Tribute to Carl Reiner

Written By Jason Lockard

On June 29th, 2020 the world lost another entertainment legend, Carl Reiner. Now in this generation of stars rap stars, action/ adventure star and horror actors. This sitcom comedian legend is forgotten on the younger generation. But trust me he was amazing!

Carl Reiner was born on March 20th 1922 in the Bronx in New York City. His parents were Jewish immigrants; his father was from Austria and his mother Romania. The only entertainer in the family was his uncle Harry Mathias. But when his brother Charlie told him of a free drama workshop sponsored by the Works Progress Administration. He had to sign up.

A few years later he would be drafted and would serve his country in United States Army Air Forces during World War II. As fate would have it the night before he was to ship out for an unknown assignment, he attended a production of Hamlet by the Special Services entertainment unit. He would audition before actor and major Maurice Evans, he was transferred to Special Services. For the next  two years, Reiner performed around the Pacific theater, entertaining troops until he was honorably discharged in 1946.

After returning to the states he would preform on Broadway than in 1950 he was cast on the sketch comedy show Sid Ceasar's Your show of Shows and won two Emmy awards as best supporting actor. Than in 1960 he would team with future lifelong friend Mel Brooks as a comedy team on the Steve Allen show.

In 1958 wrote a 13 episode sitcom series entitled Head of the Family, a acting vehicle for himself. But network felt he wasn't right for the lead. So in 1961 it was recast and renamed The Dick Van Dyke show and the rest as they say is television history.

He is most known as the egotistical TV show star Allen Brady on the Dick Van Dyke Show. But he was in many films, including; 1961's Gidget goes Hawaiian, 1963's It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, 1963's The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming, and 1966's Alice of Wonderland in Paris just to name a few. Starting in 1966 he also filled the director's chair directing such cult classics as1977's Oh God, 1979's The Jerk, 1982's Dead men Don't wear plaid and 1983's The Man with two brains.

Carl Reiner  seemed to love social media and connected with fans constantly on Twitter. He even tweeted on the day of his death. Thus he become one of the oldest celebrities active on the platform. Carl Reiner died at his home on June 29, 2020, at the age of 98. 

From acting to directing from screen writing to lending his voice to iconic animated film like Toy Story. Carl Reiner had a full and productive life and left a legacy of laughter that can not be denied.