To say that the late, great Carl Reiner had an extensive legacy would be a gross understatement. The comedy icon was well known for creating and starring in The Dick Van Dyke Show and working on sketch comedies like Your Show of Shows and Caesar’s Hour through the ‘50s and ‘60s. However, his career also included numerous recurring roles and guest spots in more recent shows like Two and a Half Men. Now, creator Chuck Lorre and members of the cast are taking the time to remember Reiner.
On Two and a Half Men, Carl Reiner played the role of Marty Pepper, an aged TV mogul who dated and later married Evelyn Harper. Reiner would appear on the show in several episodes between Seasons 7 and 11. In a statement to Deadline, Chuck Lorre recalled his time working with Reiner on the show as one of the most “rewarding and joyful experiences” of his career:
Getting to work with Carl Reiner on Two and a Half Men was one of the most rewarding and joyful experiences of my career. It was an opportunity to watch mastery in action. And the best part was seeing how much fun he was having playing a wheel-chair bound degenerate. He reminded us all not to take ourselves so damn seriously.
Jon Cryer, who played Reiner’s eventual stepson Alan Harper, went to social media to pay tribute to the late comedian. Cryer was once tasked with replacing Reiner as the host of the Directors Guild of America Awards, a position the icon had held for a while. In a tweet, Cryer shared the letter Reiner sent him ahead of the show and, as you can imagine, the comedy vet responded in appropriate fashion:
Jon Cryer would go on to say that he would go on to nail his hosting duties, especially since he kicked off the show by reading Carl Reiner’s letter. In another tweet, Cryer said that working and getting to know Reiner were two of the biggest thrills of his career and noted just how much joy he brought to people.
Holland Taylor, Reiner’s TV girlfriend and wife, would join Cryer in paying tribute to him. While sharing a tribute from fellow Two and a Half Men alum Amber Tamblyn, Holland remembered Reiner as a funny man and intelligent man with values:
Since his passing, tributes have been pouring in for Carl Reiner, coming from various stars around Hollywood. This includes collaborators like Mel Brooks and Bette Midler and those who looked up to him like Steve Martin and George Clooney.
It goes without saying that Carl Reiner leaves a void in Hollywood that will not be filled, but it’s wonderful to see the cast and crew of Two and a Half Men, and many others, paying tribute to one of the biggest names in Hollywood history.
We here at CinemaBlend send our thoughts to Carl Reiner’s loved ones at this time.
