Rob Reiner found dead at 78. See photos from his Hollywood career.

Reiner played Michael “Meathead” Stivic, a role that won him two Emmys, opposite Sally Struthers (kissing him on the cheek here, circa 1970). His father (left) was comedy legend Carl Reiner.

Reiner, with Struthers and Carroll O'Connor on the groundbreaking CBS TV series "All in the Family," which was created by Norman Lear. "Norman and his father used to get in these screaming matches," Reiner once said. "His father would say, 'You’re a meathead — dead from the neck up.' Because his dad called him that, the rest of my life people call me that."

The Hollywood legend looked back fondly of his experience on the set of "All in the Family" (on Oct. 26, 1971). "I could win the Nobel Prize, and the headline would read, 'Meathead wins Nobel,'" he once said. "I wear it as a badge of honor."

"All in the Family" had already debuted when Reiner's guest part on an episode of "The Partridge Family" (with Susan Day) aired in 1971.

Penny Marshall and Reiner met while auditioning for "All in the Family," though the role went to Struthers. The two had grown up near each other in New York, but only met years later. They married in 1971, and served as co-hosts on "Celebrity Challenge of the Sexes" in 1977.

The couple worked together again as Matty Perlman and Alan Corkus on in the TV Movie "More Than Friends" in 1978.

Reiner directed Mandy Patinkin (right, in the 1980s) in "The Princess Bride," and the two became lifelong friends. The director's death "teaches us to live with a greater purpose," Patinkin said in a statement, and to "cherish every moment that we are alive to be of service to every aspect of our existence to never give up."

Also cast in "The Princess Bride," Cary Elwes (left, with Patinkin in 1987) remained friends with Reiner for decades. "No words," he posted on news of the Reiners' deaths.

"He was the one who gave me my big break," Harry Connick Jr. said of Reiner, here putting the finishing touches on the sound track to "When Harry Met Sally..." circa 1989.

Reiner met Michele Singer while filming "When Harry Met Sally..." Falling for her inspired him to change the ending of the film. In 1991 they attended the premier of "City Slickers" with Kathy Bates, who starred in Reiner's thriller, "Misery," in 1990.

Bob Amaral, Reiner, Billy Crystal and Kevin Pollak (in 1991) all starred in the CBS show, "Morton & Hayes," which Reiner created. The show only lasted 6 episodes.

For the 1992 courtroom drama "A Few Good Men," Reiner cast Tom Cruise as Lt. Daniel Kaffee, a man living in the shadow of his father's legacy.

Elijah Wood (in 1994) was a child star in "North," one Reiner's few flops, about a boy who leaves his parents to search the globe for the ideal mother and father.

Reiner, on the set of his 1994 film "North," called the film a "little fable." "I loved doing it, and some of the best jokes I ever had in a movie, are in that movie," he once told Archive of American Television.

Actress Pamela Anderson joked around with Reiner during a Nov. 2, 1995 appearance on "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno."

Reiner cast Annette Bening in the 1995 film "The American President."

Robert Redford was originally attached to "The American President," but dropped out after Reiner signed on to direct. Michael Douglas came on as the man in the Oval Office who falls in love.

Reiner on set of "The American President", 1995. The film, written by Aaron Sorkin, inspired much of the TV show "The West Wing."

Alec Baldwin and James Woods worked with Reiner in the 1996 film "Ghosts of Mississippi."

Reiner teamed up with Tom Hanks for "I Am Your Child" in 1997.

More politics, this time a dramedy with "Primary Colors," starring John Travolta and Reiner and directed by Mike Nichols and released in 1998.

Reiner directed Bruce Willis and Michelle Pfeiffer on the set of "The Story of Us," a film about a couple struggling to stay together after 15 years of marriage.

Reiner produced, directed and played a role in "The Story of Us," with Willis as the star. Critics largely panned the movie.

Kate Hudson headlined "Alex & Emma," another rom-com Reiner directed in 2003.

Reiner directed Jennifer Aniston (in 2005) in "Rumor Has It," which also starred Shirley MacLaine and Kevin Costner.

Reiner was also a social activist. Jamie Lee Curtis and the director teamed up at the 12th Annual Dream Halloween Fundraising Event Benefiting The Children Affected by AIDS Foundation on Oct. 29, 2005.

The director was a staunch Democratic donor, and supported then-Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton at a fundraising event in Los on April 3, 2008.

Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman headlined Reiner's "The Bucket List" (here together in Berlin on Jan 21, 2008).

Reiner also worked with a Freeman for "Summer at Dog Dave's" (here on Aug. 4, 2011 in Greenwood Lake, NY),

Reiner received many awards in his career, including honors at the 41st Annual Chaplin Award Gala at Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts on April 28, 2014 in New York City.

Reiner was part of the documentary, "The Case Against 8," and attended the premiere with Jamie Lee Curtis on June 3, 2014 in Los Angeles. The film was a behind-the-scenes look at overturning California's ban on gay marriage.

Reiner on set with Jimmy Fallon on July 11, 2014 for "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon."

Reiner portrayed Max Belfort in Martin Scorsese's "Wolf of Wall Street," for which he was awarded outstanding directorial achievement at the 66th annual Directors Guild of America Awards on Jan. 25, 2014.

"The Princess Bride" trio – Reiner, Elwes, and Mel Brooks – attended Elwes' "As You Wish" book launch on October 6, 2014 in West Hollywood, Calif.

Rob and his father Carl at their Hand and Footprint Ceremony during the 2017 TCM Classic Film Festival on April 7, 2017 in Los Angeles.

Reiner and Larry David (at "The Biggest Little Farm" premiere) were longtime friends in the comedy world.

As part of his activist work, Reiner spoke during Equality Now's Virtual Make Equality Reality Gala on Dec. 3, 2020.

Rob and Michele (at right) attended the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards with two of their children, Jake Reiner and Romy Reiner on Jan. 15, 2024, in Los Angeles.

The Emmys celebrated "All in the Family" and reunited Reiner and Struthers to pay tribute to Norman Lear.

From left: Christopher Guest, Harry Shearer, Michael McKean and Reiner attended the anniversary event for "This Is Spinal Tap" during Tribeca Film Festival on April 27, 2019, in New York City.

Billy Crystal, leading man in "When Harry Met Sally ..." remained incredibly close with Reiner.

"When Harry Met Sally ..." stars Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal joined Reiner at TCM Classic Film Festival's 30th anniversary screening of the film on April 11, 2019.

Rob Reiner at the Cannes Film Festival.

Reiner and Kathy Bates attended the screening of "Misery" during the TCM Classic Film Festival.

Reiner credited his wife Michele for getting him involved in political issues. "She is my Bunsen burner that lights the flame in myass," he once said. Here, the couple attend the Human Rights Campaign's 2025 LA dinner on March 22.