Albert Brooks is still in disbelief over the death of his friend Rob Reiner. The 78-year-old actor and comedian has been left in shock by the tragic passing of the When Harry Met Sally… filmmaker, whom he had known since they were high school students 60 years ago. Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer-Reiner, were found stabbed to death in their Los Angeles home last weekend, and their son, Nick, has been charged with first-degree murder.
Speaking on the upcoming programme CBS News: Rob Reiner – Scenes from a Life, Albert said, “Rob was my oldest friend. It’s that simple. He’s the person I’ve known longest. I met him when I was 14 years old. So I’m still in that not believing it stage.”
Brooks confessed that there are still moments when he forgets that Reiner is gone. The Broadcast News star said: “I know it happened, but, you know, I’m driving around and all of a sudden – I actually two days ago, I called his number.”
Albert was among a number of stars, including Billy Crystal and Larry David, who paid a heartfelt joint tribute to the This Is Spinal Tap filmmaker.
Their statement read, “Going to the movies in a dark theatre filled with strangers having a common experience, laughing, crying, screaming in fear, or watching an intense drama unfold is still an unforgettable thrill. Tell us a story that audiences demand of us. Absorbing all he had learned from his father Carl and his mentor Norman Lear, Rob Reiner not only was a great comic actor, but he also became a master storyteller.
“There is no other director who has his range. From comedy to drama to ‘mockumentary’ to documentary, he was always at the top of his game. He charmed audiences. They trusted him. They lined up to see his films.
“His comedic touch was beyond compare, his love of getting the music of the dialogue just right, and his sharpening of the edge of a drama was simply elegant. For the actors, he loved them. For the writers, he made them better. His greatest gift was freedom. If you had an idea, he listened, he brought you into the process. They always felt they were working as a team. To be in his hands as a filmmaker was a privilege, but that is only part of his legacy.
“Rob was also a passionate, brave citizen, who not only cared for this country he loved, but he did everything he could to make it better, and with his loving wife, Michele, he had the perfect partner. Strong and determined, Michele and Rob Reiner devoted a great deal of their lives for the betterment of our fellow citizens… They were a special force together-dynamic, unselfish and inspiring. We were their friends, and we will miss them forever.”
Brooks concluded, “There is a line from one of Rob’s favourite films, It’s a Wonderful Life, ‘Each man’s life touches so many other lives, and when he isn’t around, he leaves an awful hole, doesn’t he?’ You have no idea.”
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