Carl Reiner (1922-2020)
Hollywood comic legend and filmmaker Carl Reiner passed away from natural causes on June 29, 2020. He was 98. Carl was best known as Mel Brooks' long-time collaborator, co-starring in the classic TV sitcom "The Dick Van Dyke Show," and as the director of such hit comedies as "The Jerk" and "The Man with Two Brains," both starring Steve Martin.
Reiner was born in New York City to Jewish immigrants in 1922 and served in the Air Force during World War II. He joined a performing unit and put on many shows to entertain the troops. After the war, Reiner moved into show business and performed in several Broadway musicals. In 1950, he joined the popular TV sketch comedy show, "Your Show of Shows," hosted by Sid Caesar, where he collaborated with Mel Brooks and Neil Simon. After working with Caesar in the 1950s, Reiner later developed his TV sitcom, which the CBS network ultimately picked up and changed into a vehicle for Dick Van Dyke with Mary Tyler Moore, as the show is now titled "The Dick Van Dyke Show." Thanks to the success of the hit show, Reiner's career has gravitated towards filmmaking, where he made his directorial debut in "Enter Laughing." The other movies that soon followed were "Oh God," starring actor George Burns, and "The One and Only," with Henry Winkler. Reiner was instrumental in directing Steve Martin in what would be his film debut in the hit comedy "The Jerk," and they later collaborated on three more films that were also successful, like "Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid," "The Man with Two Brains," and "All of Me."
In his later years, Reiner had a comeback role as the con artist Saul Bloom in Steven Soderbergh's remake of "Ocean's Eleven." Later, he would return to his role in the film's two sequels. His last film role was Carl Reineroceros in "Toy Story 4" in 2019.
He even made guest appearances in shows like "Frasier," "King of the Hill," "The Larry Sanders Show," "Ally McBeal," and "Two and a Half Men." Reiner was the father of Rob Reiner, an actor and director, renowned for his successful movies.
My condolences go to his family and friends.
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