A Visual Journey Through Rob Reiner's Life | Vanity Fair

Hollywood is still reeling in the wake of news that director Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele, were killed in their Brentwood home on Sunday. As tributes to both pour in, we’re taking a look back at Reiner’s remarkable career—which began in earnest on the set of the hit 1970s sitcom All in the Family, back in the days when Reiner was best known as the son of comedy legend and Dick Van Dyke Show creator Carl Reiner. Though his parentage may have helped Reiner get his foot in the door, his talent is what got him to the next level: He won Emmys for All in the Family before moving behind the camera, directing This Is Spinal Tap, Stand by Me, The Princess Bride, When Harry Met Sally…, Misery, and A Few Good Men in a single eight-year period.

Below, find 28 images that tell Reiner’s story—from the TV titan’s kid to canonical filmmaker.

Carl Reiner, Rob Reiner, Annie Reiner, and Estelle Reiner photographed together around 1950.

Carl Reiner with his son, Rob Reiner, on an episode of The Dick Van Dyke Show, March 23, 1965.

Jean Stapleton, Carroll O’Connor, Rob Reiner, and Sally Struthers in All in the Family, December 22, 1970.

Penny Marshall and Rob Reiner as celebrity coaches and co-hosts on Celebrity Challenge of the Sexes, April 17, 1977. The pair were married from 1971 to 1981.

Alan Arkin and Rob Reiner in Fire Sale, 1977

Albert Brooks during an interview with guest host Rob Reiner on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, July 11, 1977.

John Cusack and Rob Reiner on the set of The Sure Thing, 1985.

Princess Bride stars Cary Elwes and Mandy Patinkin with Rob Reiner, September 19, 1987.

Billy Crystal, Rob Reiner, and Meg Ryan on the When Harry Met Sally… set, 1989.

Rob Reiner and Meg Ryan on the set of When Harry Met Sally…, 1989.

Rob Reiner and Billy Crystal at the premiere of When Harry Met Sally…, July 13, 1989.

Rob Reiner and Kathy Bates on the set of Misery, 1990.

Michele Reiner and Rob Reiner attending a premiere party for Postcards From the Edge, 1990. Michele and Reiner married in 1989.

Tom Cruise and Rob Reiner on the set of A Few Good Men, 1992.

Rob Reiner on the set of his film North, 1994.

Martin Sheen and Rob Reiner filming The American President, 1995.

Tom Hanks and Rob Reiner filming I Am Your Child, 1997.

Rob Reiner honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, 1999.

Morgan Freeman, Rob Reiner, and Jack Nicholson at the UK premiere of The Bucket List, January 23, 2008.

Morgan Freeman and Rob Reiner on the set of The Magic of Belle Isle, 2012.

Jon Favreau, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Rob Reiner in The Wolf of Wall Street, 2013.

Rob Reiner during an interview with Jimmy Fallon, July 11, 2014.

David Foster, Jim Carrey, and Cary Elwes with Rob Reiner at the As You Wish book launch in West Hollywood, October 6, 2014.

Honorees Carl Reiner and Rob Reiner at the Carl and Rob Reiner Hand and Footprint Ceremony during the TCM Classic Film Festival in Los Angeles, April 7, 2017.

Rob Reiner, Zooey Deschanel, and Jamie Lee Curtis on New Girl, 2017.

Rob Reiner and Patti LuPone in Meg, May 1, 2020.

Christopher Guest and Rob Reiner on the set of Spinal Tap II, 2025.

Rob Reiner during an interview with Seth Meyers on September 17, 2025.