Martin Scorsese remembers Rob Reiner following the shocking deaths of Reiner and his wife Michele, who were found dead in their Brentwood home on December 14. Using his essay in The New York Times to honor the Reiners, Scorsese expressed profound sadness over the loss of his long-time friend and collaborator.
Scorsese Reflects on the Loss of Rob and Michele Reiner
Authorities discovered Rob Reiner, 78, and Michele Reiner, 70, with fatal knife wounds. The couple’s son, Nick Reiner, age 32, has been arrested and charged with two counts of murder. The event has shaken the close-knit circle of friends, performers, and entertainers who knew the Reiners well.
Rob Reiner was a significant figure within the entertainment world, recognized not only for his creative work but the sense of warmth and camaraderie he brought to gatherings. Martin Scorsese detailed his deep personal connection to both Rob and Michele, as well as his sorrow at having to shift to speaking of them in the past tense:
Rob Reiner was my friend, and so was Michele. From now on, I’ll have to use the past tense, and that fills me with such profound sadness. But there’s no other choice.
— Martin Scorsese, filmmaker
A Friendship Rooted in Hollywood History
Scorsese recounted first getting to know Rob Reiner after he relocated to Los Angeles in the early 1970s. At social events hosted by figures like George Memmoli, he shared the company of comics and actors including Reiner, drawn together by their shared East Coast backgrounds and love for humor.
Rob and I were both Eastern transplants, in a way,
— Martin Scorsese, filmmaker
Rob Reiner, the son of famed performers Carl and Estelle Reiner, brought a New York sensibility that resonated deeply with Scorsese. The filmmaker recalls the humor that pervaded their gatherings and celebrates the lasting impact of Reiner’s attitude and infectious laughter:
This was 100 percent New York humor, and it was in the air I breathed.
— Martin Scorsese, filmmaker
Right away, I loved hanging out with Rob. We had a natural affinity for each other. He was hilarious and sometimes bitingly funny, but he was never the kind of guy who would take over the room,
— Martin Scorsese, filmmaker
He had a beautiful sense of uninhibited freedom, fully enjoying the life of the moment, and he had a great barreling laugh. When they honored him at Lincoln Center, Michael McKean did a bit, which was a brilliant parody of solemn official tribute speeches. Before he got to the punchline, Rob laughed so hard you could hear it throughout the auditorium.
— Martin Scorsese, filmmaker
Rob Reiner’s Artistic Legacy
Martin Scorsese discussed his admiration for several of Reiner’s films. Among his favorites was “Misery,” which starred Kathy Bates and James Caan.
a very special film, beautifully acted by Kathy Bates and James Caan.
— Martin Scorsese, filmmaker
The filmmaker also singled out “This Is Spinal Tap” as a standout piece in Reiner’s career.
in a class of its own … an immaculate creation.
— Martin Scorsese, filmmaker
When developing “The Wolf of Wall Street” in 2013, Scorsese turned to Rob Reiner to play the father of Leonardo DiCaprio’s character, Jordan Belfort. The director praised Reiner’s improvisational skills, comedic mastery, and his understanding of the complex emotional core of his role.
He could improvise with the best, he was a master at comedy, he worked beautifully with Leo and the rest of the guys, and he understood the human predicament of his character: The man loved his son, he was happy with his success, but he knew that he was destined for a fall,
— Martin Scorsese, filmmaker
There’s that wonderful moment where Rob watches as Jon Favreau explains to Leo that he can get out relatively unscathed if he just walks away from his company before the S.E.C. has a chance to charge him with violations. The look on Rob’s face, as he realizes that Leo is hesitating and that he ultimately won’t stop, is so eloquent. ‘You got all the money in the world,’ he says. ‘You need everybody else’s money?’ A loving father, mystified by his son.
— Martin Scorsese, filmmaker
I was moved by the delicacy and openness of his performance when we shot it, moved once again as we brought the scene together in the edit and moved as I watched the finished picture. Now, it breaks my heart to even think of the tenderness of Rob’s performance in this and other scenes.
— Martin Scorsese, filmmaker
The Personal Meaning of Tragedy
In his essay, Scorsese concluded by reflecting on the unfathomable nature of the tragedy that befell Rob and Michele Reiner. The director surrounded his remarks with raw emotion, highlighting how this personal loss has left a lasting impression on him and all who knew the couple.
What happened to Rob and Michele is an obscenity, an abyss in lived reality. The only thing that will help me to accept it is the passing of time. So, like all of their loved ones and their friends — and these were people with many, many friends — I have to be allowed to imagine them alive and well … and that one day, I’ll be at a dinner or a party and find myself seated next to Rob, and I’ll hear his laugh and see his beatific face and laugh at his stories and relish his natural comic timing, and feel lucky all over again to have him as a friend.
— Martin Scorsese, filmmaker
The deaths of Rob and Michele Reiner represent a staggering loss for their family, friends, and the broader entertainment community. As time passes, memories of Rob’s exuberance, humor, and artistry—celebrated by figures like Martin Scorsese—will continue to inspire and console. The investigation into Nick Reiner’s role in the tragedy remains ongoing as friends and loved ones seek understanding and solace in the wake of this profound loss.
