Saturday Night Live (SNL) paid tribute to legendary filmmaker Rob Reiner during its latest episode of Season 51. This comes days after Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, were found dead in their home.
Saturday Night Live remembers Rob Reiner
On December 20, 2025, SNL Season 51 remembered Rob Reiner with a tribute at the end of its episode for his contributions to the industry with a simple yet sweet gesture. The episode featured an old photo of Reiner with his name on the side (via Entertainment Weekly).
The Stand By Me director was one of the first celebrities to host the live television show. Moreover, he is also the first celebrity to take part in a sketch. He appeared on the show on the October 25, 1975 episode—the third episode for the first season. During his appearance, he took part in several sketches, including Bees with his then-wife, Penny Marshall.
Reiner died on December 14, 2025, at the age of 78, alongside his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, in their Brentwood, Los Angeles home. A few hours after the discovery, authorities arrested their son, Nick Reiner. Later, the federal court charged him with two counts of first-degree murder (via USA Today). After Nick decided not to enter a plea, his arraignment was postponed to January 7, 2026. He is currently in custody without bail.
Reiner was an acclaimed American actor and director who rose to fame after starring in the popular 1970s sitcom, All in the Family, as Michael ‘Meathead’ Stivic. His work on the show earned him four Emmy nominations.
He later transitioned into a director with This Is Spinal Tap as his feature debut. His works also include other classics like Stand By Me, The Princess Bride, When Harry Met Sally…, Misery, and A Few Good Men. He also directed a documentary, Albert Brooks: Defending My Life, which earned him two more Emmy nominations.
Outside of acting and directing, he co-founded Castle Rock Entertainment, the production company behind many well-known projects in the industry.
Originally reported by Harsha Panduranga on ComingSoon.
