Carl Reiner, the ingenious and versatile writer, actor and director who broke through as a “second banana” to Sid Caesar and rose to comedy’s front ranks as creator of “The Dick Van Dyke Show” and straight man to Mel Brooks’ “2000 Year Old Man,” has died, according to reports. He was 98.
A look at the comedy icon's life and career:
Carl Reiner, 1958
Writer Carl Reiner and actress Polly Bergen pose with their statuettes at the Emmy Awards presentations in New York City, April 15, 1958. Reiner won for best continuing supporting performance by an actor in a dramatic or comedy series for "Caesar's Hour." Bergen won best single performance by an actress in a lead or support role for "Playhouse 90: Helen Morgan Story." (AP Photo)
Carl Reiner, 1963
FILE - In this May 26, 1963 file photo, Carl Reiner shows holds two Emmy statuettes presented to him as best comedy writer for the "Dick Van Dyke Show," during the annual Emmy Awards presentation in Los Angeles. Reiner, the ingenious and versatile writer, actor and director who broke through as a “second banana” to Sid Caesar and rose to comedy’s front ranks as creator of “The Dick Van Dyke Show” and straight man to Mel Brooks’ “2000 Year Old Man,” has died, according to reports. Variety reported he died of natural causes on Monday night, June 29, 2020, at his home in Beverly Hills, Calif. He was 98. (AP Photo, File)
Carl Reiner, 1963
The old pie-in-face routine is rehearsed by, left to right, Dick Van Dyke, Richard Deacon and Carl Reiner for an episode in the comedy series which was been signed up for next year, April 11, 1963. (AP Photo/David F. Smith)
Carl Reiner, 1966
Carl Reiner, who plays the role of Big Bad Brady, left, dresses in white for the part while star Dick Van Dyke, right, as a small town sheriff, dresses in black, April 1, 1966, Los Angeles, Calif. Here they rehearse a scene in which they have a shoot-out and shoot each other accidentally. The scene is from an episode of the CBS-TV Dick Van Dyke Show called The Gunslinger slated for telecasting on May 25. (AP Photo/David F. Smith)
Carl Reiner, 1967
FILE - In this May 25, 1967 file writer-comedian Carl Reiner poses in his new hairpiece in Los Angeles. Reiner, the ingenious and versatile writer, actor and director who broke through as a “second banana” to Sid Caesar and rose to comedy’s front ranks as creator of “The Dick Van Dyke Show” and straight man to Mel Brooks’ “2000 Year Old Man,” has died, according to reports. Variety reported he died of natural causes on Monday night, June 29, 2020, at his home in Beverly Hills, Calif. He was 98. (AP Photo/Harold Filan, File)
Carl Reiner, 1967
Televisions Carl Reiner, the comedian-actor-writer-director-producer, displays the new hairpiece he wears for acting roles, and then shows his thinking mans head, as it really is, May 25, 1967, Los Angeles, Calif. Reiner makes no secret of being bald, and wears his hair only when acting, or at night, like a piece of formal clothing. (AP Photo/Harold Filan)
Carl Reiner, 1977
FILE - In this Oct. 3, 1977 file photo, writer-director Carl Reiner appears during an interview about his movie " Oh God!" in New York. Reiner, the ingenious and versatile writer, actor and director who broke through as a “second banana” to Sid Caesar and rose to comedy’s front ranks as creator of “The Dick Van Dyke Show” and straight man to Mel Brooks’ “2000 Year Old Man,” has died, according to reports. Variety reported he died of natural causes on Monday night, June 29, 2020, at his home in Beverly Hills, Calif. He was 98. (AP Photo/Suzanne Vlamis, File)
Carl Reiner, 1979
Comedian Steve Martin, left, and director-entertainer Carl Reiner, right, struggle pose by Reiners birthday cake, Tuesday, March 20, 1979, Los Angeles, Calif. Martin has begun filming his first motion picture The Jerk directed by Reiner recently in Los Angeles. Reiner was 56 Tuesday. (AP Photo/Eve)
Carl Reiner, 1987
Carl Reiner is photographed at the American Comedy Awards, May 19, 1987, Los Angeles, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Carl Reiner, 1995
Cyndi Lauper and Carl Reiner pose with their trophies for Outstanding Guest Actor and Actress in a Comedy Series during the 47th annual Emmy Awards, Sunday, Sept. 10, 1995, in Pasadena, Calif. Both won for their appearances on "Mad About You." (AP Photo/Kevork Djanasezian)
Carl Reiner, 2003
Director Carl Reiner poses backstage with a special award plaque for his contribution as master of ceremonies at the Directors Guild of America Awards, Saturday, March 1, 2003 in the Century City section of Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Weeks)
Carl Reiner, 2007
Dick Van Dyke, left, and Carl Reiner leave funeral services for Merv Griffin at Church of the Good Shepherd in Beverly Hills, Calif., Friday, Aug. 17, 2007. (AP Photo/Fred Prouser, Pool)
Carl Reiner, 2009
Actor and comedian Carl Reiner performs at the "Comedy Central Roast of Joan Rivers" in Los Angeles on Sunday, July 26, 2009. (AP Photo/Dan Steinberg)
Carl Reiner, 2010
Carl Reiner,left, and Mel Brooks, accept the Legend Award at the eighth annual TV Land Awards on Saturday, April 17, 2010, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Spencer Weiner)
Carl Reiner, 2011
Honoree Carl Reiner speaks onstage at the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Presents: "An Evening Honoring Carl Reiner" at the Leonard H. Goldenson Theatre on October 13, 2011 in North Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frank Micelotta/PictureGroup) via AP IMAGES
Carl Reiner, 2012
From left, Mickey Rooney, Marvin Kaplan, Jonathan Winters and Carl Reiner, cast members in the 1963 film "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World," pose together at the kick-off of The Last 70mm Film Festival presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Monday, July 9, 2012, at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
Carl Reiner, 2013
Honoree Mel Brooks, right, greets Carl Reiner after hearing Reiner's testimonial to him during the American Film Institute's 41st Lifetime Achievement Award Gala at the Dolby Theatre on Thursday, June 6, 2013 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizello/Invision/AP)
Carl Reiner, 2014
Entertainer Mel Brooks, left, gets a kiss from filmmaker Carl Reiner during his Hand and Footprint ceremony on the 40th anniversary of the movie "Young Frankenstein," in front of the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood section of Los Angeles Monday, Sept. 8, 2014. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)
Carl Reiner, 2015
Carl Reiner presents an award in honor of the 15th Anniversary of “Freaks & Geeks” at the TV Land Awards at the Saban Theatre on Saturday, April 11, 2015, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
Carl Reiner, 2017
Carl Reiner, left, and his son Rob Reiner hold up their hands after putting them in cement during a hand and footprint ceremony for them at the TCL Chinese Theatre on Friday, April 7, 2017, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
Carl Reiner, 2019
Honoree Carl Reiner addresses the audience at "The Paley Honors: A Special Tribute to Television's Comedy Legends" at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel, Thursday, Nov. 21, 2019, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
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