From ‘Harry Met Sally’ to ‘Stand by Me’: These are some of Rob Reiner’s biggest movies and TV shows

Rob Reiner and his wife Michelle Singer were found dead in their Brentwood home on Sunday, news that shocked Hollywood and fans of the person behind some of the most beloved movies and TV shows.

Reiner got his start in television, rising to prominence playing Michael ‘Meathead’ Stivic in ‘All in the Family’, a 1970s sitcom created by Norman Lear, whom Reiner considered a second father. However, he truly made a name for himself in the 1980s with one of the hottest streaks of hits on the silver screen of any director in the film industry.

The lasting legacy Rob Reiner leaves behind

Reiner left an indelible mark on TV and movies across various genres during his decades-long career. He has 90 acting credits and over 30 directing credits to his name.

Despite receiving multiple Emmy nominations, he only took home two for his role in ‘All in the Family’. Likewise, his films have been highly acclaimed, earning him four Golden Globe nominations and one Best Picture Academy Award nomination for ‘A Few Good Men’ in 1992. However, he went home empty-handed each time leading many to say he was snubbed.

Nonetheless, his works have stood the test of time, often imitated and referenced by others. Similarly, his films have contributed many phrases and expressions to the modern lexicon.

His foray into film that began his winning streak was ‘This Is Spinal Tap’ (1984), “one of the funniest movies ever made,” according to film critic Roger Ebert. The mockumentary is a cult classic these days and Reiner directed the 2025 sequel ‘Spinal Tap II: The End Continues’.

He followed the success of ‘This Is Spinal Tap’ in quick succession with ‘The Sure Thing’ (1985), which reinvented the teen comedy genre, ‘Stand By Me’ (1986), one of the best coming-of-age films ever, ‘The Princess Bride’ (1987), which has become another of his cult classics, ‘When Harry Met Sally’ (1989), considered one of the greatest rom-coms of all time, ‘Misery’ (1990), one of the best adaptations of a Stephen King novel, and ‘Few Good Men’ (1992).

“Every movie that I make, have made and will make is always going to be independently financed”

Reiner co-founded Castle Rock Entertainment in 1987 to provide a way to make high-quality independent movies away from the pressure of studios that they be financial successes. Castle Rock has produced a number of popular TV shows including ‘Seinfeld’ and films starting with ‘When Harry Met Sally’.

The company was named after the fictional town in Maine that Stephen King uses in several of his stories as a nod to the writer who authored the 1982 novella ‘The Body’, on which ‘Stand By Me’ was based. The two would collaborate on several more films besides ‘Misery’, including ‘The Shawshank Redemption’ (1994), ‘The Green Mile’ (1999) and ‘Dolores Claiborne’ (1995).