough came when he was, at age 23, cast in Norman Lear's "All in the Family" as Archie Bunker's liberal son-in-law, Michael "Meathead" Stivic. But by the 1980s, Reiner began as a feature film director, churning out some of the most beloved films of that, or any, era. His first film, the largely improvised 1984 cult classic "This Is Spinal Tap," remains the urtext mockumentary."
Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer, were found dead at their Brentwood home in Los Angeles; authorities are investigating an apparent homicide. A law enforcement official confirmed both were victims but declined to discuss details, speaking to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. Reiner was 78. He began as a writer for The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour and gained prominence at 23 playing Michael "Meathead" Stivic on All in the Family. He transitioned to feature film directing in the 1980s, creating cult classic This Is Spinal Tap and later beloved films including The Princess Bride and When Harry Met Sally. He followed his father Carl Reiner's creative path, working in front of and behind the camera.
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