Robert Reiner was born in The Bronx, New York City to Estelle Reiner (née Lebost) and Emmy-winning actor, comedian, writer, and producer Carl Reiner.The family moved to suburban New Rochelle, Westchester County, New York when he was a child. Their address there (on Bonny Meadow Lane) was the same as that of the Petrie family on The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961).

His father was his role model, as Carl Reiner had created and starred in The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961). Estelle Reiner was also an inspiration for him to become a director; her experience as a singer helped him understand how music was used in a scene. Rob often felt pressured about measuring up to his father's successful streak, with 12 Emmys and other prestigious awards.

When Rob graduated high school, his parents advised him to participate in Summer Theatre. Reiner got a job as an apprentice in the Bucks County Playhouse in Pennsylvania. He attended UCLA Film School to further his education. Reiner felt he still wasn't successful, despite having a recurring role on one of the biggest shows in the country, All in the Family (1971). He began his directing career with the Oscar-nominated films "This Is Spinal Tap", "Stand By Me", and "The Princess Bride".

In 1987, with these successful box-office movies under his belt, Reiner founded his own production company, Castle Rock Entertainment, along with Martin Shafer, Andrew Scheinman, Glenn Padnick, and Alan Horn. Under Castle Rock Entertainment, he went on to direct Oscar-nominated films "When Harry Met Sally", "Misery", and "A Few Good Men". Reiner credited former co-star Carroll O'Connor in helping him get into the directing business and showing Reiner the ropes.

Reiner was known as a political activist, co-founding the American Foundation For Equal Rights, a group that was an advisory for same-sex-marriage (called marriage equality). He spoke at rallies as an advocate for social change regarding issues including but not limited to domestic violence and tobacco use.

Reiner made cameo appearances on such television shows as "30 Rock", "The Simpsons", and "Hannah Montana", and in such films as "The First Wives Club", "Bullets Over Broadway", "Primary Colors", and "Throw Momma From The Train", among many others.

Rob Reiner at an event for Flipped (2010)

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River Phoenix and Rob Reiner in TCM Remembers 2025 (2025)

Rob Reiner in The Partridge Family (1970)

Rob Reiner and Sally Struthers in All in the Family (1971)

Christopher Guest, Rob Reiner, Michael McKean, Harry Shearer, and Spinal Tap in Spinal Tap II: The End Continues (2025)

Rob Reiner, Sally Struthers, Carroll O'Connor, and Jean Stapleton in All in the Family (1971)

Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, R.J. Parnell, Harry Shearer, Spinal Tap, and David Kaff in This Is Spinal Tap (1984)

Leonardo DiCaprio, Chris Kerson, and Jonah Hill in The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)

Michelle Pfeiffer and Bruce Willis in The Story of Us (1999)

Rob Reiner

Rob Reiner

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