Carl Reiner, beloved creator of 'Dick Van Dyke Show,' dies

NEW YORK (AP) - Carl Reiner, the ingenious and versatile writer, actor and director who broke through as a 'œsecond banana'ť to Sid Caesar and rose to comedy's front ranks as creator of 'œThe Dick Van Dyke Show'ť and straight man to Mel Brooks' 'œ2000 Year Old Man,'ť has died. He was 98.

Reiner's assistant Judy Nagy said he died Monday night of natural causes at his home in Beverly Hills, California.

Reiner was the father of actor-director Rob Reiner, who tweeted that his 'œheart is hurting. He was my guiding light.'ť The younger Reiner starred as Archie Bunker's son-in-law on 'œAll in the Family'ť and directed 'œWhen Harry Met Sally...'ť

Carl Reiner was one of show business' best-liked men, and his was a welcome face on the small and silver screens: In Caesar's 1950s troupe; as the self-absorbed, toupee-wearing Alan Brady of 'œThe Dick Van Dyke Show'ť; and in such films as 'œThe Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming'ť and 'œIt's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World.'ť

In recent years, he was part of the roguish gang in the 'œOcean's Eleven'ť movies starring George Clooney and appeared in documentaries including 'œBroadway: Beyond the Golden Age'ť and 'œIf You're Not in the Obit, Eat Breakfast.'ť

Tributes poured in online, including from Steve Martin, who said: 'œGoodbye to my greatest mentor in movies and in life. Thank you, dear Carl.'ť Actor Josh Gad called Reiner 'œone of the greatest comedic minds of all time'ť and Sarah Silverman said 'ťhis humanity was beyond compare.'ť Actor Alan Alda tweeted: 'œHis talent will live on for a long time, but the loss of his kindness and decency leaves a hole in our hearts.'ť

Reiner directed such films as 'œOh, God!'ť starring George Burns and John Denver; 'œAll of Me,'ť with Steve Martin and Lily Tomlin; and the 1970 comedy 'œWhere's Poppa?'ť He took pride in his books, including 'œEnter Laughing,'ť an autobiographical novel later adapted into a film and Broadway show; and 'œMy Anecdotal Life,'ť a memoir published in 2003. He recounted his childhood and creative journey in the 2013 book, 'œI Remember Me.'ť

But many remember Reiner for 'œThe Dick Van Dyke Show,'ť one of the most popular television series of all time and a model of ensemble playing, physical comedy and timeless, good-natured wit. It starred Van Dyke as a television comedy writer working for a demanding, eccentric boss (Reiner) and living with his wife (Mary Tyler Moore in her first major TV role) and young son in suburban New Rochelle, New York.

'œThe Van Dyke show is probably the most thrilling of my accomplishments because that was very, very personal,'ť Reiner once said. 'œIt was about me and my wife, living in New Rochelle and working on the Sid Caesar show.'ť

Reiner won multiple Emmys for his television work. In 2000, he received the Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize for Humor. When the sound system failed at the start of the ceremonies, Reiner called from the balcony, 'œDoes anybody have four double-A batteries?'ť

Besides 'œAll of Me,'ť Reiner directed Martin in 'œDead Men Don't Wear Plaid,'ť 'œThe Man With Two Brains'ť and 'œThe Jerk.'ť

Reiner was born in 1922, in New York City's Bronx borough, one of two sons of Jewish immigrants: Irving Reiner, a watchmaker, and his wife, Bessie. He grew up in a working-class neighborhood, where he learned to mimic voices and tell jokes. After high school, Reiner attended drama school, then joined a small theater group.

'œIt was a terrific experience, but I wasn't getting any money for it,'ť he told the Akron Beacon Journal in 1963. 'œI got uppity one day - after all, the audience was paying from 22 to 88 cents for admission - and I demanded to be paid. They settled for $1 a performance and I ... became their highest-priced actor.'ť

During World War II, Reiner joined the Army and toured South Pacific bases in GI variety shows for a year and a half. Back out of uniform, he landed several stage roles, breaking through on Broadway in 'œCall Me Mister.'ť

He married his wife, Estelle, in 1943. Besides Rob, the couple had another son, Lucas, a film director, and a daughter, Sylvia, a psychoanalyst and author. Estelle Reiner, who died in 2008, had a small but memorable role in Rob Reiner's 'œWhen Harry Met Sally...'ť - as the woman who overhears Meg Ryan's ersatz ecstasy in a restaurant and says, 'œI'll have what she's having.'ť