Short Biography

Carl Reiner (born March 20, 1922) is an American actor, film director, producer, writer and comedian. He has won nine Emmy Awards during his career. Reiner was born in the Bronx, New York, the son of Bessie (née Mathias) and Irving Reiner, who was a watchmaker. His parents were Jewish immigrants from the Austro-Hungarian Empire. When he was sixteen, his older brother Charlie read in the New York Daily News about a free dramatic workshop being put on by the Works Progress Administration and told him about it. He had been working as a machinist fixing sewing machines. He credits Charlie with changing his career plans. Reiner was educated at the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University and served in the United States Army during World War II.

On December 24, 1943, Reiner married singer Estelle Lebost. She was 8 years his senior, and the two were married 64 years until her death in 2008. At the time of the marriage he was 21 and she was 29. Estelle is probably best remembered for her one line — "I`ll have what she`s having" — in the deli scene in son Rob`s 1989 hit, When Harry Met Sally. She died on October 25, 2008, at age 94. Reiner, who was raised Jewish and remains proud of his Jewish cultural heritage, has described himself as a Jewish atheist. He says that "man invented god, not the other way around."

Miscellaneous Information

Friends and Family

Rob Reiner (Son)

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