DICK VAN DYKE SHOW Creator Carl Reiner Dies at 98

DICK VAN DYKE SHOW Creator Carl Reiner Dies at 98

By Tess Farrand, Associate Content Editor

DICK VAN DYKE SHOW Creator Carl Reiner died in his home in Beverly Hills, California at 98 years old.

“Last night my dad passed away. As I write this, my heart is hurting. He was my guiding light,” said Rob Reiner, Carl’s son.

Reiner’s assistant told Variety that his death was due to natural causes.

Although Reiner was born Jewish, the Holocaust caused him to turn away from God, but the comedic legend still maintained family values.

CNN Entertainment reported on Reiner’s early days:

He was born in the Bronx on March 20, 1922. According to his autobiography, his father was a watchmaker, his mother a homemaker, and young Reiner wanted to be an actor. The shy teenager got a needed push when his older brother suggested joining a Depression-era acting class. By 17, Reiner was working regularly.

“Every week for a year, I did two shows at the Gilmore Theater. I was a very good, solid, serious actor. That’s what I wanted to do,” he told Moment magazine.

But serious, dramatic acting was not in the cards for Reiner. After entering the Army in 1942, he became a teletype operator in the Signal Corps. In 1943, he was assigned to an entertainment unit and ended up touring the South Pacific as a comedian.

The WWII veteran’s comedic talents catapulted him into stardom in entertainment in the 1950s. In 1961, he created THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW which went on to win him six Primetime Emmy’s.

Even with all the fame, Reiner knew it meant nothing without family.

“Show business is only 8 to 12. And, the rest is your family. You’re only doing it so you can have a family and a house,” Reiner told the Boston Globe. “Without a wife and children, show business means nothing. You’re doing it to make a living, but enjoying doing it and getting paid for something you love to do.”

In an interview with PBS, Reiner said that meeting his longtime wife, Estelle, was the best thing that ever happened to him.

“65 years with the right woman, you can’t ask for anything more,” Reiner said.

The Reiners had three children and their oldest, Rob, went on to be an actor in movies like THE PRINCESS BRIDE and WHEN HARRY MET SALLY.

In his later years, Reiner appeared in the OCEANS 11 movie franchise and voiced a character in TOY STORY 4.

Reiner was best friends with Mel Brooks (LITTLE RASCALS, HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA).

Movieguide® Founder Dr. Ted Baehr said, “Carl Reiner brought joy to the world and cared about his audience”

Celebrities mourned Reiner on social media.

My friend Carl Reiner died last night. His talent will live on for a long time, but the loss of his kindness and decency leaves a hole in our hearts. We love you, Carl. pic.twitter.com/QWyNOYILhW

— Alan Alda (@alanalda) June 30, 2020

So sad to hear about @carlreiner Not only did he make my favorite TV& movies (see:Where’s Poppa) but his humanity was beyond compare. His heart was so full of love. Never left his house empty handed- book, space pen, Swiss Army knife. RIP to a man that embodies the word mensch pic.twitter.com/mazBmwznkX

— Sarah Silverman (@SarahKSilverman) June 30, 2020