Rob Reiner’s historical past of political activism consists of landmark wins for marriage equality, childhood improvement

Rob Reiner was recognized for many years as a Hollywood luminary, discovering early success as a sitcom star earlier than happening to develop into one of the distinguished administrators within the trade. However he additionally devoted a lot of his life to political activism, with a protracted document of backing Democratic Get together campaigns nationwide and supporting landmark insurance policies for LGBTQ rights and childhood improvement in his house state of California.

Within the wake of his demise, that legacy is being remembered by among the nation’s main political figures. 

Reiner and his spouse, Michele Singer Reiner, had been discovered lifeless Sunday of their Los Angeles house, and police stated Monday that their son, Nick Reiner, 32, has been arrested for homicide.

Former President Barack Obama stated he and Michelle Obama had been “heartbroken” by the information. Reiner, he wrote, displayed “a deep perception within the goodness of individuals — and a lifelong dedication to placing that perception into motion. Collectively, he and his spouse lived lives outlined by goal. They are going to be remembered for the values they championed and the numerous folks they impressed,.”

Comparable sentiments had been shared by former Vice President Kamala Harris, who beforehand represented California within the U.S. Senate, and Home Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, each of whom referred to the Reiners as “expensive buddies.”

“Rob cherished our nation, cared deeply about the way forward for our nation, and fought for America’s democracy,” Harris wrote on X. 

Pelosi’s submit highlighted Reiner’s deep historical past of activism in California, referencing his efforts to assist safe marriage equality and a program supporting early childhood improvement within the state.

“Personally, Rob cared deeply about folks and demonstrated that in his civic actions — whether or not by supporting the First 5 initiative or preventing in opposition to Prop 8 in California,” Pelosi wrote, including that he was additionally “a champion for the First Modification and the inventive rights of artists.”

Reiner led the marketing campaign to cross California’s First 5 initiative in 1998. Also referred to as the California Kids and Households Initiative, it is “devoted to bettering the lives of California’s younger youngsters and their households via a complete system of training, well being providers, childcare, and different essential applications,” based on its mission assertion. Funding for the initiative comes from a statewide tax on tobacco. Reiner chaired the group from 1999 to 2006.

Later, Reiner joined the board of administrators on the American Basis for Equal Rights, a nonprofit group that introduced an important federal court docket problem in opposition to Proposition 8, California’s now-defunct 2008 ban on same-sex marriage. He and his spouse had been among the many group’s founding board members, and Michele Reiner went on to serve as its treasurer. They had been driving forces in its profitable effort to pursue authorized safety for marriage equality in California and several other different states, earlier than the Supreme Courtroom lastly upheld it nationwide.

Reiner was additionally an environmental advocate. He based an environmental marketing campaign within the early 2000s to guard California’s Ahmanson Ranch as a state park and wildlife protect, and forestall it from turning into a web site for actual property improvement, the Los Angeles Instances reported.

Reiner lent his help to the campaigns of quite a few Democratic candidates, together with Al Gore throughout the 2000 presidential election and Hillary Clinton’s 2008 and 2016 presidential campaigns. 

Former President Invoice Clinton stated in a submit on X that Rob and Michele Reiner “impressed and uplifted tens of millions via their work on movie and tv. They usually had been good, beneficiant individuals who made everybody who knew them higher via their energetic citizenship in protection of inclusive democracy, setting an instance for us all to comply with. Hillary and I’ll at all times be thankful for their friendship, unfailing kindness, and help.”

Former President Joe Biden praised the Reiners’ “extraordinary contributions” and wrote, “We take solace in figuring out their work will stay on for generations to come back.”

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and California Gov. Gavin Newsom each shared their appreciation of Reiner’s political achievements of their state. Newsom described Reiner as a “big-hearted genius” with “boundless empathy,” who “made California a greater place via his good works.” Bass known as Reiner’s demise “is a devastating loss” for Los Angeles and the nation.

“Rob Reiner’s contributions reverberate all through American tradition and society, and he has improved numerous lives via his inventive work and advocacy preventing for social and financial justice,” Bass wrote, including that, as an activist, “he at all times used his items in service of others.”

Reiner was additionally an outspoken critic of President Trump, which drew the ire of the president. In social media posts and feedback on the White Home on Monday, Mr. Trump accused Reiner of “Trump derangement syndrome” and stated, “I wasn’t a fan of his in any respect.” The president’s feedback had been condemned by quite a few Republicans in addition to Democrats.