Dick Van Dyke, Steve Martin, Carol Burnett, Jerry Seinfeld Join In Tributes To Carl Reiner – Update

Denise Petski
·11 min read

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Refresh for latest… Hollywood is mourning the loss of comedy legend Carl Reiner, who died Monday night of natural causes at his Beverly Hills home at the age of 98.

His son, Rob Reiner, wrote on Twitter, “Last night my dad passed away. As I write this my heart is hurting. He was my guiding light.” And Dick Van Dyke, star of the classic sitcom that bore his name created by (and co-starring) Reiner, said, “My idol, Carl Reiner, wrote about the human comedy. He had a deeper understanding of the human condition than I think even he was aware of. Kind, gentle, compassionate, empathetic and wise. His scripts were never just funny, they always had something to say about us.”

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Steve Martin had just broken as a star of recorded comedy and popular Saturday Night Live host when starred in the first four movies directed by Reiner from 1979-83. He tweeted this today:

Carol Burnett, who frequently featured Reiner as a special guest on The Carol Burnett Show, released the following statement:

“Carl did it all. Versatile beyond belief, he was a consummate comedic actor, a brilliant director and a prolific writer. I always loved it when he came on my show, knowing that we were in for a wonderful and laugh-filled week. In short, I adored him.”

George Clooney, who worked with Reiner on the Ocean’s film franchise, penned a remembrance to Reiner.

“Carl Reiner made every room he walked into funnier, smarter, kinder. It all seemed so effortless,” Clooney said in a statement provided to Deadline. “What an incredible gift he gave us all. His was a life well lived and we’re all the better for it. Rest in peace my friend.”

Bette Midler, star of That Old Feeling, the 1997 film directed by Reiner, paid tribute to the comedy icon on Twitter.

Carol Burnett released the following statement:

The National Comedy Center, where Reiner was an active member and advisory board member, remembered Reiner in a statement.

“All of us at the National Comedy Center are deeply saddened by the passing of Carl Reiner, our friend and advisory board member. For seven decades, as a writer, producer, director, author and actor, Carl brought laughter to millions around the world, influenced generations of comedic talent, and defined the art of comedy in America. Carl’s brilliant work and extraordinary legacy will be honored, celebrated and preserved within our cultural institution for generations to come.” – Journey Gunderson, Executive Director of the National Comedy Center

Reiner’s longtime friend Alan Alda wrote,”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.”

“Condolences to the family of Carl Reiner,” William Shatner tweeted. “From the writers room of Sid Caesar to recreating those times for the Dick Van Dyke show, Carl was a master at his craft. I knew him only peripherally but it was a pleasure to have known him.”

Everybody Loves Raymond creator Phil Rosenthal wrote, “Farewell to a King of Comedy, dear friend, father figure, and Gentleman Genius. I love you Carl. Love to your family, all your friends, and students.”

Mia Farrow shared a remembrance on Twitter, writing, “We lost a person who gave us great times-countless laughs. He was brilliant. And kind. I met him only once but will never forget his gentle thoughtfulness. He was with us through good times and hard times. Thank you Carl Reiner. His memory will be a blessing.”

More follow below. We’ll be updating throughout the day…

Karen Sharpe-Kramer, the widow of Stanley Kramer, who directed Reiner in the star-studded comedy classic It’s A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, issued this statement today:

We are saddened by the passing of Carl Reiner. He was a true comedy legend, and one of the last surviving cast members of Stanley Kramer’s all-star comedy classic It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World. Carl always attended the numerous anniversaries for Mad World. As a director himself, he was part of a hilarious segment in Mad, Mad World, the iconic movie from 1963, which has been gaining popularity with the young generation these past few years,as a cult classic. I guess you could say Stanley directed Carl to comedy heaven.

Directors Guild of America President Thomas Schlamme issued the following statement:

Our world is sadder today with the loss of DGA Honorary Life Member Carl Reiner. Carl was one of the great talents spanning multiple generations both in front of and behind the camera. A major Hollywood heavyweight, he was a shaper of the Golden Age of Television, a gifted filmmaker, an enduring comedic legend and a force on stage. To add to that, he was so incredibly generous and giving of himself, as a close collaborator with the giants of the past and present, a mentor and inspiration to many, and as a treasured member of the DGA family.

At the DGA, we were also the lucky beneficiaries of Carl’s extraordinary humor and wit as he emceed our annual DGA Awards a record 23 times. Carl always made our special evening a family affair, like going to your favorite uncle’s house – if your uncle happened to be a comedic genius. He did it all with heart and passion as we celebrated our shared love for the craft of directing together. It’s a legacy we continue to keep alive today.

For all these reasons and so many more, it was with great joy and deep respect for his many contributions to our members and industry that we bestowed upon Carl the DGA Honorary Life Membership Award in 2007. We will forever hold him in the highest regard. Our hearts are with Rob and the entire Reiner family.

SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris:

A comedic genius behind the scenes and in front of the camera, Carl Reiner was a beloved entertainer who leaves behind iconic partnerships with Mel Brooks, Sid Caesar and Dick Van Dyke. We are fortunate to be the recipients of the talent Carl shared with the world, and of the many opportunities he provided for his fellow actors to shine through his writing and directing. Our hearts go out to his children, Rob, Sylvia Anne and Lucas.

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