Famed entertainer Rob Reiner and his wife Michele sadly passed away on Sunday in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Brentwood.
Reiner’s impact in the world of film and television was profound. The son of fellow iconic performer Carl Reiner, Rob first broke out as “Meathead” in the classic sitcom All in the Family.
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Initially an actor, he then transitioned more heavily into becoming one of the more brilliant directors of his generation. Some of his director credits include The Princess Bride, Stand by Me, This is Spinal Tap, When Harry Met Sally, Misery, Ghosts of Mississippi, and A Few Good Men.
The Los Angeles Dodgers organization specifically sent out a message of support for the Reiner family.
Reiner’s father dreamed of being a professional baseball player. Growing up in New York, he reportedly became a massive Jackie Robinson fan. That fandom of the sport of baseball was passed onto his son. When the family moved from New York to Los Angeles, the Dodgers became the team this famous family supported.
Part of that decision also reportedly occurred when his favorite player, Willie Mays, was traded to the New York Mets.
You’d often see the Reiner family present at Dodgers games. There was an undeniable love for the franchise that was on from generation to generation.
One of Reiner’s children, Jake, was a graduate of Syracuse’s famed Broadcast Journalism program. He was a sports reporter/anchor for years. Currently, he’s also the co-host of The Incline: Dodgers Podcast where he weekly puts out podcasts speaking about his beloved team.
Reiner spoke to MLB.com over a decade ago about how much baseball meant to him. In many ways, according to Reiner, there was a parallel between the game and life.
“You go out into the world, just like a guy would go out and try to make a living. You go into enemy territory, and then, you come home. And everyone says, ‘Hey, he’s home. He brought home the bacon.’ And you’re rewarded. They’re happy to see you. Just like life.
“It’s like life in that we’re alone, yet we’re still part of a team. In other sports, you rely, always, on your teammates to help you in whatever it is you do. In baseball, yes, you rely on your teammates, but there are moments when you are along and no one can help you. That’s very much like life, too.”
Reiner was 78 years of age at the time of his passing.
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Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
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