Rob Reiner biography

He even appeared on screen as the band's manager Marty DiBergi. While critics responded positively to this hilarious spoof, it was not an instant hit. Since its release, however, it has become a comedy cult classic.

Reiner followed up this film with The Sure Thing (1985), a road trip romantic comedy starring John Cusack and Daphne Zuniga. The movie received some positive reviews,

but it was met with a tepid response at the box office.

Turning his attention to more serious fare, Reiner directed the 1986 coming-of-age drama Stand By Me. The film, based on a story by Stephen King, was a critical and commercial success. It helped launch the careers of its young stars, including River Phoenix and Corey Feldman. The film also earned Golden Globe, Director's Guild of America, Kinema Junpo and Independent Spirit award nominations.

Playing with fables and legends, Reiner next helmed the fantastical comedy The Princess Bride (1987), starring Robin Wright, Cary Elwes, Chris Sarandon and Mandy Patinkin. The film was another instant hit, and helped launch the career of a young Fred Savage. Around this time, Reiner also co-founded Castle Rock Entertainment, a film and television production company. The business was later sold to Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. in 1993.

In 1989, Reiner scored another big hit with the romantic comedy When Harry Met Sally... . The film explored whether men and women can truly just be friends without becoming romantically involved. Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan starred as the title characters. His mother, Estelle, also appeared in the movie in a brief cameo. The film proved to be Reiner's biggest film of his career thus far, earning more than $90 million in its United States release.

Not one to stick to a single genre, Reiner carefully crafted the hit 1990 thriller Misery, starring James Caan and Kathy Bates. Based on a work by Stephen King, the film tells the story of a novelist (Caan) who is being held hostage by a crazed fan (Bates). For her performance in the film, Bates received the 1990 Academy Award for best actress.

Two years later, Reiner scored another box office hit with the military drama A Few Good Men (1992). The film starred Demi Moore and Tom Cruise as Navy lawyers defending two Marines involved in a hazing-related death. Jack Nicholson gave a tremendous performance as the Marines' base commander. The film was nominated for an Academy Award for best picture—Reiner's only Academy Award nomination to date.

Ending his directorial winning streak with North (1994), Reiner found himself the target of intense media criticism. Critics panned the film, which starred Elijah Wood as a boy who divorces his parents and tries to find new ones. The movie was also a disaster at the box office. The following year, Reiner bounced back with the popular political comedy The American President (1995), starring Michael Douglas.

Ghosts of Mississippi (1996) explored the decades-long fight to bring the assassin of civil rights leader Medgar Evers to justice.