Hollywood is mourning onscreen icons Rob Reiner and Anthony Geary — and the pair had a TV connection that spanned decades before their deaths.
Reiner and Geary both appeared in a 1971 episode of All in the Family called “Judging Books by Covers.” Reiner portrayed Mike “Meathead” Stivic on the series for eight seasons and was a favorite on the program. Geary made a guest appearance, playing Mike’s friend Roger.
Rob and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, were found dead in their Brentwood, California, home with apparent stab wounds on Sunday, December 14. The When Harry Met Sally director was 78, and Michele was 68.
Their family broke their silence, confirming their deaths in a subsequent statement. (Rob and Michele shared kids Jake, 34, Nick, 32, and Romy, 28, as well as Rob’s adopted daughter, Tracy, 61, from his first marriage to late ex-wife Penny Marshall.)
“It is with profound sorrow that we announce the tragic passing of Michele and Rob Reiner. We are heartbroken by this sudden loss, and we ask for privacy during this unbelievably difficult time,” the family said in a statement to Variety on Sunday.
The following day, Nick was arrested on suspicion of murder and is being held without bail. As the investigation continues, more details have come to light about Rob and Michele’s final hours. A source exclusively told Us Weekly that Rob, Michele and Nick had attended a holiday party at Conan O’Brien’s house on Saturday, December 13. The source claimed Nick was acting “creepily” toward eventgoers and going “up to people” and “asking if they were famous” before they all left the party.
Geary also died on Sunday. His husband, Claudio Gama, confirmed to TV Insider that the 78-year-old soap star died following complications from a surgery three days prior.
“It was a shock for me and our families and our friends. For more than 30 years, Tony has been my friend, my companion, my husband,” Gama told the outlet.
Geary was a mainstay on daytime television, portraying Luke Spencer on General Hospital for four decades. The role earned him eight Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series before making his final acting appearance on the soap opera in 2017. The Young and the Restless alum spent his final years living a quiet life in Amsterdam with his husband.
Reiner and Geary’s former costars, friends and fans shared their love for the actors after their tragic deaths. John Stamos, who starred alongside Geary on General Hospital, honored both men in a tribute.
“I am deeply saddened by the passing of my friend and former costar, Tony Geary,” Stamos, 62, captioned a post via Instagram on Monday, December 15. “Coming on the heels of the tragic deaths of Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele, whom I admired immensely — this feels like a heartbreaking moment for so many of us who grew up watching and learning from these giants of our craft.”
Stamos was just 19 years old when he landed his first acting job on General Hospital.
“Tony could not have been kinder or more welcoming,” he reflected. “At that age, everything feels big. He made it feel safe. I was mesmerized by his acting. I would stay after my scenes were finished just to watch him work — not because I had to, but because I wanted to learn. Watching Tony was like watching someone rewrite the rules in real time. He changed the face of daytime television. And in very real ways, he changed my life.”
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