We are saddened to report the passing of the incomparable actor, writer, and director Carl Reiner at the age of 98 on June 29, 2020.

Perhaps most known for creating The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961-66), the much beloved and highly successful sitcom that is still regarded as one of the best television shows to this day (and still my personal favorite), Carl Reiner also starred in the series, portraying Rob Petrie’s (Dick Van Dyke) boss and television star Alan Brady in the appropriately named “Alan Brady Show.” At first, his involvement as Alan Brady was limited, and only occurred now and then, usually as a voice or he was simply seen just from behind his head. It was not until a few seasons later that he was brought more to the forefront and audiences saw his face, providing arguably some of the best comedic moments in the series, including one of the most popular and iconic episodes, “Coast to Coast Big Mouth,” where Rob’s wife Laura (Mary Tyler Moore) blabs on live television the secret that Alan Brady wears a toupee and is actually bald. What a heck of a way to start the final season of the show. His physical comedy, timing, and delivery were unmatched, and probably still are. Carl Reiner will always be remembered as Alan Brady, but I think more importantly, he will be remembered for creating such an iconic, funny, and relatable show that is timeless, with a cast of comics that could do anything with any of his perfect and gut-busting stories and dialogue.

Besides his involvement with The Dick Van Dyke Show, Carl Reiner also worked with another comedic genius in his own right, long-time friend Mel Brooks, with their 1950s skit The 2000 Year Old Man, which was first publicly performed in the 1960s, and later turned into a half-hour animated television special in 1975. In the routine Brooks played the old man, and Reiner asked him a series of questions about the history of the world. Funnily enough, Mel Brooks would later go on to direct and star in his own History of the World: Part I (1981), and Carl Reiner would give an uncredited performance as the voice of God speaking to Moses (Mel Brooks of course).

Carl Reiner also directed many other classic and reputable comedy films, which he usually starred in himself, albeit often briefly, including Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid (1982) and The Jerk (1979) with Steve Martin, and Oh, God! (1977) with George Burns and John Denver. Reiner also wrote and starred in The Thrill of it All (1963) with Doris Day and James Garner. Most modern-day audiences will know him as one of George Clooney’s cohorts in Steven Soderbergh’s Ocean’s Eleven (2001), Ocean’s Twelve (2004), and Ocean’s Thirteen (2007) as the delightfully crafty “high roller,” Saul Bloom, who often had some of the best comedic scenes pretending to be other personalities.

While he was last seen, or heard rather, in Toy Story 4 (2019) as Carl Reineroceros and in the Disney+ series Forky Asks a Question (2019-) as the same character, he had one more film in development as an actor, according to the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) entitled Saddle Up! However, this film is currently listed as being in pre-production, so unfortunately it is unlikely that he will appear in the film at this point, as filming takes place during the production period. But maybe we can hold out some hope.

Notable television show voices and appearances include: Night Gallery (1969-73), The New Dick Van Dyke Show (1971-74), Family Guy (1999-), Disney’s Jake and the Never Land Pirates (2011-16), Frasier (1993-2004), Parks and Recreation (2009-20), Hot in Cleveland (2010-15), Bob’s Burgers (2011-), Two and a Half Men (2003-15), The Penguins of Madgascar (2008-15), The Bernie Mac Show (2001-06), The Carol Burnett Show (1967-78), and American Dad! (2005-).

Carl Reiner’s son, Rob Reiner, has directed many classic films in his own right including A Few Good Men (1992), When Harry Met Sally… (1989), The Princess Bride, The Bucket List (2007), and Stephen King’s Stand by Me (1986) and Misery (1990).

Rest in peace, Carl Reiner. Thank you very much for so many wonderful years of laughter. We truly did not deserve a comic genius like you.