Jerry Seinfeld Honors Late Rob Reiner: “Our Show Wouldn’t Exist Without Him”

Rob Reiner, renowned for iconic films such as This Is Spinal Tap, Stand By Me, The Princess Bride, When Harry Met Sally, Misery, A Few Good Men, and The American President, also played a pivotal role in creating the beloved 1989 NBC comedy series Seinfeld.

The entertainment world was left in shock following the tragic and untimely deaths of Rob Reiner and his wife Michele Reiner. The following day, Jerry Seinfeld, co-creator, star, and executive producer of Seinfeld, expressed his heartfelt tribute to Reiner, who had been a vital supporter of the show.

“Rob Reiner, along with Larry David and George Shapiro, had the most significant impact on my career,” Seinfeld shared on Instagram, acknowledging his co-creator/executive producer David and his longtime manager Shapiro, who also executive produced the sitcom.

Seinfeld emphasized, “Our show would never have been possible without him. He saw potential where no one else did. When the network was unimpressed with our initial episodes and on the verge of cancelling us, he was the one who saved us.”

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Castle Rock Entertainment, which Reiner co-founded, collaborated with Seinfeld and David to develop a multi-camera comedy series that received a pilot order from NBC. Reiner’s commitment was crucial in overcoming poor pilot test results, securing a four-episode first season to keep the show alive.

This modest “show about nothing” eventually came to define television in the 1990s.

Seinfeld reflected, “Working with Carl Reiner’s son, who was one of the kindest people in show business, felt surreal. At that time, I didn’t fully appreciate how much his support meant to us.”

He also paid respects to Reiner’s wife, Michele.

“Rob and Michele got married around the time our show started, and they exemplified the ideal partnership, each enhancing the other,” Seinfeld wrote. “Their passing together is profoundly sad.”