Martin Scorsese Says Rob Reiner’s Death Is an ‘Obscenity’ in Emotional Tribute
- - Martin Scorsese Says Rob Reiner’s Death Is an ‘Obscenity’ in Emotional Tribute
Jane LaCroixDecember 26, 2025 at 3:17 AM
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Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
On Christmas Day, Martin Scorsese published a personal essay honoring his longtime friend Rob Reiner.
“Rob Reiner was my friend, and so was Michele,” Scorsese wrote in The New York Times on Thursday, December 25. “From now on, I’ll have to use the past tense, and that fills me with such profound sadness. But there’s no other choice.”
In the essay, Scorsese traced his bond with Reiner back to the early 1970s, when the two met through gatherings hosted by actor George Memmoli. “Right away, I loved hanging out with Rob,” Scorsese recalled. “We had a natural affinity for each other. He was hilarious and sometimes bitingly funny, but he was never the kind of guy who would take over the room.”
Scorsese praised Reiner’s warmth, humor, and unmistakable laugh, noting their shared New York roots: “Rob and I were both Eastern transplants, in a way.” He went on to name Misery as his favorite of Reiner’s films, while calling This Is Spinal Tap “a kind of immaculate creation,” crediting Reiner’s brilliance both behind and in front of the camera.
READ MORE: Rob Reiner’s Son Nick’s Hotel Room Reportedly Covered in Blood After Parent’s Murder
Their professional paths later crossed when Reiner joined Scorsese’s The Wolf of Wall Street, playing the father of Leonardo DiCaprio’s character. Scorsese described Reiner as a master improviser who deeply understood the emotional stakes of his role, recalling a key scene with lingering admiration—and now, heartbreak.
Calling the Reiners’ deaths “an obscenity, an abyss in lived reality,” Scorsese ended the essay with a quiet hope: that one day, in memory if not reality, he might again sit beside his friend, hear his laugh, and feel “lucky all over again” to have known him.
Reiner, 78, and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, 70, were found murdered in their California home on December 14. Their son, Nick Reiner, 32, has since been charged in connection with their deaths. Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the tragedy, which has sent shockwaves through Hollywood.
This story was originally published by Parade on Dec 26, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
