‘Stand By Me’ Star Kiefer Sutherland Calls Rob Reiner ‘One of the Kindest Gentlemen’

“Stand By Me” has long been a fan favorite among Rob Reiner‘s projects. In 2023, the director told Slash Film, “That’s the one that means the most to me, that has the most emotional connection for me of all the films I’ve made.” It clearly had a major impact on its stars, too, particularly in the wake of Reiner’s tragic passing. One of them, Kiefer Sutherland, took to social media with a heartfelt tribute to the departed director.

“Rob was one of the kindest gentlemen I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with,” Sutherland partially captioned the post. He included a photo of Reiner and the late River Phoenix on the set of “Stand By Me,” a film he worked on at just 17 years old. His character, Ace Merrill, was one of his first major movie roles, helping to set the stage for his Hollywood future.

Sutherland Said Reiner Gave Him a Life-changing Opportunity

Getty

In his tribute post’s caption, Sutherland said: “When I was very young, [Rob] gave me an opportunity that changed my life, and I will forever be grateful.” Indeed, “Stand By Me” was a major leap forward for the then-young actor. The movie came just three years after Sutherland first stepped into acting, and many of his previous roles were in television.

In 2024, Sutherland told The Talk about what the film represented for him. “It changed our lives,” he said. “And it allowed me to embark on a career that has lasted 38 years.” He went on to describe his memories of working on the film as “the beginning of living out a dream.”

Reiner will be Missed by the Whole ‘Stand By Me’ Family

Getty

Of course, Sutherland wasn’t alone in paying his respects to Reiner. Several other cast members also took to social media with their own touching tributes. Among them was Corey Feldman, who posted on X about the shock and sadness he felt following Reiner’s death. “I love you [Rob],” he wrote. “You will be [forever] missed!”

Details are still emerging about Reiner’s apparent homicide. His wife, Michele Singer, also lost her life in the same incident. Although his life ended in a horrible way, the dozens of Hollywood tributes that have poured in for Reiner prove that his legacy will live on.

The post ‘Stand By Me’ Star Kiefer Sutherland Calls Rob Reiner ‘One of the Kindest Gentlemen’ appeared first on EntertainmentNow.