Just a tragic situation.
On Sunday, news broke that actor and director Rob Reiner had been brutally murdered, alongside his wife Michele, in their Los Angeles home.
Reiner got his start in the entertainment industry back in the late 1960s with small roles in shows like The Andy Griffith Show and The Beverly Hillbillies before getting his breakout role as “Meathead” on All In the Family starting in 1971. While he continued acting, Reiner came to be known more for his work as a director on critically-acclaimed films like When Harry Met Sally, The Princess Bride, Stand By Me, and A Few Good Men.
Reiner’s son, Nick Reiner, was arrested this morning for the shocking murder of his parents and is currently being held without bond. It’s reported that Nick had severe mental health and drug abuse issues, and had allegedly had a “loud” altercation with his parents over the weekend during a Christmas party hosted by Conan O’Brien.
Immediately the tributes for Reiner began pouring in, including from some in the country music world who had worked with him.
And one country star who knew him very well is Reba McEntire, who posted a heartfelt tribute to the late actor and director, who had actually used his experience in both of those roles for her 1993 music video for “Does He Love You.”
The song was of course a duet with Linda Davis, and the cinematic music video showcases a love triangle between the two singers and their man. The video features several scenes of them both with the man, and ends when Davis and the unnamed man take off on a boat together – only for the boat to explode as director Rob Reiner yells “Cut!” to show the cast the footage they had been filming.
At the time of the music video, Reba had been working with Reiner on his movie North, and today Reba fondly recalled her projects with the actor and director:
“I enjoyed every minute I was around Rob Reiner. He was one of a kind. I got to work with him on the movie North and he also helped us with our ending of my video, “Does He Love You.” I sure will miss him. What a gift he was to this world. Rest in peace, my friend.”
Of course, many who knew him and his wife are heartbroken, and during an interview with Entertainment Tonight this week, Reba understandably got extremely emotional when asked about Reiner.
She got choked up when recalling the times they had worked together, saying Reiner was “a great guy” and she will miss him dearly:
“It’s been a very emotional day, along with what happened in Australia and Brown University, Rob and his family, lovely wife. It’s hard to be happy and energetic. All we can do is look back and lift all those people up, and say thanks for being here with us, the time you were.
And we learned from you, we were so blessed to have you in our lives. I remember getting to work with him on ‘North,’ the movie I did with him. He was so gracious to be a part of my video ‘Does He Love You’ with Linda Davis, and he was just so much fun, open, great director, great person.
His legacy is his work… I sure will miss him. He was a great guy.”
It’s just beyond sad, but it’s clear hearing from people like Reba, who knew Reiner personally for many years, what a great person he was and how much he will be missed in Hollywood.
You can watch the interview here:
“Does He Love You”
