From fans to celebrities, Rob Reiner's impact spanned generations, genres
LOS ANGELES -- Fans stopped by Rob Reiner's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame Monday and shared the impact that he had on their lives.
He was an actor, writer, producer and one of Hollywood's biggest directors.
One woman, with tears in her eyes, talked about how she would watch Reiner in "All in the Family" every Saturday night.
"I remember when 'All in the Family' was first broadcast, and Rob Reiner (has) just been a part of my life ever since then. It's part of my generation, and this is so tragic, especially the way it happened," said Stephanie Bower.
One writer who came to pay his respects said Reiner's work spoke to so many different types of people, and his audience spanned generations.
"He was one of my biggest influencers when I was a kid as a young writer, and you know ... 'Spinal Tap' blew my mind," said Isaac Ramon.
Admirers say they loved Reiner for the overall person he was.
"I followed his career, and he meant something to me," said Michael Austin. "This is the first time that I brought flowers to a star on Hollywood Boulevard, but he meant something to me, and I was just motivated to do it."
One of the many movies Reiner directed was 1990 film "Misery," starring Kathy Bates.
"I loved Rob. He was brilliant and kind, a man who made films of every genre to challenge himself an artist," Bates said in a statement.
Bates won an Oscar for "Misery" and wrote "he changed the course of my life."
Stephen King, who wrote "Misery" and "Stand By Me," also directed by Reiner, called him a "wonderful friend, political ally and brilliant filmmaker."
Comedian Eric Idle met Reiner 50 years ago and had just spoken to him the night before his death.
"He was telling me about filming at Stonehenge and his thoughts for the future. This is so awful," he wrote on X.
His longtime "This Is Spinal Tap" and "Spinal Tap 2: The End Continues" co-star Harry Shearer had this to say about his friend: He was, as they say in Hollywood, a mensch, a trustworthy and friendly and stable and reliable person."
Maria Shriver wrote on Threads, "We had dinner this past week, and they were in the best place in their lives: loving one another, their friends, their family, their country. They never gave up on our country."
And friend, actor Josh Gad, wrote on Instagram, "Rob and his wife Michelle were two of the most kind and caring souls you could ever imagine."
Sean Astin, the president of The Screen Actors Guild, said, "Rob Reiner is one of the most significant figures in the history of film and television. The impact he made on American culture simply can't be overstated."
