Rob Reiner, Legendary Director Of Stand By Me, Misery, And The Princess Bride, Dead At 78

• Movies
• Comedy Movies

Rob Reiner, who transformed himself from Emmy-winning sitcom actor to the filmmaking mastermind behind a staggering number of classic films, has died at 78. The Hollywood legend was found dead from knife wounds in his Los Angeles home, alongside his wife of 36 years, Michele Singer Reiner. People reports that the killer was the couple's son, Nick Reiner, but no additional details are available at this time. This is a tragic end for an artist who was as comfortable making audiences roar with laugher as he was thrilling them to the edge of their seats and making them weep with joy. 

Reiner leaves behind a filmography that should leave any serious or casual film fan utterly gobsmacked, including "This is Spinal Tap," "Stand By Me," "The Princess Bride," "When Harry Met Sally," "Misery," and "A Few Good Men." It would be accurate to call him a low-key cinematic legend, whose invisible style let him gracefully float between genre and style effortlessly. Even as he helmed one instant masterpiece after another, he still felt underrated. And that's on top of his steady career as an actor; Reiner lent his instantly recognizable face and voice to comedies and dramas on the big and small screen alike, from goofy sitcoms like "New Girl" to epic crime dramas like "The Wolf of Wall Street." 

Rob Reiner directed a legendary run of very different movies

Reiner was born in New York City in 1947, the son of comedy royalty: Estelle and Carl Reiner. And while he initially looked to follow in their footsteps, winning two Emmy Awards for his work as Mike "Meathead" Stivic on the classic sitcom "All in the Family," his horizons broadened when he stepped behind the camera. 

Reiner made his directorial debut in 1984 with "This is Spinal Tap," which defined the "mockumentary" style that dominated decades of classic comedy. From that point onward, the certified classics arrived like a tidal wave. 1986's "Stand By Me" is one of the greatest coming-of-age films ever produced. 1987's "The Princess Bride" is a gold standard fantasy film, blending romance and adventure with charming, sweeping aplomb. 1989's "When Harry Met Sally" belongs in the conversation of the greatest romantic comedies of all time, which makes Reiner's swing into gut-churning horror with 1990's "Misery" all the more impressive (and Kathy Bates took home an Oscar for her work in that one). 

Reiner's golden touch continued into the '90s, with his adaptation of "A Few Good Men" landing a Best Picture nomination at the Academy Awards (his sole Oscar nod). "The American President," while not as fondly remembered as his other titles, remains one of the most entertaining adult rom-coms of its decade. 

It can be said, without hyperbole, that this is one of the greatest runs in cinematic history.

Rob Reiner's cinematic legacy will live forever

Like many legendary filmmakers, Reiner's golden streak did come to an end. While he continued to steadily work until his final years, he stopped producing instant classics — although you will certainly find fans of "The Bucket List," "Rumor Has It," and "Alex & Emma." Still, no number of later-career misfires can undo or erase the power and impact of that first run of movies. Few filmmakers have ever achieved such a stretch, and even fewer have showcased such a malleable command of their craft. 

It's easy to imagine Reiner had more work in him, both in front of and behind the camera. In 2025 he released his final film, the long-awaited sequel "Spinal Tap II: The End Continues," and once again guest-starred on the critically acclaimed drama series "The Bear." This was an artist who wasn't ready to stop. 

The days ahead will likely see the tragic nature of Reiner's death temporarily overshadow his body of work. Even as film and TV fans all over the world grieve, we'll do well to remember that he leaves behind stories that touched millions of people. He made great movies, and those movies will live forever.