US comedian and actor Carl Reiner has passed away at the age of 98.
Reiner's representative, Judy Nagy, told Variety that the performer had died of natural causes at this home in Beverly Hills on Monday night.
The actor - who was part of Sid Caesar's legendary team, and rose to fame in the 1960s as a performer and writer on the Dick Van Dyke Show - was the winner of nine Emmy awards, including five for The Dick Van Dyke Show.
He then went onto form a comedy duo with Mel Brooks, with whom he performed the 2000 Year Old Man sketch.
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Reiner appeared in classic feature films, such as 1963's It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad, World, 1966's The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming, and 2019's Toy Story 4.
He also appeared in the Ocean's trilogy, between 2001 and 2007, where he played Saul Bloom.
The comedian's work as a director included the films, The Jerk, Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid and All Of Me - all of which starred comedy actor, Steve Martin.
Reiner was born in the Bronx in 1922, and he graduated from high school early at 16. He initially worked as a machinist while studying his craft.
A heartbreaking detail has emerged about Dick Van Dyke following the murders of Rob and Michele Reiner.
The couple, both prominent figures in Hollywood and activism, were found stabbed to death inside their Los Angeles home on Sunday, December 14 - a tragedy that has devastated friends, family, and the wider entertainment community.
Dick Van Dyke couldn't sleep following the reports of the deaths of Rob and Michele Reiner. Credit: Amy Sussman / Getty
Van Dyke’s Emotional Reaction to the Reiners’ Deaths
Dick Van Dyke’s wife, Arlene Silver, shared a deeply emotional video on Instagram, revealing how the horrific news cast a shadow over what should have been a joyful weekend.
The Mary Poppins star had just celebrated his 100th birthday one day before the Reiners were found dead.
“Such a weird, wonderful, awful weekend,” Silver, 54, said in the clip. “I can’t not talk about this horrible thing... Dick’s birthday was so amazing, so over-the-top beautiful, and then this. I was relieved and happy, and then this happened yesterday.”
Silver explained that Van Dyke “didn’t sleep” after hearing initial reports that “two people were found in the house.” She said her husband stayed awake, desperate for more information as details began to emerge.
The tragedy hit especially hard for the Dick Van Dyke Show icon, whose late friend Carl Reiner, Rob’s father, had created the iconic sitcom that launched his career in the 1960s.
Silver reflected on the family’s close bond, saying: “Rob and Carl were the first people I ever met with Dick. Rob and Michele were always together, like Dick and I. I always felt part of the Reiner family; they always treated me like part of their family. And this is just unbelievable.”
She added heartbreakingly, “I can’t imagine if Norman Lear and Carl were alive for this...It’s terrible. I want to celebrate Dick, I want to keep doing that, but I also want to acknowledge this horrible thing.”
The Night Before the Murders
New details have since surfaced about the Reiners’ final public appearance before their deaths.
According to multiple sources, the couple attended a holiday party hosted by Conan O’Brien the night before they were killed, alongside their son, Nick Reiner.
Another source said Rob and Michele were “upset and embarrassed” by their son’s conduct and privately expressed concern about his health during the event.
Separate reports from PEOPLE revealed that Nick and his father got into a heated argument that grew loud enough to draw attention.
One guest recalled that THE 32-year-old was “freaking everyone out, acting crazy, kept asking people if they were famous.” According to TMZ, the couple left the party shortly after the confrontation.
Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner were found dead in their Los Angeles home on Sunday, Dec. 14. Credit: Rodin Eckenroth / Getty
The Horrific Discovery
The following afternoon, the Reiners’ 27-year-old daughter, Romy, arrived at the family’s $13.5 million Brentwood mansion after a massage therapist was unable to get in.
She found her father’s body first and contacted the police. Paramedics later confirmed that both Rob and Michele were dead from stab wounds.
The Los Angeles Police Department responded around 3:40 p.m., later confirming that the pair had been murdered.
“As a result of the initial investigation, it was determined that the Reiners were the victims of homicide,” officials said in a statement. “The investigation further revealed that Nick Reiner, the 32-year-old son of Robert and Michele Reiner, was responsible for their deaths.”
Nick was arrested that same evening at around 9:15 p.m. near Exposition Park after being located by police. He was taken into custody without incident.
Nick Reiner is charged with his parents, Rob and Michele murders. Credit: Michael Buckner / Getty
Charges and Legal Proceedings
On Tuesday (December 16), Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced that Nick had been charged with two counts of first-degree murder, with a special allegation that he personally used a knife.
If convicted, he could face life in prison without parole or potentially the death penalty.
Nick’s attorney, Alan Jackson, told reporters that his client had not appeared in court because he was awaiting medical clearance to be transferred from jail to the courthouse.
Prosecutors said the investigation remains ongoing as detectives continue to piece together the events leading up to the killings.
Tributes have poured in from across the entertainment industry, with figures from generations honoring the Reiners’ contributions to film, television, and social causes.
Norman Lear’s family told The Hollywood Reporter they were “devastated” by the news, saying, “Norman often referred to Rob as a son, and their close relationship was extraordinary, to us and the world.”
Our thoughts continue to be with the Reiners' loved ones at this time.
Hollywood legend Dick Van Dyke must have a pretty full showreel to display for himself on his 97th birthday.
Born Richard Wayne Van Dyke in Missouri in 1925, the star - who turns 97 today - is just three years away from living a whole century!
And we have been blessed with his talents for more than half of that, since he has worked in the entertainment industry for around seven decades.
The actor started out in the radio industry and was actually part of the US army as a radio announcer during World War II. He also served as a radio DJ in his hometown, Danville.
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After this, Van Dyke got his breakthrough on Broadway in the musical, Bye-Bye Birdie, earning a Tony Award for originating the role of Albert Peterson in 1961. He also reprised his role in the movie version of the musical, released in 1963.
At this point in his career, Van Dyke was a busy man. He had been approached to star in a sitcom named aptly after him, The Dick Van Dyke Show, which ran from 1961 to 1966. The show became a pioneer of its genre, winning 15 Primetime Emmys, per IMDb.
At the same time though, the actor received lots of musical movie offers, which led to some of his well-known roles in Walt Disney’s Mary Poppins (1964) and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968).
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The star returned to sitcoms in a leading role in The New Dick Van Dyke Show, which ran from 1971 to 1974. However, the seventies were also plagued with trouble for Van Dyke, who openly admitted his struggle with alcoholism.
On Oprah: Where Are They Now, which aired in 2016, the actor confessed: "I was very shy with strangers, I couldn't talk to people.
"And I found if I had a drink, it would loosen me up. The barriers went down and I became very social. That’s what got me started."
Despite suffering from alcohol abuse for quite a long time, he still appeared in a selection of TV Movies before his next big success, which was his lead role as Dr. Mark Sloan in the TV drama, Diagnosis Murder - a step away from his usual comedic roles.
The show ran from 1993 to 2001 and also featured Van Dyke’s son, Barry Van Dyke, as per History.
In more recent years, the Hollywood legend has starred in two of the Night at The Museum franchise movies and he also appeared in the recent remake of Mary Poppins Returns (2018).
Van Dyke has a supporting family surrounding him for his 97th birthday. He has four children and seven grandchildren.
The actor is also currently married to makeup artist Arlene Silver. The couple has a 46-year age gap, however, Van Dyke thinks that is the secret to his happiness and wellness at the age of 97.
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“We share an attitude. She can go with the flow. She loves to sing and dance, which we do almost every day. She’s just delightful,” he told Closer Weekly.
When asked about his age in an interview last year with CBS This Morning, per Express, the star said: “I’m looking forward to 100.
“George Burns made it, and I’m gonna do it too.”
Happy Birthday to Dick Van Dyke! Truly a living legend!
Richard Lewis, a beloved and esteemed stand-up comedian and actor, has passed away at the age of 76.
The news of Lewis' death was confirmed by his publicist, Jeff Abraham, to Deadline.
Actor and comedian Richard Lewis has died aged 76. Credit: Imeh Akpanudosen / Getty
Renowned for his role as a version of himself on HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm, Lewis passed away in Los Angeles due to a heart attack following a battle with Parkinson's disease, a condition he disclosed in April 2023.
"Joyce Lapinsky, his wife, expresses gratitude towards everyone for their love, companionship, and support during this time and requests privacy," Abraham said in a statement.
Emerging from the comedy circuits of New York and Los Angeles in the 1970s, alongside fellow comedians like Andy Kaufman, Richard Belzer, and Elayne Boosler, Lewis quickly rose to prominence, becoming a regular favorite on late-night television shows, such as The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.
Credit: Getty / Jason LaVeris
He was well-known for his unique, somewhat gloomy stage presence, which matched his preference for dressing in all black.
Before his breakthrough in Curb Your Enthusiasm - where he plays a fictionalized version of himself and a close friend of Larry David - Lewis made his mark in the entertainment industry with a variety of roles. He appeared in the sitcom Anything But Love alongside Jamie Lee Curtis, earning praise for his performance as Marty Gold.
This role solidified his position in Hollywood and opened up more opportunities in both television and film.
In the realm of cinema, Lewis' notable film credits include Robin Hood: Men in Tights (1993), where he hilariously portrayed Prince John, and Leaving Las Vegas (1995), which showcased his ability to handle more serious, dramatic roles.
Other movies include Wagons East! (1994), The Wrong Guys (1988), and Vamps (2012).
Lewis's contributions to television also extend beyond Curb Your Enthusiasm. He has made guest appearances on numerous shows, including 7th Heaven, George Lopez, and Rude Awakening. His knack for blending humor with depth has made him a sought-after guest star, capable of delivering memorable performances across various genres.
Speaking of his battle with Parkinson's last year - following his diagnosis two years prior - Lewis said: "Luckily I got it late in life, and they say you progress very slowly if at all and I'm on the right meds and it's cool [...] I just wanted you to know that that's where it's been at.
"I'm finished with standup, I'm just focusing on writing and acting. I have Parkinson's disease but I'm under a doctor's care and everything is cool and I love my wife, I love my little puppy dog and I love all of my friends and my fans."
Thank you for all the laughs, Richard.
Our thoughts go out to Lewis' family, friends, and fans at this time.
Hollywood legend Dick Van Dyke is officially 100 years old - and he's still not ready to slow down.
The screen icon, born December 13, 1925, in West Plains, Missouri, celebrated the major milestone surrounded by fans, family, and tributes across the country.
But for Van Dyke, hitting triple digits is just another chapter.
“The funny thing is, it’s not enough ... You want to live more, which I plan to,” he said during an interview with Good Morning America.
The early spark that lit up a Hollywood career
Van Dyke’s journey into showbiz started young, inspired by Laurel and Hardy films he watched at his local cinema. That early fascination soon led him into radio, where his smooth voice and natural charm landed him a gig with CBS.
Before he became a household name, Van Dyke appeared in several now-forgotten TV shows. But everything changed when he starred in the musical Bye Bye Birdie. His performance earned him a Tony Award in 1961 and launched his career into the stratosphere.
Dick Van Dyke has no plans to slow down. Credit: Monica Schipper/Getty Images
From chimney sweeps to TV fame
Audiences of all ages still know him best as the cheerful chimney sweep Bert, dancing and singing alongside Julie Andrews in Mary Poppins.
Though fans still tease his famously dodgy cockney accent, Van Dyke took it in stride. While accepting the Britannia Award for Excellence in Television in 2017, he even joked about it, saying he wanted to apologise “for inflicting on them the most atrocious cockney accent in the history of cinema.”
But Bert was just one part of his decades-spanning career. From 1961 to 1966, The Dick Van Dyke Show turned him into a sitcom superstar. He later charmed a new generation as Dr. Mark Sloan in Diagnosis: Murder, which aired from 1993 to 2001.
Van Dyke was recognised for his contributions to television with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1993 and was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame in 1995.
Dick Van Dyke has turned 100. Credit: Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images
“I still try to dance” says the birthday legend
Despite being 100, Van Dyke insists he hasn’t lost his spark. Speaking about his trademark dancing, he said: “I’ve got one game leg from, I don’t know what ... I still try to dance.”
And when it comes to playing older characters over the years, he reflected: “I played old men a lot, and I always played them as angry and cantankerous but it’s not really that way. I don’t know any other 100-year-olds, but I can speak for myself.”
Celebrations for his milestone birthday included a fan-led “flash mob” in Malibu, the sunny coastal town where he lives. His legacy is also being celebrated in a new documentary, Starring Dick Van Dyke, and he’s sharing his own secrets to longevity in his book, 100 Rules for Living to 100: An Optimist’s Guide to a Happy Life.
Dick Van Dyke starred in Mary Poppins. Credit: Silver Screen Collection / Getty
Family, love, and staying young
Van Dyke was married to Margie Willett for 36 years before they divorced in 1984. The couple had four children: Barry, Carrie, Christian, and Stacy.
He later shared his life with longtime partner Michelle Triola Marvin until her death in 2009 at the age of 76.
In 2012, he married Arlene Silver, a makeup artist 46 years his junior. The couple has now been married for 13 years. Speaking to Good Morning America, Silver said: “It’s like a privilege and an honour to take care of him and make him happy.”
Comedian Jerry Stiller has died at the age of 92 from natural causes.
Confirming the news on Twitter, son Ben Stiller wrote: "I’m sad to say that my father, Jerry Stiller, passed away from natural causes. He was a great dad and grandfather, and the most dedicated husband to Anne for about 62 years. He will be greatly missed. Love you Dad."
Jerry Stiller is perhaps best known for starring as George Costanzas’ father Frank on the hit US sitcom Seinfeld, before going on to play Arthur Spooner on The King of Queens, alongside Kevin James and Leah Remini.
The beloved comedian and actor was born in New York in 1927, and served in the US Army during World War II. In 1953, he married comedian Anne Meara. The two would go on to form the comedy duo act simply called Stiller and Meara.
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Stiller, who was Jewish, used the dissimilarities between him and his Catholic, Irish-American wife, who was also two inches taller, for what became their signature routine on The Ed Sullivan Show.
During a 2005 Archive of American Television sit-down with her husband, Meara said: "That was Jerry’s idea, to use and plumb the depths of our backgrounds, exaggerate them and have the two differences of the Jewish and the gentile."
They were married until her death at the age of 85 on May 23, 2015.
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Their daughter, Amy Stiller, is also an actress, and acted alongside her father in several King of Queens episodes.
Jerry also co-starred alongside son Ben in movies like Zoolander, Heavyweights, Hot Pursuit, The Heartbreak Kid, and Zoolander 2.
Tributes for the late comedian have been pouring in on Twitter, with writer Mehdi Hasan telling Ben:
"Oh man, so so sorry to hear this Ben. Your father, as Arthur in King of Queens, brought so much laughter & joy to my wife & I. Just a few weeks ago we introduced him/his character to our kids and they loved him, laughed with him, too. He was such a talent, so sorry for your loss."
Comedian Christopher Titus also tweeted out: "I’m in tears. So sorry, and thank you for the joy and the laughter Jerry Stiller, you were, and will always be, comedy gold. RIP"
Our thoughts are with Jerry's family, friends, and fans at this time.
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