Carl Reiner was a multifaceted American talent, spanning roles as an actor, comedian, director, screenwriter and author across seven decades.
Celebrated with 11 Primetime Emmy Awards, a Grammy and the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, he was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame in 1999.
In the 1950s, he was pivotal in pioneering TV comedy, contributing to “Your Show of Shows” and “Caesar’s Hour” alongside giants like Mel Brooks, Neil Simon and Woody Allen.
Reiner and Brooks collaborated on iconic comedy albums, notably “2000 Years with Carl Reiner and Mel Brooks” in 1960.
I have made the list of the best quotes by Carl Reiner.
Best Carl Reiner Quotes
“Give yourself an impossible task and solve it – then you’ve got a really good story.” ~ (Carl Reiner).
“I wrote three books about growing up in the Bronx.” ~ (Carl Reiner).
“Comedians are really writers who don’t have pens and pencils about them, but they riff.” ~ (Carl Reiner).
“The absolute truth is the thing that makes people laugh.” ~ (Carl Reiner).
“Lust is easy. Love is hard. Life is most important.” ~ (Carl Reiner).
“Improvisation is just writing in front of an audience.” ~ (Carl Reiner).
“An attitude will give you heft.” ~ (Carl Reiner).
“If you can get a laugh out of a name, you’re ahead of the game.” ~ (Carl Reiner).
“I’m a charming coward; I fight with words.” ~ (Carl Reiner).
“I write books that way – I put a first line down and say, “Where does this go?”” ~ (Carl Reiner).
“You’d only write what you know and what you know is what you do and the people you know. So you’d write about them or the people you have met casually. It’s part of your life.” ~ (Carl Reiner).
Famous Carl Reiner Quotes
“I’ve done everything I’ve wanted to do. I have three children, I have grandchildren, I have books, I did movies, I’ve directed movies, I’ve done almost everything I’ve wanted to do.” ~ (Carl Reiner).
“My father was a watchmaker and an inventor. I saw him working in the house every day. The work ethic, I got from him. He worked hard and he never complained about it.” ~ (Carl Reiner).
“I am an atheist. I have a very different take on who God is. Man invented God because he needed him. God is us.” ~ (Carl Reiner).
“Inviting people to laugh with you while you are laughing at yourself is a good thing to do. You may be a fool but you’re the fool in charge.” ~ (Carl Reiner).
“A lot of people like snow. I find it to be an unnecessary freezing of water.” ~ (Carl Reiner).
“I only please myself. I figure I’m just one of many people. I’m not that different from anybody else and I don’t have great language – I’m very ordinary.” ~ (Carl Reiner).
Top Carl Reiner Quotes
“I’m not a believer, I call myself an atheist. It was man who invented God. I once wrote that there are 15 things I know about God, and one is that he is allergic to shellfish. There are far too many commandments and you really only need one: Do not hurt anybody.” ~ (Carl Reiner).
“I certainly have warm relationships with people, but you choose the people you have those relationships with. There are some people I don’t bother with.” ~ (Carl Reiner).
“When you denigrate people, they have two ways to fight back – with their fists and guns, or their mouths. And mouths are seemingly the easiest way to not get hit back. If people are laughing, they’re not going to hit you.” ~ (Carl Reiner).
“When I found out I could write I was shocked! I didn’t know I could write.” ~ (Carl Reiner).
“A fellow who has a funny bone can learn to hone his skills, but I don’t think you can develop a funny bone – you either have it or you don’t. And by the way – when you get it, we don’t know it.” ~ (Carl Reiner).
“People have a comic bent or an angularity to their thinking, and those are the people who make jokes. And it’s usually people who were in an environment, when they were young, where jokes were at a premium, or at least considered important to a life. My parents always listened to the comedy radio shows, we went to the comedy movies, and my parents appreciated comedy. So kids listen and follow what their parents like.” ~ (Carl Reiner).
Popular Carl Reiner Quotes
“I love tweeting. I tweet every day. I stay in contact, I tell them what I’m doing. I’ve posted pictures of my books on there and they buy the books. It’s a very good way to communicate with people, but I can’t go to bed without tweeting something. I have to tweet something.” ~ (Carl Reiner).
“Everybody wants to laugh – you know that. They need to laugh… people need to laugh.” ~ (Carl Reiner).
“I think that comedy really tells you how it is. The other thing about comedy is that – you don’t even know if you’re failing in drama, but you do know when you’re failing in comedy. When you go to a comedy and you don’t hear anybody laughing, you know that you’ve failed.” ~ (Carl Reiner).
“I’m an entertainer and I entertain people and they entertain me back by asking questions. And some of them I answer.” ~ (Carl Reiner).
“Id like to acknowledge three people who early on knew Mel Brooks was one of the funniest people in the world: Sid Caesar, me, and Mel Brooks.” ~ (Carl Reiner).
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Short Biography of Carl Reiner
Carl Reiner was a multi-talented American icon, excelling as an actor, comedian, director, and author over seven decades.
He won 11 Emmy Awards, a Grammy, and the prestigious Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.
Reiner made significant contributions to early TV comedy, notably with “Your Show of Shows” and “Caesar’s Hour,” and created “The Dick Van Dyke Show.”
| Full Name | Carl Reiner |
| Born | 20 March 1922, The Bronx, New York, United States |
| Died | 29 June 2020 (age 98 years), Beverly Hills, California, United States |
| Occupations | Actor, Comedian, Director, Screenwriter, Author |
| Years active | 1945–2020 |
| Medium | Stand-up, Film, Television, Theatre |
| Genres | Observational comedy, Black comedy, Deadpan, Surreal humor, Sketch comedy, Satire |
| Subject(s) | American culture, Human interaction, Pop culture, Current events, Self-deprecation |
| Children | Rob Reiner, Lucas Reiner, Annie Reiner |
| Grandchildren | Tracy Reiner, Romy Reiner, Jake Reiner, Nick Reiner |
| Parents | Irving Reiner, Bessie Mathias |
| Siblings | Charlie Reiner |
| Education | School of Foreign Service |
| Alma mater | Georgetown University |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Estelle Lebost(m. 1943; died 2008) |
| Service | United States Army Air Forces |
| Years of service | 1942–1946 |
| Rank | Staff Sergeant |
| Unit | Armed Forces Radio Service |
| Wars | World War II, American Theater |
| Awards | Good Conduct Medal |
His partnership with Mel Brooks on the “2000 Year Old Man” sketches and directing Steve Martin’s notable films like “The Jerk” are highlights of his diverse career.
Reiner, born to Jewish immigrant parents in The Bronx, switched from machinist to entertainer after a nudge from his brother.
His WWII service included entertainment duties, showcasing early directing skills. Reiner’s legacy extends to his children, including Rob Reiner, and numerous books written later in life.
Quick Facts about Carl Reiner
- Carl Reiner was born on March 20, 1922, in The Bronx, New York.
- He passed away on June 29, 2020, at the age of 98.
- Reiner’s career in entertainment spanned over seven decades.
- He won 11 Primetime Emmy Awards and a Grammy Award.
- Reiner was awarded the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.
- In 1999, he was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame.
- He was a key figure in early television comedy, working on “Your Show of Shows” and “Caesar’s Hour.”
- Reiner formed a famous comedy duo with Mel Brooks, creating “The 2000 Year Old Man.”
- He created, produced, and acted in “The Dick Van Dyke Show” from 1961 to 1966.
- Reiner’s film directorial efforts include “Enter Laughing,” “Where’s Poppa?,” and “Oh, God!”
- He directed several Steve Martin films, such as “The Jerk” and “All of Me.”
- Reiner authored more than two dozen books, including novels and memoirs.
- He served in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II.
- Reiner’s father was a watchmaker from Austria, and his mother was from Romania.
- He was encouraged to pursue acting by his brother Charles, who discovered a free drama workshop.
- Reiner’s military service included working as a teleprinter operator and entertaining troops in the Pacific theater.
- He performed on Broadway and was a comic actor on Sid Caesar’s “Your Show of Shows.”
- Reiner hosted the game show “Keep Talking” and “The Celebrity Game.”
- His first film as a director was based on his novel “Enter Laughing.”
- Reiner played significant roles in the success of films like “Oh, God!” and “The Jerk.”
- He voiced characters in animated shows and movies, including “Father of the Pride.”
- Reiner was an avid Twitter user, even in his late 90s.
- He married Estelle Lebost in 1943, and they were married for almost 65 years.
- Reiner was the father of actor-director Rob Reiner and two other children, Annie and Lucas.
- He described himself as an atheist and was a vocal critic of Donald Trump’s administration.
- Reiner’s final role was in “Home Movie: The Princess Bride,” filmed shortly before his death.
- He was honored alongside his son Rob at Grauman’s Chinese Theater with handprints and footprints.
- Reiner died from natural causes after spending his last day with Mel Brooks.
- His death prompted tributes from many in the entertainment industry.
- Reiner’s legacy includes a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and numerous accolades for his contributions to comedy and entertainment.
Top Questions about Carl Reiner
A: Carl Reiner created “The Dick Van Dyke Show” in 1961.
A: Carl Reiner won seven Emmy Awards for “The Dick Van Dyke Show.”
A: Mel Brooks was Carl Reiner’s comedic partner in the “2,000-Year-Old Man” skit.
A: Carl Reiner passed away on June 29, 2020, from natural causes.
A: Carl Reiner’s career spanned seven decades.
A: The comedy albums were titled “2000 Years with Carl Reiner and Mel Brooks.”
A: Carl Reiner received 11 Primetime Emmy Awards.
A: Carl Reiner was drafted into the United States Army Air Forces.
A: Carl Reiner acted on and contributed sketch material for “Your Show of Shows” and “Caesar’s Hour,” starring Sid Caesar.
A: Carl Reiner was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame in 1999.
A: Carl Reiner’s first film directorial effort was “Enter Laughing” in 1966.
A: In 2000, Carl Reiner was honored with the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.
A: Carl Reiner wrote several children’s books inspired by stories he told his grandson, who would request, “Tell me a scary story, Grandpa, but not too scary.”
A: Carl Reiner’s final role was in “Home Movie: The Princess Bride,” where he appeared alongside his son, Rob Reiner.
A: Carl Reiner believed that to write comedy, one should see themselves as very ordinary because what makes an ordinary person laugh is likely to make everyone laugh.
