Friends of Rob and Michele Reiner release statement on their lives and work

Close friends of Rob Reiner and Michele Reiner released a joint statement about the couple’s lives and work, and the Associated Press on Tuesday obtained the full text of that statement.

Among the passages, the statement begins with a reflection on the shared experience of moviegoing: “Going to the movies in a dark theater filled with strangers having a common experience, laughing, crying, screaming in fear, or watching an intense drama unfold is still an unforgettable thrill. Tell us a story audiences demand of us.” It goes on to credit Rob Reiner for his evolution from actor to director and describes him as a master storyteller whose range spanned comedy, drama, mockumentary and documentary.

The statement, signed by nine close friends and colleagues, emphasizes Rob Reiner’s formation by his father Carl and his mentor Norman Lear. It notes, in part, that “Absorbing all he had learned from his father Carl and his mentor Norman Lear, Rob Reiner not only was a great comic actor, he became a master storyteller. There is no other director who has his range. From comedy to drama to ‘mockumentary’ to documentary he was always at the top of his game.” It adds that Reiner charmed audiences, earned their trust and drew crowds to his films, while also acknowledging the collaborative spirit he cultivated with actors and writers, stating: “For the actors, he loved them. For the writers he made them better. His greatest gift was freedom. If you had an idea, he listened, he brought you into the process. They always felt they were working as a team. To be in his hands as a film maker was a privilege but that is only part of his legacy.”

Rob Reiner was described as a passionate, brave citizen who cared for the country he loved and worked to improve it, alongside his wife Michele. The statement says the couple “devoted a great deal of their lives for the betterment of our fellow citizens” and that they were a “special force together—dynamic, unselfish and inspiring.” The signatories also recalled the personal connection their group shared with the Reiners, noting, “We were their friends, and we will miss them forever.”

As part of its closing passage, the statement quotes one of Rob Reiner’s favorite films, saying, “There is a line from one of Rob’s favorite films, ‘It’s a Wonderful Life,’ ‘Each man’s life touches so many other lives, and when he isn’t around, he leaves an awful hole, doesn’t he?’ You have no idea.”

The statement was signed by Billy and Janice Crystal, Albert and Kimberly Brooks, Martin Short, Alan and Robin Zweibel, Larry David and Ashley Underwood, Marc Shaiman and Lou Mirabal, Barry and Diana Levinson and Ambassador James Costos and Michael Smith. The Associated Press had access to the full text on Tuesday as the entertainment community reflected on the couple’s legacy in both film and public life.