Stephen King has shared a moving tribute to the late Rob Reiner. Reiner and his life were killed over the weekend in a horrific attack that shook Hollywood.
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King and Reiner share a history together. Reiner directed adaptations of Misery and The Body, which he adapted into Stand By Me. Both ranked among some of King’s favorite movies created from his works.
Taking to social media, King wrote, “I’m horrified and saddened by the death of Rob Reiner and Michele. Wonderful friend, political ally, and brilliant filmmaker (including 2 of mine). Rest in peace, Rob. You always stood by me.”
In a New York Times piece, King reflected on watching Stand By Me for the first time. King felt so moved by the piece that he hugged Reiner.
Stephen King On Rob Reiner
“When the movie was over, I thanked Rob and surprised the hell out of myself by giving him a hug,” King wrote. “I’m not ordinarily a hugging man, and I don’t think he was used to getting them. He stiffened, muttered something about being glad I liked it, and we both stepped away.”
He continued, “I apparently wasn’t done feeling my feelings. I went into the nearest men’s bathroom and sat in a stall until I got myself under control. Nostalgia can be dangerous when it’s up close. I don’t exactly know what I mean by that, but it feels true.”
King also praised Reiner for his work on the 1990 film Misery as well. Later, King would appear in a documentary at Reiner’s request that focused on Donald Trump.
“Rob took a lot of brickbats and slurs for it on Twitter with his customary grace. (I refuse to call it X; that’s for porno films.) He was a political presence, a social commentator and a wicked satirist. But all that still pales for me when I watch Chris Chambers say to the weeping Gordie Lachance: ‘You’re gonna be a great writer someday.’ That weeping boy was me. It was Rob Reiner who put it on the screen,” King wrote.
Sadly, Reiner and his wife Michelle passed away over the weekend in a violent assault.