Rob Reiner, the son of a pioneering television comedian who became a popular sitcom actor himself before directing a slate of beloved films, including “This Is Spinal Tap,” “When Harry Met Sally …” and “The Princess Bride,” died on Sunday. He was 78.
His death, along with that of his wife, Michele, was announced by Mayor Karen Bass of Los Angeles. The Los Angeles Police Department said it was investigating “an apparent homicide” at the Reiners’ home.
Mr. Reiner, who initially rose to fame playing Meathead, Archie Bunker’s son-in-law, on the sitcom “All in the Family” in the 1970s, went on to become a remarkably versatile film director. He seemed equally adept at the mockumentary (“Spinal Tap,” 1984), the coming-of-age film (“Stand by Me,” 1986), the children’s classic (“Princess Bride,” 1987), the romantic comedy (“When Harry Met Sally …” 1989) and the courtroom drama (“A Few Good Men,” 1992).
Throughout his career as a director, Mr. Reiner continued to work as an actor on television and in the films of others, making himself into a rare Hollywood fixture who was known for his work both behind the camera and in front of it. He also led a vibrant political life, lending his celebrity to a variety of liberal causes, including gay marriage.
Mr. Reiner’s family was rooted in show business. His father, Carl Reiner, created “The Dick Van Dyke Show,” moving the family to Los Angeles from New York in the 1950s and at times drawing inspiration from his own family life. His mother, Estelle Reiner, was an actress and a singer.
After he was drawn to theater in a high school drama class, Mr. Reiner worked in small theaters and started his own improv group before landing the role on what would become one of America’s defining family sitcoms.
During Mr. Reiner’s eight years on “All in the Family,” from 1971 to 1978, he began spending time in the writers’s room and observing the set, picking up an education in behind-the-scenes work. He won two Emmy Awards for best supporting actor.
He had an ambition to direct since he was a teenager, and while a cast member on the sitcom, he directed a little-known television movie. Five years after the show ended, he made his directorial debut in 1984 with “This Is Spinal Tap,” a mockumentary about a British band past its prime that turned into a cult classic.
After directing “The Sure Thing,” a romantic comedy starring John Cusack, Mr. Reiner decided to adapt a fantasy-adventure novel by William Goldman that he had loved when he was young: “The Princess Bride.” A charming mix of satire, adventure and romance, the movie received broad critical acclaim.
‘People take a look at ‘Princess Bride,’ and exclaim, ‘God, this is such an odd conglomeration!’” Mr. Reiner told The New York Times shortly after the movie was released in 1987. “‘How could you balance all those things?’”
“But it didn’t seem all that strange to me,” he went on, “because those are all parts of my personality. I’ve definitely got this satirical side to me, and this romantic side, and this more realistic way of looking at things.”
Just two years later, Mr. Reiner released “When Harry Met Sally …,” which would become one of the most beloved and culturally enduring romantic comedies of all time.
Last year, as Mr. Reiner was preparing to shoot the sequel to “Spinal Tap,” he spoke to The New York Times about some of the things that were most important to him. The first things he mentioned were “my wife and kids.”
“That’s the most important to me,” he said. “There’s that joke, nobody on their death bed ever said, ‘I should have spent more time at the office.’ Nobody says that.”
A full obituary will appear shortly.
Julia Jacobs is an arts and culture reporter who often covers legal issues for The Times.
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