Rob Reiner’s Close Friends Honored Him in a Touching Joint Statement

Billy Crystal and Larry David — who reportedly both arrived at Rob Reiner’s home after news of his death broke on December 14 — have joined Martin Short and several of the late director’s other close friends in remembering him as a “master story teller” whom they will “miss forever.” Their joint tribute was shared with the Associated Press on December 16, two days after Reiner was found dead with his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, in their Los Angeles home. Authorities have since charged the couple’s son Nick with two counts of first-degree murder.

“Absorbing all he had learned from his father Carl and his mentor Norman Lear, Rob Reiner not only was a great comic actor, he became a master story teller,” Reiner’s friends said in their message. “There is no other director who has his range. From comedy to drama to ‘mockumentary’ to documentary he was always at the top of his game.” The joint statement — which was also signed by Janice Crystal, Ashley Underwood, Albert and Kimberly Brooks, Alan and Robin Zweibel, Marc Shaiman and Lou Mirabal, Barry and Diana Levinson, and Ambassador James Costos and Michael Smith — added that Reiner’s “greatest gift” was “freedom,” citing the way that he made his collaborators feel like they were part of a team. 

The statement went on to describe Reiner as a “passionate, brave citizen, who not only cared for this country he loved” but also “did everything he could to make it better.” Previously, Donald Trump called Reiner “deranged” and linked his death to his political beliefs, doubling down despite criticism of his remarks and calling the director “very bad for our country” in a December 15 press conference. Reiner’s friends countered Trump’s characterization without mentioning the president by name, writing that Reiner and his wife “devoted a great deal of their lives” to the betterment of their fellow citizens. “They were a special force together — dynamic, unselfish and inspiring,” the statement concluded. “We were their friends, and we will miss them forever.” Read the statement in full below:

Going to the movies in a dark theater filled with strangers having a common experience, laughing, crying, screaming in fear, or watching an intense drama unfold is still an unforgettable thrill. Tell us a story audiences demand of us. Absorbing all he had learned from his father Carl and his mentor Norman Lear, Rob Reiner not only was a great comic actor, he became a master story teller. There is no other director who has his range. From comedy to drama to ‘mockumentary’ to documentary he was always at the top of his game. He charmed audiences. They trusted him. They lined up to see his films. 

His comedic touch was beyond compare, his love of getting the music of the dialogue just right, and his sharpening of the edge of a drama was simply elegant. For the actors, he loved them. For the writers he made them better. His greatest gift was freedom. If you had an idea, he listened, he brought you into the process. They always felt they were working as a team. To be in his hands as a film maker was a privilege but that is only part of his legacy. 

Rob was also a passionate, brave citizen, who not only cared for this country he loved, he did everything he could to make it better and with his loving wife Michele, he had the perfect partner. Strong and determined, Michele and Rob Reiner devoted a great deal of their lives for the betterment of our fellow citizens … They were a special force together — dynamic, unselfish and inspiring. We were their friends, and we will miss them forever. 

There is a line from one of Rob’s favorite films, It’s a Wonderful Life, “Each man’s life touches so many other lives, and when he isn’t around, he leaves an awful hole, doesn’t he?” You have no idea.