On Monday, the film community and the state of California paid tribute to director Rob Reiner, who was found dead with stab wounds Sunday.
A Legacy of Advocacy
Reiner’s death prompted condolences from elected officials, including Gov. Gavin Newsom, Rep. Nancy Pelosi and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. They thanked him for his work advancing civil rights and for the influence he wielded through his blockbuster films such as When Harry Met Sally and A Few Good Men.
In the mid-1990s, Reiner turned his focus toward social issues that would shape California policy, especially early childhood development and same-sex marriage. His activism was rooted in the belief that a child’s first five years are critical.
Early Childhood Development
Reiner launched the “I Am Your Child” campaign in the mid-1990s, a national initiative to raise awareness about early childhood. The campaign gained momentum through collaborations with the Clinton-Gore administration and public appearances with friends Tom Hanks and Michael J. Fox.
In 1998, Reiner’s foundation backed Proposition 10, an early-childhood cigarette-tax initiative. The measure increased the cigarette tax by 50 cents per pack and earmarked the revenue for early-childhood programs. The passage of Prop 10 led to the creation of First 5 California, which sets prenatal and early-development priorities for families and provides oversight.
Each county, such as First 5 Los Angeles, has discretion over how to use the cigarette-tax funds. For example, after the January wildfires in the Pacific Palisades and Altadena, First 5 LA supplied resources to child-care providers to aid community rebuilding. By 2009, it was estimated that Prop 10 provided at least $500 million annually to First 5 programs.
Reiner’s commitment to early childhood also manifested in his 2000s push for a universal preschool program. He partnered with the California Teachers’ Association and the state Democratic Party to support Proposition 82, a free half-day public preschool initiative. The proposal sought to levy a 1.7% tax on individuals earning $400,000 or more per year to fund a universal program for all four-year-olds. Prop 82 was rejected by more than 60% of voters.
Marriage Equality
Reiner’s activism extended to the fight against Proposition 8, the 2008 California initiative that defined marriage as between one man and one woman. Despite a state Supreme Court ruling earlier that year declaring same-sex marriage legal, Prop 8 reversed that decision. In opposition, Reiner co-founded the American Foundation for Equal Rights, mobilizing legal challenges that helped restore marriage equality in California.
On February 7, 2012, Reiner spoke at a celebration at Los Angeles City Hall alongside Oscar-winning writer Dustin Lance Black and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, after a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Prop 8 violated civil rights.
Gov. Gavin Newsom praised Reiner’s support during the period when the then-San Francisco mayor allowed same-sex couples to marry. “He had my back at a time when a lot of members of my own party, the Democratic Party, didn’t,” Newsom said in a social-media post.
A Life Remembered
Reiner’s influence stretched beyond the screen. In February 1997, he addressed the National Governors Association winter meeting in Washington, D.C., announcing plans to air a television program on early childhood development in the spring, hosted by Tom Hanks. The program’s goal was to educate a national audience about the importance of the first five years.
His leadership was also evident in community engagement. On April 21, 2003, Reiner, then chairman of First 5 California, was photographed in Huntington Beach speaking with a three-year-old boy at Oak View Pre-School and Education Resource Center, while discussing the Children and Families Initiative with the media.
Reiner’s death has prompted reflection on a career that blended cinematic success with a steadfast commitment to social progress. His work on early childhood and marriage equality left an enduring imprint on California’s policies and on the broader national conversation.
Key Takeaways
- Rob Reiner, famed director, died after a stabbing on Sunday.
- He championed early-childhood programs, helping pass Prop 10 and create First 5 California.
- Reiner fought against Prop 8, co-founded the American Foundation for Equal Rights, and supported marriage equality.
Reiner’s legacy, celebrated by leaders across the political spectrum, underscores the powerful intersection of art, advocacy, and public policy.
