Carl Reiner, ‘Dick Van Dyke Show’ creator, Dead at 98 (VIDEO)
Legendary comedian Carl Reiner has passed away at the age of 98.
Reiner was the creator and writer of the TV classic “The Dick Van Dyke Show.” He won nine Emmy awards during a prolific TV career. He was also a director for the films Oh God starring George Burns, The Jerk starring Steve Martin, and All of Me with Martin and Lily Tomlin.
Reiner died of natural causes Monday night at his home in Beverly Hills, according to Variety.
His son confirmed his passing on Twitter.
Variety reports on his career.
In his later years, Reiner was an elder statesman of comedy, revered and respected for his versatility as a performer and multi-hyphenate. He was also adept at social media. He maintained a lively presence on Twitter up until the last day of his life.
Reiner remained in the public eye well into his 80s and 90s with roles in the popular “Ocean’s Eleven” trio of films and on TV with recurring roles on sitcoms “Two and a Half Men” and “Hot in Cleveland.” He also did voice work for shows including “Family Guy,” “American Dad,” “King of the Hill,” and “Bob’s Burgers.”
Reiner first came to prominence as a regular cast member of Sid Caesar’s “Your Show of Shows,” for which he won two Emmys in 1956 and 1957 in the supporting category. He met Brooks during his time with Caesar. The two went on to have a long-running friendship and comedy partnership through the recurring “2000 Year Old Man” sketches.
In 1961 Reiner drew on his experiences with Caesar to create and produce “The Dick Van Dyke Show,” a ratings cornerstone for CBS for the next five years. Reiner made guest appearances as the irascible variety show host Alan Brady. The show won Emmys for writing its first three years and for producing its last two. In 1967, Reiner picked up another Emmy for his writing in a reunion variety show with Caesar, Coca and Morris.
Reiner continued to direct steadily over the next few decades. “Where’s Poppa?,” an offbeat comedy he directed in 1970, became a cult favorite. Similarly, two other Martin vehicles, the gumshoe spoof “Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid” and “The Man With Two Brains,” found bigger audiences after their release in theaters.
He guested on “Frasier” in 1993; reprised the role of Alan Brady on an episode of “Mad About You” in 1995 and won an Emmy for it; and guested on “Ally McBeal,” “Boston Legal” and “House.”
Bigscreen appearances included 1990’s “The Spirit of ’76,” directed by his son Lucas; “Slums of Beverly Hills” (1998); and all three films in the “Ocean’s Eleven” series.
In this classic clip from “The Dick Van Dyke Show,” Alan Brady (Reiner) confronts Laura Petrie (Mary Tyler Moore) after she accidently reveals on nationwide TV that he was bald.
Our condolences to the family, friends, and fans of Carl Reiner.
