Biography of Rob Reiner

Rob Reiner, born in 1947 in the Bronx, New York, was no stranger to the funny side of things growing up: he was the son of legendary comedian and writer/director Carl Reiner. As a young man, he was a comedy writer and performer himself, first coming to fame in the role of Meathead on CBS's All In The Family (1971-1979). He entered the world of film directing in the early 1980s and had an incredible, almost unparalleled run across the next eight years, creating diverse and hugely acclaimed films, some of which have become enshrined as the finest of their era: Stand By Me (1986), When Harry Met Sally (1989), Misery (1990), A Few Good Men (1992), and of course, The Princess Bride (1987). Few filmmakers, at least within the mainstream, can make a claim to a consecutive string like that.

Reiner's personal life is defined by avid political activism. Specifically, he identifies as a Democrat and has been a champion of such causes as anti-smoking, environmental preservation, and LGBTQ+ rights. Reiner is a co-founder of the American Foundation for Equal Rights, which initiated the court challenge against California Proposition 8 banning same-sex marriage in the state. He's also a member of the Social Responsibility Task Force, an organization advocating moderation where social issues (like violence and tobacco use) and the entertainment industry meet. He even toyed with the idea of running as a Democratic candidate against Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2006, but decided against it for personal reasons. He was married to director and actress Penny Marshall from 1971-1981, and is presently married to photographer Michele Singer, whom he met on the set of When Harry Met Sally and with whom he has 3 children and 5 grandchildren.


Study Guides on Works by Rob Reiner

There are some films that are almost more famous for one line spoken within them; Rob Reiner's 1992 legal drama, A Few Good Men, is one of those films, Starring Tom Cruise, Jack Nicholson and Demi Moore, it was adapted for the big screen by Aaron...

Though an author of myriad books and plays, William Goldman is perhaps best known for his tale-within-a-tale of love and loss, capture and rescue, action and adventure. The 1973 fantasy romance novel The Princess Bride was a smashing success when...

If the general public was asked to list their five favorite romantic comedies, Rob Reiner's When Harry Met Sally (1989) would likely be on many of the lists. The Hollywood Reporter wonderfully sums up the feelings of those who love the film. In...