Rob Reiner pays tribute to dad Carl Reiner, dead at 98: 'He was my guiding light'

Suzy Byrne
·Reporter
Updated ·15 min read

Carl Reiner, the iconic entertainer whose Hollywood career spanned seven decades, is being remembered after his death Monday at age 98.

Reiner did it all in showbiz — writer, producer, director, actor, Grammy winner for spoken comedy album — and authored several books, including 2017’s Too Busy to Die. The Dick Van Dyke Show creator, who won nine Emmys during his career, continued to work, tweet and remain politically active — recently making a statement in Black Lives Matter T-shirts with his 2000 Year Old Man comedy partner and pal Mel Brooks — until the end of his life.

Reiner assistant Judy Nagy told Variety he died of natural causes Monday night at his home in Beverly Hills. TMZ reports that he was surrounded by family. The Too Busy to Die author was survived by children director Rob Reiner, author and playwright Annie Reiner and artist Lucas Reiner. His wife, Estelle, died in 2008.

HOLLYWOOD, CA - APRIL 07: Carl Reiner and Rob Reiner are honored with Hand and Footprint Ceremony, part of the 2017 TCM Classic Film Festival at TCL Chinese Theatre IMAX on April 7, 2017 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic)
Carl Reiner is being remembered following news of his death at age 98. His son, director, Rob Reiner, with him in 2017, leads the tributes. (Photo: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic)

Rob called his father “my guiding light” in a tribute on Twitter.

Reiner, who was part of Sid Caesar’s legendary team, had hundreds of credits, including 1970s and 1980s faves Oh God!, The Jerk and All of Me. But he continued to act into his 90s, including roles in the Ocean’s Eleven films as well as in Hot in Cleveland and Two and a Half Men. He also did a lot of voice work, from Carl Reineroceros in Toy Story 4 to Family Guy.

Social media is filled with tributes to the comedy genius, including from his best friend and collaborator Mel Brooks, who called Reiner “a giant, unmatched in his contributions to entertainment.” He added, “I loved him.”

Dick Van Dyke said Reiner “wrote about the human comedy” and had “a deeper understanding of the human condition than I think even he was aware of... His scripts were never just funny, they always had something to say about us.”

Steve Martin, who worked with Reiner in The Jerk and All of Me, called him “my greatest mentor in movies and in life.”

Bette Midler, who was directed by Reiner in That Old Feeling, said she “worked with him” and “loved him.”

Alan Alda wrote that his friend’s “talent will live on for a long time, but the loss of his kindness and decency leaves a hole in our hearts.”

Here are more tributes from colleagues, friends, fans and family:

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