Rob Reiner: Biography

Multi-talented Rob Reiner has had one of Hollywood's more remarkable careers, having gone from celebrity's son to comedy writer to TV actor to one of film's most successful producers and directors. The son of comedy giant Carl Reiner, Rob was born in the Bronx in 1945. He was 12 when he moved with his family to Los Angeles, and it was there that he began acting in regional theater. After studying drama at U.C.L.A., he co-founded the improvisational comedy troupe The Session and then became a writer for such shows as The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour.

Reiner made his feature debut as an actor in his father's autobiographical film Enter Laughing (1967), but his first real break came in 1971 when he won the part of Michael Stivic, the staunchly liberal foil to Carroll O'Connor's hilariously backwards Archie Bunker in the groundbreaking sitcom All in the Family. He remained with the series until 1978, earning two Emmys by the time he left. In addition to that show, Reiner appeared in TV movies and launched his own series starring himself and then-wife Penny Marshall. A semi-autobiographical comedy, More Than Friends lasted only one season, and its demise was followed shortly by the couple's marriage.

Reiner became a director in 1984 with the cult favorite This Is Spinal Tap, a satirical mockumentary of the rise and fall of a fictional rock group. His sophomore effort, The Sure Thing (1985), was entertaining, but didn't leave much of a mark on the popular consciousness. The following year, the director hit his stride with his third effort, Stand by Me. In this coming-of-age saga based on a Stephen King short story, Reiner successfully blended comedy, drama, and sentiment while creating believable young characters. As a director of mainstream films, Reiner went on to prove himself in a variety of genres. The Princess Bride (1987) was a sharply funny, but sweet, romantic fantasy, while When Harry Met Sally (1989), written by Nora Ephron, stands as one of the most successful romantic comedies of the '80s. Reiner began the 1990s by successfully trying his hand at darker fare with Misery, a claustrophobic horror-drama based on a King novel and featuring exceptional performances from James Caan and Kathy Bates, who won an Academy Award for Best Actress. 1992's A Few Good Men was similarly successful, earning a Best Picture Oscar nomination and another Golden Globe nomination for Reiner. He went on to handle subjects as diverse as romantic comedy (with 1995's The American President) and the civil rights movement (the following year's Ghosts of Mississippi). In 1999, he produced, directed, and starred in The Story of Us, a romantic comedy starring Michelle Pfeiffer and Bruce Willis.

In 1987, Reiner co-founded Castle Rock Productions (the company's name refers to a fictional town created by Stephen King). In addition to directing and producing, Reiner has also continued to act, showing up in such films as Postcards From the Edge (1990), Sleepless in Seattle (1993), Bullets Over Broadway (1994), The First Wives Club (1996), Primary Colors (1998), EDtv (1999), The Muse (1999), and The Story of Us (1999). Reiner scaled back his film efforts in the early 2000s while becoming involved in California politics. He did appear in the David Spade comedy Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star and, in 2003, directed Kate Hudson and Luke Wilson in the romantic comedy Alex and Emma. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide