Albert Brooks Discusses Lifelong Friend Rob Reiner’s Relationship with His wife

Just days after the heartbreaking deaths of Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, those who loved him most are sharing memories that reach far beyond his legendary films. Friends and longtime collaborators are reflecting on a life rooted in devotion, loyalty, and family, moments captured in the CBS News special “CBS News: Rob Reiner – Scenes from a Life,” which aired Sunday after “60 Minutes” and is streaming on Paramount+.

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Among those featured is Albert Brooks, who speaks with raw honesty about losing the person he called his oldest friend and about the long-lasting marriage that gave Reiner peace, purpose, and a sense of home.

‘You Found Your Soulmate’: Brooks on Rob and Michele

Brooks also reflected on how Reiner’s relationship with Michele transformed his life.

“Rob is a relationship person,” Brooks said. “Once he locked in, it was lifelong, so Michele was lifelong.”

He described the couple as soulmates, adding, “They knew they would be together forever. They were together at the very end in the same way they were together in the beginning.”

Brooks expanded on Michele’s impact on Reiner’s sense of peace and direction.

“The desperation of finding someone was gone. You found your soulmate. It just made him happier. It made him calmer. He had a path now.”

Brooks added that his friendship with Reiner spanned more than 60 years, beginning when they met as teenagers. The two later collaborated on the 2023 documentary “Albert Brooks: Defending My Life.”

“Rob was my oldest friend. It’s that simple. He’s the person I’ve known the longest. I met him when I was 14. So I’m still in that not believing it stage,” Brooks said. “I know it happened, but you know, I’m driving around and all of a sudden — I actually two days ago, I called his number.”

The grief, Brooks admitted, still feels unreal.

“I just wish there was no reason to do this,” he said. “That’s what I really wish.”

Annette Bening on a Partnership Built on Respect

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That same sense of partnership stood out to others who knew the couple well. Annette Bening echoed Brooks’ words, describing the quiet strength of their bond.

“They were very much companions to each other. And we all respected that about them and their relationship,” Bening said.

The actress has previously spoken about Reiner’s devotion to family and how that value permeated every corner of his life, from his home to the film set.

Michael Douglas on Balance, Pressure, and Parenthood

Michael Douglas also reflected on the couple’s dynamic, noting how Michele helped steady Reiner’s boundless energy.

“She was willing to play the bad cop. Because Rob was sometimes bouncing, bouncing off the walls. He had a great imagination, a great energy. He’s very impulsive. And they complemented each other really well,” Douglas said.

Douglas also spoke candidly about the private pressures Reiner faced as a parent.

“With this terrible tragedy, we’re realizing how much pressure he was dealing with in his personal life with his son. I also had a son who had drug issues. I’m happy to say he’s overcome them and is living a prosperous life. We talked a lot about that and what you can do as a parent, what you can’t do.”

Taken together, the reflections paint a portrait of a filmmaker whose most tremendous success was not only his body of work but also the relationships that defined his life.

Through the voices of those closest to him, Reiner is remembered as a loyal friend, a devoted husband, and a man who found his calm and purpose in love.

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