Rob Reiner remembered for political activism. ‘He made California a better place’

The death of famed actor and director Rob Reiner has also sent shockwaves through political circles in California and across the nation.

Reiner, 78, and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, 68, were found dead Sunday, Dec. 14, at their Los Angeles home, CNN reported.

Their son, Nick Reiner, 32, has been arrested on suspicion of murder and booked without bail in the Los Angeles County Jail, according to the New York Times.

Reiner, son of legendary performer Carl Reiner, starred in “All in the Family” before moving on to direct such hits as “The Princess Bride,” “Stand by Me,” “This is Spinal Tap,” “Misery” and “A Few Good Men,” according to IMDB.

He also had a long history of involvement in California and national politics, including championing LGBTQ+ rights and early childhood education.

“But beneath all of the stories he produced was a deep belief in the goodness of people — and a lifelong commitment to putting that belief into action,” former President Barack Obama said on X. “Together, he and his wife lived lives defined by purpose. They will be remembered for the values they championed and the countless people they inspired.”

“They were good, generous people who made everyone who knew them better through their active citizenship in defense of inclusive democracy, setting an example for us all to follow,” Bill and Hillary Clinton said in a statement on X.

Here are some of Reiner’s top achievements in national and California politics.

First 5

In 1998, Reiner led the campaign to pass Proposition 10, which established a tobacco tax to pay for the First 5 initiative funding early childhood development services, Politico reported.

He resigned as chairman of the First 5 California Children and Families Commission in 2006 amid accusations the panel used taxpayer money to support Proposition 82 to raise income taxes on the wealthy to fund preschools for 4-year-olds, MSN reported. A state audit later cleared the panel.

Proposition 82 was resoundingly defeated by California voters.

Prop. 8 repeal

Reiner led efforts to stop passage of Proposition 8, which banned same-sex marriage in California, in 2008, Deadline reported.

After its passage, he helped form the American Foundation for Equal Rights, which funded efforts to overturn the ban in the courts, eventually succeeding in 2013.

Potential gubernatorial candidate

Reiner considered a run for the post of California governor to challenge then-incumbent Arnold Schwarzenegger in the 2006 election. At the time, public polling showed the race could end up being neck-and-neck.

But he ultimately declined to spend more time with his family, CBS News reported.

“My kids are young, and we’ve all decided this isn’t a good time for me to do this,” Reiner said. “My focus is the kids of California, and my own kids.”

Support of Democratic Party causes

Reiner endorsed the presidential bids of Al Gore, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and Joe Biden, Deadline reported. He reportedly contributed heavily to their campaigns.

Critic of President Donald Trump

Reiner had been an outspoken opponent of President Donald Trump in both his first and second terms.

In a 2017 interview with Variety, Reiner said Trump was “mentally unfit” to be president.

“Our democracy is being taken away from us and we only have about a year,” he said in an interview on MSNBC in October. “We’re sliding downhill in a very, very fast way, and we have to find a way to stop it.”

In a statement Monday, Dec. 15, on Truth Social, Trump blamed Reiner’s death on “his massive, unyielding, and incurable affliction with a mind crippling disease known as TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME.”

This story was originally published December 15, 2025 at 10:40 AM with the headline "Rob Reiner remembered for political activism. ‘He made California a better place’."