Hollywood Mourns Rob Reiner: Tributes Pour in From Cary Elwes, Scorsese and Beyond
Rob Reiner, beloved director of The Princess Bride and When Harry Met Sally…, has died at 77, prompting emotional tributes from Cary Elwes, Martin Scorsese and Hollywood at large.
The Princess Bride Director Dies at 77, Leaving Industry Heartbroken
Los Angeles—The news hit like a thunderclap on an otherwise quiet Tuesday: Rob Reiner, the filmmaker who taught a generation to believe in true love and rodents of unusual size, has died. He was 77.
A Voice That Defined an Era
From the moment This Is Spinal Tap hit theaters in 1984, Reiner rewrote the rules of comedy. He followed it with a run of classics—Stand by Me, When Harry Met Sally…, A Few Good Men—that turned quotable dialogue into shared cultural currency. “He didn’t just make movies; he made the kind you stop everything to watch when they show up on cable,” said longtime friend Billy Crystal.
Tributes Flood Social Media
Cary Elwes, still affectionately called Westley by fans, posted a tear-soaked selfie clutching a worn VHS of The Princess Bride. “My heart is shattered. Thank you, Rob, for the greatest adventure of my life.” Martin Scorsese released a statement praising Reiner’s “uncanny ear for human conversation” and credited him with inspiring the rapid-fire dialogue in Goodfellas.
“Rob never raised his voice on set. He raised standards instead.” —Martin Scorsese
From Meathead to Maverick
Born in the Bronx to comic legend Carl Reiner, the younger Reiner first became a household face as Michael “Meathead” Stivic on All in the Family. But behind the camera he found his true calling, founding Castle Rock Entertainment and championing politically charged projects like The American President and Shock and Awe.
What Happens Next
Reiner’s family confirmed he died peacefully at home after a brief illness. A public memorial is planned for late next month at the Academy Museum, where organizers expect thousands of filmmakers, writers, and fans to pay respects. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to the Committee to Protect Journalists, a cause Reiner championed in recent years.
- Survived by wife Michele Singer and three children.
- Upcoming projects: a finished documentary on voting rights will still be released this fall.
- Streaming services report 400% spike in Princess Bride viewership overnight.
As dusk fell over Hollywood Boulevard, the marquee of the TCL Chinese Theatre dimmed its lights—an honor reserved for the rare storyteller who reminded audiences that life, like a Reiner film, could be funny, messy, and achingly human all at once.