Rest in Peace, Rob Reiner

 

Rob Reiner was a nice guy. A sweetheart, in fact. And, this is saying something in Hollywood where you swim with the sharks on a daily basis.

Back in the early 1990’s I spent some time in the shark tank. I had just graduated from U.C.L.A. film school and was hired by Meg Ryan’s production company at Paramount Pictures. Luckily, almost everyone in my office--especially Meg--was nice. Really nice. Okay, I could name one or two people who weren’t so nice, but I’m not talking about them. I’m talking about Rob Reiner.

Whenever Rob called the office, he would keep me on the phone and ask me about my life, my writing, how I liked my job, and how is my daughter doing at school.

A year or so later, a story of mine was published in Buzz Magazine. It was about Hollywood (no surprise there) and it created quite a stir around town. In fact, the actress Linda Lavin called me up and invited me out to lunch.

Linda and I were in the parking lot at the Ivy, but this was a Monday and the Ivy was closed. This is when Rob Reiner pulled up beside us. Apparently, he was in the same boat and he commiserated with us. Ah, what a shame it’s closed--but then, being a Hollywood insider and knowing about these things--he immediately suggested we go to Musso and Frank. It’s open on Mondays! And then, because this was Hollywood, he called his assistant and she made reservations for us. This was in the days when no one had a cell phone. But, Rob Reiner, dear boy--he had a car phone.

That would have been enough to earn him my ever-lasting loyalty, but later, when Linda and I were ready to leave Musso and Frank’s and it was time for the check, we learned that Rob had taken care of it for us. No flourish, no big showy moment where he announced Lunch is on me! Just a quiet gesture of kindness and good will.

Creative Friends--we don’t know when or how we will meet our maker, but eventually, we will all meet our maker--whether it’s by an act of terrible violence or going quietly to sleep and not waking up. No matter—we will all eventually, take our leave. So, while you are here on Planet Earth, try to be kind. Be creative. Do good work.

And if you can manage it, treat someone to lunch.

Love & peace,

Jamie