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Hollywood luminaries and political heavyweights expressed their shock and sadness Sunday night after news broke that prolific filmmaker Rob Reiner and his wife, Michelle Singer Reiner, had been found dead in their Los Angeles home<\/a>.<\/p>\n The outpouring of grief underscored Rob Reiner\u2019s towering stature in the entertainment industry.<\/p>\n Reiner, 78, earned a lasting place in American culture as one of the stars of the landmark sitcom \u201cAll in the Family\u201d and, in his second career act, the director of era-defining movies like \u201cThis Is Spinal Tap,\u201d \u201cStand by Me,\u201d \u201cThe Princess Bride,\u201d \u201cWhen Harry Met Sally…,\u201d and \u201cA Few Good Men.\u201d <\/p>\n Follow live coverage<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n Kathy Bates, <\/a>who won an Oscar for her leading role as a novelist\u2019s deranged fan in Reiner\u2019s \u201cMisery,\u201d described him as \u201cbrilliant and kind, a man who made films of every genre to challenge himself as an artist.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m horrified hearing this terrible news. Absolutely devastated. I loved Rob,\u201d Bates said in a statement, adding that Reiner, a committed progressive activist, \u201cfought courageously for his political beliefs.\u201d<\/p>\n Bates also praised Michele Reiner, calling her a \u201cgifted photographer.\u201d<\/p>\n Stephen King, who wrote the books that inspired \u201cStand by Me\u201d and \u201cMisery,\u201d praised Reiner as a \u201cwonderful friend, political ally, and brilliant filmmaker.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou always stood by me,\u201d King wrote in a post on X.<\/p>\n \u201cSpinal Tap\u201d star and co-writer Christopher Guest said he was \u201cnumb and sad and shocked.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThere will be plenty of time later to discuss the creative lives we shared [and] the great political and social impact they both had on the entertainment industry, early childhood development, the fight for gay marriage and their global care for a world in crisis,\u201d Guest said in a joint statement with his wife, Jamie Lee Curtis. \u201cWe have lost great friends. Please give us time to grieve.\u201d<\/p>\n Reiner\u2019s movies drew praise for their emotional honesty and sentimentality. He was known for his deft touch with performers, from the child actors of \u201cStand by Me\u201d to industry veterans like Billy Crystal and Jack Nicholson.<\/p>\n \u201cThe humor is smart and the heart is real,\u201d Kevin Nealon, the comedian and former \u201cSaturday Night Live\u201d cast member, said in statement<\/a>. \u201cHis films were part of the air for us. Grateful for what he made, and for what he and his wife gave the world.\u201d<\/p>\n Reiner\u2019s run of commercial hits and critical triumphs made him an inspiration to a younger cohort of filmmakers. Paul Feig, the director of \u201cBridesmaids,\u201d posted a photo of himself and Reiner at Comic-Con, an annual pop culture event.<\/p>\n \u201cRob was my true hero,\u201d Feig wrote in part. \u201cOne never knows if it\u2019s proper to post during something as tragic as this. But I just want the world to know what so many of us know in the industry. Robert was the best.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben Stiller \u2014 who, like Reiner, has worked behind the camera and in front of it \u2014 said on X<\/a> that the late filmmaker \u201cwas a kind caring person who was really really funny,\u201d and \u201cmade some of the most formative movies for my generation.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI cannot express how much this hurts,\u201d the actor Josh Gad wrote in a post on Instagram<\/a>. \u201cHe cared so much for those who had no voices. This loss is devastating.\u201d<\/p>\n SAG-AFTRA President Sean Astin said Reiner was \u201cone of the most significant figures in the history of film and television.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe impact he made on American culture simply can\u2019t be overstated. Tributes will pour in and the impossibly long list of genre defining films and indelible performances will play in our minds and hearts,\u201d Astin said. <\/p>\n Reiner’s life and work was also recognized by political figures. He was a mainstay of fundraising support for the Democratic Party and some of its top candidates.<\/p>\n Former President Barack Obama said Reiner\u2019s work gave America \u201cour most cherished stories on screen,\u201d which frequently tapped into \u201cthe goodness of people.\u201d <\/p>\n \u201cMichelle and I are heartbroken by the tragic passing of Rob Reiner and his beloved wife, Michele. Rob\u2019s achievements in film and television gave us some of our most cherished stories on screen,\u201d Obama said in a statement<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cBut beneath all of the stories he produced was a deep belief in the goodness of people \u2014 and a lifelong commitment to putting that belief into action. Together, he and his wife lived lives defined by purpose. They will be remembered for the values they championed and the countless people they inspired. We send our deepest condolences to all who loved them.\u201d<\/p>\n Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., the former House speaker, called Reiner and Singer’s deaths “devastating.”<\/p>\n “Rob was creative, funny, and beloved,” Pelosi said in a statement<\/a>. “In all of their endeavors, Michelle was his indispensable partner, intellectual resource, and loving wife.”<\/p>\n California Gov. Gavin Newsom hailed Reiner’s work for its wide range of themes and genres.<\/p>\n “His boundless empathy made his stories timeless, teaching generations how to see goodness and righteousness in others \u2014 and encouraging us to dream bigger,” Newsom said in statement<\/a>.<\/p>\n “Rob will be remembered for his remarkable filmography and for his extraordinary contribution to humanity.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n