REINER, ROB

REINER, ROB (1945–), U.S. director and actor. Born in New York, the son of actor/writer/director carl reiner , Rob Reiner began as a sketch writer for television's Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour. Reiner's breakthrough as an actor came in 1971 when he was chosen for the part of Mike Stivic ("Meathead," 1971–78) on the popular TV comedy series All in the Family, for which he won two Emmy Awards. Finding only limited movement in his acting career, Reiner turned to directing, and his feature film mock-documentary This Is Spinal Tap (1984), which he cowrote, was a surprise hit. Reiner followed this success with a series of well-reputed films: The Sure Thing (1985), Stand by Me (1986), The Princess Bride (1987), When Harry Met Sally (1989), Misery (1990), A Few Good Men (Oscar nomination for Best Picture, 1992), North (1994), The American President (1995), Ghosts of Mississippi (1996), Spinal Tap: The Final Tour (1998), The Story of Us (1999), Alex & Emma (2003), and Rumor Has It (2005). As an actor, Reiner has appeared in such films as the TV movie More Than Friends (1979), This Is Spinal Tap (1984), Throw Momma from the Train (1987), Postcards from the Edge (1990), The Spirit of '76 (directed and cowritten with his brother, Lucas, 1990), Bullets over Broadway (1994), Mixed Nuts (1994), Bye Bye, Love (1995), For Better or Worse (1996), Spinal Tap: The Final Tour (1998), Ed TV (1999), The Story of Us (1999), and Alex & Emma (2003).   A principal in Castle Rock Productions, Reiner also had a hand in producing a variety of films and TV series. From 1971 to 1979, Reiner was married to actress/director Penny Marshall. -ADD. BIBLIOGRAPHY: J. Ferry, Rob Reiner (Behind the Camera) (2002). (Jonathan Licht / Ruth Beloff (2nd ed.)