Popverse's top stories

• Is the Supergirl teaser trailer already teasing a Man of Tomorrow connection? Because our Brainiac senses are tingling
• Watch now: Watch as Nickelodeon presents the Avatar: The Last Airbender 20th Anniversary Panel, featuring Dante Basco, Zach Tyler Eisen, Jack De Sena, Mae Whitman, Michaela Jill Murphy, from NYCC 2025
• The Amazing Digital Circus stars Lizzie Freeman, Michael Kovach, and Alex Rochon are coming to Seattle's ECCC 2026

In a career that spanned more than five decades, Rob Reiner was a rare Hollywood talent. He was an actor and a director who brought the same heart, humanity, and enthusiasm to both roles. He helped create the mockumentary genre with This is Spinal Tap, adapted the swashbuckling, swoon-worthy The Princess Bride to the screen, and earned critical acclaim for A Few Good Men. Sadly, Rob Reiner died on December 14, 2025 from a homicide in his home in Los Angeles. 

Although he is best known for his work behind the camera, Rob Reiner’s career in film and television began as an actor. He played Mike 'Meathead' Stivic on All in the Family, a role that won him two Primetime Emmy Awards. Acting was something that Reiner continued to pursue over the years, even after his directorial debut, with notable roles in Sleepless in Seattle, The First Wives Club, and The Wolf of Wall Street.

However, it was as a director that Rob Reiner truly made his mark on Hollywood. In the '80s and early '90s, few directors had a more extensive streak of memorable and hit films. 1984’s This is Spinal Tap was Reiner’s first time as a film director. The movie, which he also starred in and wrote, maintains a cult following today. Reiner would return to the role of Marty Di Bergi in 2025 with the sequel, Spinal Tap II: The End Continues, which he again directed.

Then, in 1986, Rob Reiner created one of the most iconic films based on a Stephen King book, Stand by Me. The film is one of the perfect coming-of-age stories, with the image of a group of young friends walking along the train tracks remaining iconic nearly 40 years later. In 1987, Reiner directed The Princess Bride. While the movie wasn’t a commercial success at the time, it has become a classic thanks to its perfectly balanced humor and one of the greatest swordfights in cinema history. 

Other notable films from this period include When Harry Met Sally…, Misery, and A Few Good Men, all of which were released before the end of 1992. Rob Reiner had a powerful hold on Hollywood for many years and enjoys a well-deserved reputation as a highly influential figure in the film business. It is difficult to point to a specific genre that exemplifies his style. He directed comedies, romances, political thrillers, and biographies with equal talent. He worked with some of the biggest names in Hollywood, including Jack Nicholson, Morgan Freeman, Jennifer Aniston, and Tom Cruise. Rob Reiner could find the humanity, warmth, and purpose in any genre or any story.

Rob Reiner was also a passionate political activist, having campaigned for liberal causes and political candidates over the years. In recent years, Reiner was a vocal opponent of President Donald Trump, whom he called “the single most unqualified human being to ever assume the presidency of the United States.” He also co-founded the American Foundation for Equal Rights, which campaigned for same-sex marriage laws in California.

On December 14, 2025, firefighters were called to a fire at Reiner’s home. Initially, the reports stated that a “man and woman ages 78 and 68” were killed, later confirmed to be Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer. LAPD later confirmed that both were stabbed to death in their home. As of writing, no suspect or motive for the murder of Rob Reiner is known.

It is a tragic end to a remarkable life and career that showcased the huge range of talent that Rob Reiner had, as well as the kind heart with which he lived his life. His films were often funny, nostalgic, politically challenging, and groundbreaking. Rob Reiner was a filmmaker like no other, and Hollywood is both richer for having had him and poorer for having lost him.