Dream Theater drummer Mike Portnoy shared an emotional tribute to ‘This Is Spinal Tap’ director Rob Reiner after his tragic passing. Portnoy expressed his feelings with a new post on Instagram.
Mike Portnoy, who is known as a film enthusiast, shared his favorite productions by Rob Reiner in his tribute.
Portnoy said in his message, ‘This Is Spinal Tap’ director Rob Reiner: “What a tragedy… Of course, he’ll always be the great Marty Di Bergi to so many of us…but he was so much more: When Harry Met Sally, Stand By Me, Misery, The Princess Bride, A Few Good Men (and of course Meathead as well!).”
The drummer continued, “What a tragic ending to such a great life and career…and I am grateful we got the last encore from Spinal Tap from him before he left us…”
Director Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, were found dead at their home on December 14th. Reiner first rose to fame in the 1970s for his Emmy-winning portrayal of Michael “Meathead” Stivic on All in the Family before transitioning to a celebrated directing career that shaped decades of American cinema. His final directorial effort, Spinal Tap II: The End Continues, was released earlier in 2025, marking the end of a prolific and influential creative life.
The circumstances of Reiner’s death were shocking and tragic: he and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, 68, were found in their Los Angeles home with apparent stab wounds in what authorities are treating as an apparent homicide. The couple’s daughter discovered their bodies, and the Los Angeles Police Department’s Robbery-Homicide Division is leading the ongoing investigation.
Initial reports indicate their son has been taken into custody in connection with the deaths, though formal charges and details remain emerging. The news has reverberated across Hollywood and around the world, drawing tributes from colleagues, friends, and fans mourning the loss of one of modern film’s most beloved figures.
