Carl Reiner: a life in pictures

The US comedian has died at the age of 98. One of the pioneers of TV comedy, he also wrote, directed and starred in films such as The Jerk, The Man With Two Brains and Ocean’s Eleven. Here we look back at his astonishing seven-decade career

Main image: Carl Reiner host of Sunday Best, 1991. Photograph: NBC via Getty Images

  • Carl Reiner was born on 20 March 1922 in the Bronx in New York City. He served in the United States Army Air Forces in the second world war and also entertained the troops. When he returned home he dived into showbusiness
    Pinterest
    Carl Reiner in the mid 1960s

  • Your Show of Shows, 1950-54

    Sid Caesar, Imogene Coca and Carl Reiner in the television variety show Reiner helped write. He was nominated for an Emmy for best supporting actor
    Pinterest
    Sid Caesar Imogene Coca and Carl Reiner in Your Show of Shows, 1950-54

  • Caesar’s Hour, 1954-57

    Nanette Fabray, who replaced Imogene Coca, gags as railroad commuters Sid Caesar, left, Reiner, top, and Howard Morris poke their smokes in her direction while looking over her shoulder to read her newspaper. Reiner was nominated for Emmy for best supporting Actor in 1956 and won it in 1957 and 58
    Pinterest
    Nanette Fabray gags as railroad commuters Sid Caesar, left, Carl Reiner, top, and Howard Morris poke their smokes in her direction in Caesar’s Hour, 1954-57

  • Reiner fools around with Janet Leigh and Tony Curtis in 1959
    Pinterest
    Carl Reiner fools around with Janet Leigh and Tony Curtis at a function in 1959

  • 2,000 Year Old Man, 1961

    Reiner and Mel Brooks performing the famous skit on The Steve Allen Show. The pair performed the routine many times over the years and, in 1999, shared the Grammy for best spoken comedy album for The 2000 Year Old Man in the Year 2000
    Pinterest
    Carl Reiner and Mel Brooks performing the famous skit 2,000 Year Old Man in 1961

  • The Thrill of It All, 1963

    Reiner wrote and guest-starred in this romantic comedy starring Doris Day and James Garner.
    Pinterest
    Doris Day and James Garner in The Thrill of it All, 1963

  • The Dick Van Dyke Show, 1961-66

    An off-camera moment for Mary Tyler Moore, Dick Van Dyke and Reiner in 1962. Reiner created and co-starred in the smash hit show and won five Emmys for his work
    Pinterest
    An off camera moment for Mary Tyler Moore, Dick Van Dyke and Carl Reiner in The Dick Van Dyke Show, 1961-66

  • Carl and Estelle Reiner, 1964

    Reiner and his wife, Estelle, arriving for the Television Academy’s awards show at the Palladium in Hollywood in 1964. The couple were married from 1943 until Estelle’s death in 2008
    Pinterest
    Carl Reiner and his wife Estelle arriving for the Television Academy’s 16th annual awards show at the Palladium in Hollywood, on 25 May 1964

  • The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming, 1966

    Reiner, pictured here with Eva Marie Saint, starred in this cold war comedy about a Soviet submarine running aground off New England
    Pinterest
    Carl Reiner and Eva Marie Saint in The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming, 1966

  • Sid Caesar, Imogene Coca, Carl Reiner and Howard Morris Special, 1967

    Morris, Coca, Caesar and Reiner were reunited for this one-off special that saw Reiner win an Emmy for outstanding writing achievement in variety
    Pinterest
    Sid Caesar, Imogene Coca, Carl Reiner, Howard Morris Special, 1967

  • The Comic, 1969

    Reiner wrote and directed this movie that stars Dick Van Dyke as a comedian with a huge ego. Here Van Dyke accosts Reiner, who had a small role, in a restaurant
    Pinterest
    Dick Van Dyke and Carl Reiner in The Comic, 1969

  • The Jerk, 1979

    Reiner directed Steve Martin’s first starring movie role in this story of the life of an idiot. Here Martin presents Reiner with a birthday cake on set on 20 March 1979, Reiner’s 56th birthday
    Pinterest
    Steve Martin presents Carl Reiner with a birthday cake on the set of The Jerk on 20 March 1979, Reiner’s 56th birthday

  • Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid, 1982

    Reiner directed, co-wrote and co-starred as Field Marshall Von Kluck, in this film noir parody with Steve Martin as gumshoe Rigby Reardon
    Pinterest
    Steve Martin and Carl Reiner in Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid, 1982

  • The Man With Two Brains, 1983

    Steve Martin as Dr Michael Hfuhruhurr in the romantic comedy co-written and directed by Reiner
    Pinterest
    Steve Martin as Dr. Michael Hfuhruhurr in The Man with Two Brains, 1983

  • All of Me, 1984

    Martin and Lily Tomlin in the body swap fantasy comedy directed by Reiner
    Pinterest
    Steve Martin and Lily Tomlin in All of Me, 1984

  • Fatal Instinct, 1993

    Armand Assante and Sean Young in Reiner’s crime-thriller spoof
    Pinterest
    Armand Assante and Sean Young in Carl Reiner’s crime thrillers spoof Fatal Instinct, 1993

  • Mad About You, 1995

    Cyndi Lauper and Reiner pose with their trophies for outstanding guest actor and actress in a comedy series during the 47th annual Emmy awards on 10 September 1995, in Pasadena, California. Both won for their appearances on the domestic-life sitcom and this Emmy was the last of Reiner’s nine
    Pinterest
    Cyndi Lauper and Carl Reiner pose with their trophies for Outstanding Guest Actor and Actress in a Comedy Series during the 47th annual Emmy Awards on 10 September 1995, in Pasadena, California. Both won for their appearances on Mad About You

  • Ocean’s Eleven, 2001

    Reiner, pictured here with Brad Pitt, plays elderly con man Saul Bloom in the crime caper
    Pinterest
    Carl Reiner and Brad Pitt in Ocean’s Eleven, 2001

  • The Dick Van Dyke Show Revisited, 2004

    Dick Van Dyke and Carl Reiner reprised their roles as Alan Brady and Rob Petrie on this television special
    Pinterest
    Dick Van Dyke and Carl Reiner reprised their roles as Alan Brady and Rob Petrie on The Dick Van Dyke Show Revisited, 2004

  • Ocean’s Thirteen, 2007

    After appearing in Ocean’s Twelve in 2004, Reiner again reprised his role as Saul Bloom in Steven Soderbergh’s crime trilogy. Here he is with Danny Ocean, played by George Clooney
    Pinterest
    George Clooney and Carl Reiner in Ocean’s Thirteen, 2007

  • Two and a Half Men, 2009-14

    Reiner as multimillionaire Marty Pepper and Holland Taylor as Evelyn Harper in the popular TV sitcom
    Pinterest
    Carl Reiner as Multi-millionaire Marty Pepper and Holland Taylor as Evelyn Harper in

  • Carl Reiner in Los Angeles in 2016

    Pinterest
    Carl Reiner, 30 April 2016 in Los Angeles

  • The Paley Honors, 2019

    Honoree Carl Reiner addresses the audience at The Paley Honors: A Special Tribute to Television’s Comedy Legends at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel
    Pinterest
    Honoree Carl Reiner addresses the audience at “The Paley Honors: A Special Tribute to Television’s Comedy Legends” at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel

  • January 2020

    Mel Brooks and Carl Reiner remained best friends for decades and continued to have dinner at least three times a week in Carl’s home. Hadley Freeman caught up with the legends in one of Reiner’s final interviews earlier this year.
    Pinterest
    Mel Brooks and Carl Reiner have remained best friends for decades and continue to have dinner at least 3 times a week in Carl’s Beverly Hills Home. Photographed on at Carl Reiner’s home on 01/22/20 for The Guardian. Mel Brooks and Carl Reiner in Reiner’s living room.
Topics