Yesterday, we reported that the former All In The Family star Rob Reiner was found dead along with his wife Michelle on Sunday. They were allegedly murdered by their own son Nick, who has since been arrested.
Now, the Oscar-nominated Hollywood star James Woods is speaking out to pay an emotional tribute to Reiner after his murder.
Woods Honors Reiner
Woods, 78, went on Fox News on Monday night to honor his dear friend Reiner. Though Woods is a Trump-supporting Republican and Reiner was a diehard liberal, their friendship still endured.
“At a very, very down point in my career, Rob literally saved my career and really put me back on track in a way that was so important and rewarding in my life,” Woods told host Jesse Watters. “And he really fought for me when the studio didn’t want me in a movie.”
“I was 32 years too young for the part. But he really believed that I was right and could do it,” he continued. “It was something that virtually nobody agreed with except one of his partners, Martin Shafer, who was the head of Castle Rock and one of the greatest production companies ever.”
“We did Ghosts of Mississippi together,” Woods recalled. “And I went from really being basically out of a job to getting an Academy Award nomination, and I give all the credit to Rob.”
Woods And Reiner Put Politics Aside
Woods went on to say that fans were often confused when they saw him and Reiner laughing together at parties, given their political differences.
“I judge people by how they treat me, and Rob Reiner was a godsend in my life,” Woods explained. “We got along great, we loved each other… and he was always on my side.”
Not stopping there, Woods described Reiner as a “patriot” who loved America deeply.
Woods also recalled the moment that he heard that Reiner and his wife were murdered.
“My friend Carol called me and said, ‘Listen, I want you to hear about this before it’s on the news, Rob and Michele were murdered,'” Woods recounted. “I literally said, ‘Rob and Michele who?’ She goes, ‘Reiner.'”
Woods was then stunned into silence. Indeed, he could not believe what he was being told.
“You know when you can’t breathe? I literally said, ‘Was it a home invasion?’ She said they didn’t know, but that it may have been Nick,” Woods lamented. “I just felt my heart drop. All I could think about was what Tracy [Reiner] is going to go through.”
Woods concluded by saying that he “loved, respected and cherished” Reiner.
Check out Woods’ full comments on this in the video below.
Reiner’s Murder
Reiner was the father of an adopted daughter Tracy, 61, who he shared with his ex-wife, the late Laverne & Shirley star Penny Marshall. He and Michelle were also parents to Jake, 34, Nick, 32, and Romy, 28.
It was Romy who found their bodies at around 3:30pm on Sunday. Nick was arrested for their murders hours later. He remains in custody on a $4 million bond. Nick had struggled with addiction and mental health for years, and he was living with his parents when they were murdered.
Whether you were a fan of Reiner’s or not, it can’t be denied that his murder was incredibly tragic. Woods’ comments serve as a reminder of that. Please join us in saying a prayer for all of Reiner’s loved ones, including Woods, during this tragic time.