The late filmmaker made a surprise appearance as George Washington in David’s ‘Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness,’ months after his death
Credit: John Johnson/HBO
NEED TO KNOW
- Rob Reiner makes a posthumous appearance as George Washington in Larry David’s new HBO series, Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness
- The satirical sketch critiques modern politics and reunites Reiner with longtime collaborator David
- Reiner’s son, Nick, faces charges in connection with his parents’ deaths
Rob Reiner delivered one last pointed political message.
The late filmmaker and actor appeared posthumously in the second episode of HBO’s Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness, Larry David’s new sketch comedy series that reimagines moments throughout American history. Rob, who died in December at age 78, portrayed George Washington in a segment inspired by the first president’s decision to step away after two terms in office.
In the sketch, Washington announces that no president should serve more than two terms, prompting David, playing a skeptical colonist, to imagine a future leader who ignores the Constitution, uses the presidency for personal gain and seeks to remain in power.
Although President Donald Trump is never mentioned by name, the exchange is a clear satire aimed at the current president. Trump has routinely teased the possibility of seeking a third term since returning to office and openly questioned whether he would be allowed to do so.
Rob’s cameo marks one of his final completed acting projects. After the episode aired, his son, Jake Reiner, who appears in the premiere episode of Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness, shared a behind-the-scenes photo from set showing his father in costume with his signature beard.
Credit: Gregg DeGuire/Getty
The role also reunited Rob with one of his closest creative collaborators. Rob previously appeared on David’s acclaimed HBO comedy Curb Your Enthusiasm, and the pair shared a decades-long friendship that extended well beyond the screen.
Following Rob’s death, David was among the friends who visited the family’s home, alongside longtime collaborator Billy Crystal.
Credit: Jake Reiner/Instagram
The new series is executive produced in part by former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama through Higher Ground and takes an improvised comedic approach to pivotal events in American history as the nation approaches its 250th anniversary.
Rob, whose directing credits include the classics When Harry Met Sally, The Princess Bride and This Is Spinal Tap, was also one of Trump’s most outspoken Hollywood critics.
In one of his final television interviews, he warned that the U.S. was moving toward authoritarianism under Trump’s second administration, telling MSNBC the country was “sliding downhill in a very, very fast way” and urging Americans to protect democracy.
Credit: Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty
After Rob and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, were found dead in their Los Angeles home in December, Trump sparked backlash with a post on Truth Social, in which he took aim at the late filmmaker.
“A very sad thing happened last night in Hollywood. Rob Reiner, a tortured and struggling, but once very talented movie director and comedy star, has passed away, together with his wife, Michele, reportedly due to the anger he caused others through his massive, unyielding, and incurable affliction with a mind crippling disease known as TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME, sometimes referred to as TDS,” Trump wrote. “He was known to have driven people CRAZY by his raging obsession of President Donald J. Trump.”
Trump concluded the message by writing, “May Rob and Michele rest in peace.”
Rob’s death remains at the center of an ongoing criminal case. His son, Nick Reiner, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of first-degree murder in connection with the deaths of his parents. Nick remains in custody without bail as the case proceeds.
Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness is now streaming on HBO, with new episodes debuting Fridays.
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