Carl Reiner has had a long, varied, and distinguished career as an entertainer. He entered show business in the army during WWII when a fortuitous encounter with comedian Howard Morris led to an audition to entertain the troops in Maurice Evans’ GI Revue. After the war, Reiner began his prolific writing and acting career, writing for variety shows, live anthology dramas and sitcoms during the “Golden Age” of television. His credits include Caesar’s Hour, Your Show of Shows, Playhouse 90, Kraft Television Theater, and later, The Dick van Dyke Show, which Reiner also produced. At the same time, Reiner acted in films like It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World, and The Russians Are Coming, among others. He also teamed with Mel Brooks for their hugely successful comedy routine, The 2000-Year-Old Man.
Reiner began directing feature films in 1967 with the semi-autobiographical Enter Laughing, from his book about breaking into show business. He went on to direct such beloved comedies as Where's Poppa?, The Comic, Oh, God!, The Jerk, Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid, Summer School, Bert Rigby, You’re A Fool and That Old Feeling.
Reiner has been honored with five Emmys and four Emmy nominations, a Laurel Award and Laurel Nomination from the Writers Guild, the Mark Twain Prize for Comedy from the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, a Television Critics Association Career Achievement Award, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Carl Reiner served as Master of Ceremonies for the annual DGA Awards for nearly a quarter century, hosting 23 times between 1987 and 2011. In 2007, the DGA bestowed Reiner with its highest honor, Honorary Life Member, in recognition of his service to the Guild and his outstanding creative achievements.
Reiner passed away in June 2020.