Rob Reiner dies at 78; son of a comedy giant who became one in turn

"Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer, were found dead Sunday at their home in the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles. A law enforcement official briefed on the investigation confirmed their identities but could not publicly discuss details of the investigation and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. Authorities were investigating an apparent homicide, said Capt. Mike Bland with the Los Angeles Police Department."

"After starting out as a writer for The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, Reiner's breakthrough came when he was, at age 23, cast in Norman Lear's All in the Family as Archie Bunker's liberal son-in-law, Michael Meathead Stivic. But by the 1980s, Reiner began as a feature film director, churning out some of the most beloved films of that, or any, era. His first film, the largely improvised 1984 cult classic This Is Spinal Tap, remains the quintessential mockumentary."

Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer, were found dead at their Brentwood home and authorities are investigating an apparent homicide; the Los Angeles Fire Department responded to a medical aid request shortly after 3:30 p.m. Reiner was 78 years old. He began his career as a writer for The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour and achieved an early breakthrough at age 23 playing Michael Stivic on All in the Family. He transitioned to feature film directing in the 1980s, directing notable films including This Is Spinal Tap, The Sure Thing, Stand By Me, The Princess Bride and When Harry Met Sally.

Read at www.mercurynews.com