In a 2006 interview for emmy Magazine, Rob Reiner reflected upon his landmark collaboration with legendary TV producer and writer Norman Lear, who cocreated CBS' hit sitcom, All in the Family — which proved to be a launchpad for Reiner's memorable career.
In honor of Reiner's tragic passing on December 14, 2025, here's the late actor and filmmaker's reflections on working with Lear to help make television history.
Rob Reiner will always be known as Meathead, but he doesn’t mind. "I could win the Nobel Prize, and the headline would read, 'Meathead wins Nobel,'" he says. "I wear it as a badge of honor."
The nickname — attached to Reiner’s character, Mike Stivic, in All in the Family — comes from Norman Lear’s childhood.
"Norman and his father used to get in these screaming matches," Reiner says. "His father would say, 'You’re a meathead — dead from the neck up.' Because his dad called him that, the rest of my life people call me that."
Reiner, of course, looks up to his own dad, Carl Reiner, creator of The Dick Van Dyke Show. But he also looks up to Lear. "He’s like a second father to me."
Photo credit: CBS/Photofest
Reiner has known Lear since he was a boy, when the two families vacationed on New York’s Fire Island. There, Lear displayed what Reiner calls his "wacky side."
"He’s a very intelligent guy, but on the spur of the moment he would do something physically goofy. He works behind the scenes, but there’s definitely a performer in him. He is always trying to do something a little bit beyond what people are doing at the time."
Reiner would not have become Meathead if All in the Family had been picked up by ABC, which originally held the option for the show. The network ordered two pilots, with two sets of Mikes and Glorias — Reiner auditioned but didn’t get the part. When All in the Family moved to CBS, Lear gave him the role.
During season two, the writers decided that the pressure of final exams would make Meathead impotent. CBS didn’t want to air the episode, "Mike’s Problem," but Lear threatened to quit.
"He stood up for what he believed," Reiner says. "I have such respect for him. It takes that kind of leader and that kind of courage and integrity to make anything of value."
He calls Lear a kochleffel, Yiddish for a cooking spoon — figuratively, one who stirs things up. "He always pushed the writers and actors to make it better. At times it was maddening because we thought we had something good. He would squeeze something better out of us." All in the Family "changed the way people looked at TV in the '70s," Reiner says. "There was nothing quite like it before and nothing quite like it since."
When Reiner left the show, Lear was instrumental in launching his film career, financing This Is Spinal Tap, The Sure Thing, Stand by Me and The Princess Bride. But when Lear sold Embassy Pictures to Coca-Cola two days before Reiner was to start shooting Stand by Me, the financing dropped out.
"Norman stepped in and financed Stand by Me with his own money [$7.5 million]. He put his tuchus affen tisch," Reiner says, using the Yiddish phrase for “putting one’s butt on the line.” (The phrase also inspired the name of Lear’s former company, T.A.T. Communications.)
Reiner says he’s also been inspired by Lear’s work outside entertainment. "When he started People for the American Way, I thought, 'This is what I want to do.' I want to do good work but also be a contributing person in the community."
The men support each other’s causes and speak often. When Reiner’s California ballot initiative for public funding of preschools failed in June, Lear phoned the next day. "He told me he loves me and that he admires what I’m trying to do."
For his part, Reiner is amazed at what Lear can do. Four years ago, when Reiner was at the Four Seasons hotel in Maui, he came across Lear taking a scuba lesson. "At age eighty, he’s scuba diving! This guy has unbelievable energy. I have nothing but the greatest love and respect for him."
This article originally appeared in a 2006 emmy magazine issue, under the title "Like Father, Like Son."
