Paul McCartney has paid tribute to the late Rob Reiner, saying life can be “so unfair and this tragedy proves it”.
The 78-year-old filmmaker and his 68-year-old wife, the photographer Michele Singer-Reiner, were found dead inside their home in the Brentwood area of Los Angeles on Sunday (December 14).
The LAPD confirmed that they were investigating the deaths as an “apparent homicide”, with reports suggesting that the two suffered wounds consistent with a knife attack.
Earlier today (December 15), it emerged that the couple’s 32-year-old son Nick Reiner had been arrested in connection with their deaths. He is said to be in custody on $4million (£2.9million) bail.
McCartney made an appearance in Reiner’s final film, Spinal Tap II: The End Continues, which was released in September this year. In the movie, he shows up during Spinal Tap’s rehearsal sessions, offering helpful advice and telling Reiner’s character Marty that their song ‘Big Bottom’ is “almost literature”.
Today, McCartney posted a personal tribute to Reiner. Alongside a photo from the film’s shoot, he wrote: “What a tragedy the death of Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele, is. It is so shocking in many ways but for me especially so, because over the last year I had been working with him. He directed me in Spinal Tap II: The End Continues. He was such an upbeat, lovable man.”
“Life can be so unfair and this tragedy proves it,” he continued. “His father, Carl Reiner, was a great humourist before him and Rob followed in his dad’s footsteps doing a terrific job making many great films. I will always have fond memories of Rob and the idea that he and his wife will no longer be in the world with us is heartbreaking. Thanks for all the humour, Rob. Rest in Peace. Love Paul.”
Spinal Tap II was the long-awaited sequel to the 1984 comedy classic This Is Spinal Tap, in which Reiner’s Martin “Marty” DiBergi makes a mockumentary about the fictional rock band Spinal Tap. Reiner’s character was a pastiche of Martin Scorsese in the real rock doc The Last Waltz.
NME gave Spinal Tap II a three-star review, writing: “Just hearing their accents is reassuringly funny, and there’s still mileage in their ‘rock dinosaurs out of time’ schtick, exacerbated further 40 years on. Their crumpled faces and ill-advised mullets add to their pitiable charm, and you’ll find something approaching poignancy in the relationship between David and Nigel. If the dial’s not exactly all the way up to 11, the band at least don’t spontaneously combust in this amiable reunion show that plays like a well-earned victory lap.”
Less complimentary about Reiner was Donald Trump, who posted a personal attack on the late director on Monday (December 15), suggesting that his death was brought about by his hatred of the President.
His comments drew extensive criticism, including from Jack White, who said: “Trump you disgusting, vile, egomaniac loser, child. Neither he nor any one of his followers can defend this gross, horrible insult to a beautiful artist who gave the world so much. To use someone’s tragic death to promote your own vanity and fascist authoritarian agenda is a corrupt and narcissistic sin.”
Reiner was best known as the director of a string of beloved Hollywood classics, including This Is Spinal Tap (1984), Stand By Me (1986), The Princess Bride (1987), When Harry Met Sally (1989), Misery (1990) and A Few Good Men (1992).
See a range of other tributes to the Hollywood legend here.