Hollywood is waking up to the sad news of Carl Reiner’s passing. The comedy legend, who created “The Dick Van Dyke Show” and directed Steve Martin in “The Jerk,” was 98.
Reiner died on Monday. The Twitter tributes began to roll in on Tuesday.
“Last night my dad passed away,” Reiner’s son Rob Reiner wrote on Tuesday. “As I write this my heart is hurting. He was my guiding light.”
“Carl was a giant, unmatched in his contributions to entertainment,” Mel Brooks posted. “He created comedy gems like ‘The Dick Van Dyke Show,’ ‘The Jerk’ and ‘Where’s Poppa?’ I met him in 1950 when he joined Sid Caesar on ‘Your Show of Shows,’ and we’ve been best friends ever since. I loved him. When we were doing ‘The 200 Year Old Man’ together there was no better straight man in the world. So whether he wrote or performed or he was just your best friend–nobody could do it better. He’ll be greatly missed. A tired cliché in times like this, but in Carl Reiner’s case it’s absolutely true. He will be greatly missed.”
“Goodbye to my greatest mentor in movies and in life,” Steve Martin tweeted on Tuesday. “Thank you, dear Carl.”
“Carl Reiner made every room he walked into funnier, smarter, kinder. It all seemed so effortless,” George Clooney said in a statement provided to TheWrap. “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.
“Condolences to the family of Carl Reiner,” actor 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.”
“Farewell to a King of Comedy, dear friend, father figure, and Gentleman Genius,” “Everybody Loves Raymond” creator Phil Rosenthal said. “I love you Carl. Love to your family, all your friends, and students.”
A prolific entertainer, Reiner is best known as the creator of “The Dick Van Dyke Show,” which he starred on with Van Dyke and Marty Tyler Moore. Reiner, a nine-time Emmy winner, was also famous for his collaborations with Mel Brooks, with whom he made the comedy album “2000 Years with Carl Reiner and Mel Brooks,” and Steve Martin, who starred in Reiner’s films “The Jerk,” “Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid,” “Man with Two Brains” and “All of Me.”
See the tributes below.
Last night my dad passed away. As I write this my heart is hurting. He was my guiding light.
— Rob Reiner (@robreiner) June 30, 2020
… that guiding light just got a little bit brighter ….what a legend, what a talent , what a father, please take Care of your ❤️ Rob, the same way that loving guiding light will continue to guide and embrace you 🙏 RIP
— Clifton Collins Jr. (@ccollinsjr) June 30, 2020
— Mel Brooks (@MelBrooks) June 30, 2020
https://twitter.com/SteveMartinToGo/status/1277991007892549632
So sorry for your loss.
— Stephen King (@StephenKing) June 30, 2020
Condolences to the family of Carl Reiner. 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.😞
— William Shatner (@WilliamShatner) June 30, 2020
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
Our hearts are broken 💔 There will never be another like him. 🙏
— Cary Elwes (@Cary_Elwes) June 30, 2020
https://twitter.com/RoArquette/status/1277979047897649152?s=20
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.♥️ https://t.co/UT5PrKL99o
— Phil Rosenthal (@PhilRosenthal) June 30, 2020
The brilliant and hilarious Carl Reiner hosted the Director’s Guild awards for decades before his health forced him to take the night off.
They asked me to sub in for him. Here’s the letter he sent me:#RIPCarlReiner https://t.co/dkvtzXtKfA pic.twitter.com/eUy2E9b0B0
— Jon Cryer (@MrJonCryer) June 30, 2020
A legend lost at 98. R.I.P., @carlreiner
What a full life and iconic legacy. 👏— Ralph Macchio (@ralphmacchio) June 30, 2020
As if 2020 weren’t cruel enough. Goodbye to one of the greatest comedic minds of all time. Thank you for always making us laugh and for always giving us joy. My deepest condolences go out to the entire Reiner family. RIP #CarlReiner pic.twitter.com/IeJ3RkG2vS
— Josh Gad (@joshgad) June 30, 2020
Not Carl Reiner. Fuuuuuuck.
— Michael Ian Black (@michaelianblack) June 30, 2020
We have lost the great Carl Reiner. My condolences to his family. He is irreplaceable. pic.twitter.com/pA1Tc4I5uR
— Joy Behar (@JoyVBehar) June 30, 2020
we lost a great one @carlreiner grew up with him on the #DickVanDyke show countless films t v live appearances the comedy timing perfection a real mensch Molly https://t.co/lmNfrAUBrH
— Sandra Bernhard (@SandraBernhard) June 30, 2020
.@TheSimpsons RIP Carl Reiner godfather to generations of comedy writers.
— Al Jean (@AlJean) June 30, 2020
Goodnight,Sweet Prince.#CarlReiner https://t.co/RBk6lKU9Ow
— Harris-Walz 2024 (@GregProops) June 30, 2020
Oh no. Carl Reiner. Hero.
— Ben Wexler (@mrbenwexler) June 30, 2020
RIP comedy genius Carl Reiner, 98.
'Everybody wants to laugh – you know that. They need to laugh… people need to laugh.'
So true.
Thanks for all the laughs, Carl. pic.twitter.com/09U1KVNEmU— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) June 30, 2020