Acclaimed director Martin Scorsese has shared a profoundly moving tribute to his close friends, filmmaker Rob Reiner and his wife Michele, following their tragic deaths earlier this month.
A Friendship Forged in Film
The legendary director, 78, wrote of his 'profound sadness' after the couple, aged 70 and 78 respectively, were found dead in their Los Angeles home on December 14. The cause of death was listed as 'multiple sharp force injuries'. Their 32-year-old son, Nick Reiner, has been charged with their murders and is reportedly receiving treatment for schizophrenia.
In a piece for The New York Times, Scorsese reflected on a friendship that began in the 1970s and endured for decades. 'What happened to Rob and Michele is an obscenity, an abyss in lived reality,' Scorsese wrote. 'The only thing that will help me to accept it is the passing of time.'
Remembering a 'Bitingly Funny' Genius
Scorsese recalled Reiner's unique spirit and talent, describing a 'natural affinity' between them. 'He was hilarious and sometimes bitingly funny, but he was never the kind of guy who would take over the room,' Scorsese penned. He highlighted Reiner's 'beautiful sense of uninhibited freedom' and his 'great barreling laugh', sharing an anecdote about Reiner chuckling before a punchline at his own Lincoln Center honour.
The 'Goodfellas' director praised specific works from Reiner's 40-year career, naming the cult classic 'Misery' as a personal favourite and applauding Kathy Bates' performance. He also noted the significance of the mockumentary 'This Is Spinal Tap', which was both Reiner's directorial debut and, with its recent sequel, his final film.
A Lasting Professional Bond
Their professional collaboration was most notable on Scorsese's 2013 film, 'The Wolf of Wall Street'. When casting the father of Leonardo DiCaprio's character, Scorsese said he immediately thought of Reiner. 'He could improvise with the best, he was a master at comedy, he worked beautifully with Leo and the rest of the guys,' Scorsese shared, adding that Reiner deeply understood his character's paternal conflict.
Scorsese closed his tribute by stating that only time could heal the 'abyss' of this loss. He chooses to imagine the couple 'alive and well' and considers himself 'lucky' to have known them. The film world is left to mourn a shocking tragedy that has claimed two beloved figures.
