Kathy Bates says Rob Reiner 'changed the course of my life'
- - Kathy Bates says Rob Reiner 'changed the course of my life'
Anna Kaufman, USA TODAY December 20, 2025 at 1:42 AM
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Kathy Bates is adding her name to the long list of celebrities eulogizing director Rob Reiner.
Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, were found dead in their Los Angeles home Dec. 14. Their son, Nick Reiner, is facing murder charges for their deaths. Prosecutors accuse the 32-year-old screenwriter of "fatally stabbing" his parents, then fleeing the scene.
Bates, who starred in Reiner's adaptation of Stephen King's "Misery," said the late director "changed the course of my life."
Rob Reiner and Kathy Bates attend the screening of "Misery" during the 2025 TCM Classic Film Festival at TCL Chinese Theatre on April 25, 2025, in Hollywood, California.
Rob Reiner's final weekend, Conan O'Brien's party and unfathomable violence
"If I hadn't done 'Misery,' it would be like George Bailey going back and seeing what his life would have been like if he had never been there," she said, making reference to Frank Capra's 1946 film "It's A Wonderful Life." Her comments will air in a one-hour special set for Sunday on CBS, "CBS News: Rob Reiner - Scenes from a Life" (airing Dec. 21 at 8:30 p.m. ET).
Bates played the doting-turned-deranged Annie Wilkes in "Mistery," a nurse who rescues a famed novelist following a car crash, only to become obsessed and controlling over both him and his literary decisions.
"I wouldn't have had some of the friends that I have now. I wouldn't have had the richness in my life," said Bates, 77. "I quite frankly probably would have stayed in the theater and I doubt I would have had a movie career. I might have dropped out altogether.
"Rob changed the course of my life, and if he hadn't, I wouldn't be sitting here in front of you now," she continued.
1989: "When Harry Met Sally..."Rob Reiner directed iconic Hollywood films throughout his career. Who can forget this classic deli scene with Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal (and Reiner's mother Estelle Reiner) in the 1989 film "When Harry Met Sally..."?Look back at the director's iconic films through his career.
" style=padding-bottom:56%>1989: "When Harry Met Sally..."Rob Reiner directed iconic Hollywood films throughout his career. Who can forget this classic deli scene with Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal (and Reiner's mother Estelle Reiner) in the 1989 film "When Harry Met Sally..."?Look back at the director's iconic films through his career.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/dv_gtyD4rAb3Wx2iC.0F2Q--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04MzQ-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/97dfc813de3de67ba72c8f21880b2bb7 class=caas-img data-headline="These Rob Reiner movies became Hollywood classics" data-caption="
1989: "When Harry Met Sally..."Rob Reiner directed iconic Hollywood films throughout his career. Who can forget this classic deli scene with Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal (and Reiner's mother Estelle Reiner) in the 1989 film "When Harry Met Sally..."?Look back at the director's iconic films through his career.
">1989: "When Harry Met Sally..."Rob Reiner directed iconic Hollywood films throughout his career. Who can forget this classic deli scene with Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal (and Reiner's mother Estelle Reiner) in the 1989 film "When Harry Met Sally..."?Look back at the director's iconic films through his career.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/dv_gtyD4rAb3Wx2iC.0F2Q--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04MzQ-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/97dfc813de3de67ba72c8f21880b2bb7 class=caas-img>1984: "This is Spinal Tap"
" style=padding-bottom:56%>1984: "This is Spinal Tap"
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/iTXu.qwEZrfc8DF_f7A8gg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04MjE-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/8c7be3a61fbcd6ac817284fa2944e639 class=caas-img data-headline="These Rob Reiner movies became Hollywood classics" data-caption="
1984: "This is Spinal Tap"
">1984: "This is Spinal Tap"
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/iTXu.qwEZrfc8DF_f7A8gg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04MjE-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/8c7be3a61fbcd6ac817284fa2944e639 class=caas-img>1986: "Stand by Me"
" style=padding-bottom:56%>1986: "Stand by Me"
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/ay74okMQZKg74PWey6CGuQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04MzY-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/f3ae33fde1f9a87074a75c49f3ca5342 class=caas-img data-headline="These Rob Reiner movies became Hollywood classics" data-caption="
1986: "Stand by Me"
">1986: "Stand by Me"
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/ay74okMQZKg74PWey6CGuQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04MzY-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/f3ae33fde1f9a87074a75c49f3ca5342 class=caas-img>1990: "Misery"
" style=padding-bottom:56%>1990: "Misery"
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/dWpFDdV6mWM6W_YmiyYXSg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mzk-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/3788ecaeb96ecabce428f77d420d07bc class=caas-img data-headline="These Rob Reiner movies became Hollywood classics" data-caption="
1990: "Misery"
">1990: "Misery"
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/dWpFDdV6mWM6W_YmiyYXSg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mzk-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/3788ecaeb96ecabce428f77d420d07bc class=caas-img>1992: "A Few Good Men"
" style=padding-bottom:56%>1992: "A Few Good Men"
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/mG6mpnun5.59m7k4zo9wog--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/edfd316b60e37b5d4261eef6400e86b5 class=caas-img data-headline="These Rob Reiner movies became Hollywood classics" data-caption="
1992: "A Few Good Men"
">1992: "A Few Good Men"
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/mG6mpnun5.59m7k4zo9wog--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/edfd316b60e37b5d4261eef6400e86b5 class=caas-img>1995: "The American President"
" style=padding-bottom:56%>1995: "The American President"
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/BCJtMe0uU8MwisQy8SwUMA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04MzY-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/79146bb943672a40325c0d473e524be1 class=caas-img data-headline="These Rob Reiner movies became Hollywood classics" data-caption="
1995: "The American President"
">1995: "The American President"
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/BCJtMe0uU8MwisQy8SwUMA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04MzY-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/79146bb943672a40325c0d473e524be1 class=caas-img>1996: "Ghosts of Mississippi"
" style=padding-bottom:56%>1996: "Ghosts of Mississippi"
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/x_z8djIY0pxAe2Sh8tlJ8g--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04NDI-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/e95c6dd2e9d7dfc4d6a0624b7162ef7e class=caas-img data-headline="These Rob Reiner movies became Hollywood classics" data-caption="
1996: "Ghosts of Mississippi"
">1996: "Ghosts of Mississippi"
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/x_z8djIY0pxAe2Sh8tlJ8g--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04NDI-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/e95c6dd2e9d7dfc4d6a0624b7162ef7e class=caas-img>1999: "The Story of Us"
" style=padding-bottom:56%>1999: "The Story of Us"
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/XBPEN.wp_tLFRLk7Whtg.Q--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04MTk-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/afd25f1f1077ba09f2757cf44ee83daa class=caas-img data-headline="These Rob Reiner movies became Hollywood classics" data-caption="
1999: "The Story of Us"
">1999: "The Story of Us"
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/XBPEN.wp_tLFRLk7Whtg.Q--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04MTk-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/afd25f1f1077ba09f2757cf44ee83daa class=caas-img>2003: "Alex & Emma"
" style=padding-bottom:56%>2003: "Alex & Emma"
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/.bCN8s.fGjoZ0qxKjQ.x5Q--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04MTY-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/54ce7a10a37f887f6954b3ab53c9baaa class=caas-img data-headline="These Rob Reiner movies became Hollywood classics" data-caption="
2003: "Alex & Emma"
">2003: "Alex & Emma"
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/.bCN8s.fGjoZ0qxKjQ.x5Q--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04MTY-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/54ce7a10a37f887f6954b3ab53c9baaa class=caas-img>2005: "Rumor Has It..."
" style=padding-bottom:56%>2005: "Rumor Has It..."
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/1CCdgCeBXnNKdU0J47tK_A--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjk-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/b19cc7c36f22425e2242a3dd68d57ce5 class=caas-img data-headline="These Rob Reiner movies became Hollywood classics" data-caption="
2005: "Rumor Has It..."
">2005: "Rumor Has It..."
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/1CCdgCeBXnNKdU0J47tK_A--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjk-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/b19cc7c36f22425e2242a3dd68d57ce5 class=caas-img>Director Bob Reiner on the set of the motion picture "Rumor Has It..."
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/DQ8fZGf.SD60vep3Aiz7Wg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xMDk5/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/5f66e52080069551d99db4f9c8053d8b class=caas-img data-headline="These Rob Reiner movies became Hollywood classics" data-caption="
Director Bob Reiner on the set of the motion picture "Rumor Has It..."
">Director Bob Reiner on the set of the motion picture "Rumor Has It..."
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/DQ8fZGf.SD60vep3Aiz7Wg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xMDk5/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/5f66e52080069551d99db4f9c8053d8b class=caas-img>2007: "The Bucket List"
" style=padding-bottom:56%>2007: "The Bucket List"
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/kxWw_iyx52ImzvdANPzXhw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04MjU-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/45b6aead54ce66d32faa979870d6c08b class=caas-img data-headline="These Rob Reiner movies became Hollywood classics" data-caption="
2007: "The Bucket List"
">2007: "The Bucket List"
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/kxWw_iyx52ImzvdANPzXhw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04MjU-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/45b6aead54ce66d32faa979870d6c08b class=caas-img>2012: "The Magic of Belle Isle"
" style=padding-bottom:56%>2012: "The Magic of Belle Isle"
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/Cln5U4VuCC8WyPfFrwKaXw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/85af1258bb9e64aafdad615e5a8274d1 class=caas-img data-headline="These Rob Reiner movies became Hollywood classics" data-caption="
2012: "The Magic of Belle Isle"
">2012: "The Magic of Belle Isle"
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/Cln5U4VuCC8WyPfFrwKaXw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/85af1258bb9e64aafdad615e5a8274d1 class=caas-img>2014: "And So It Goes"
" style=padding-bottom:56%>2014: "And So It Goes"
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/8mh_5fTpebQUdNFnnjhfPA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04MjY-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/4c8f0dd5133173d4606461f8b59e86bf class=caas-img data-headline="These Rob Reiner movies became Hollywood classics" data-caption="
2014: "And So It Goes"
">2014: "And So It Goes"
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/8mh_5fTpebQUdNFnnjhfPA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04MjY-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/4c8f0dd5133173d4606461f8b59e86bf class=caas-img>2025: "Spinal Tap II: The End Continues"
" style=padding-bottom:56%>2025: "Spinal Tap II: The End Continues"
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/6f5bc8YrCyVGxBVEtIbrbg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/06ffcac5e35f61d2a73d0710c484ff9a class=caas-img data-headline="These Rob Reiner movies became Hollywood classics" data-caption="
2025: "Spinal Tap II: The End Continues"
">2025: "Spinal Tap II: The End Continues"
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/6f5bc8YrCyVGxBVEtIbrbg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/06ffcac5e35f61d2a73d0710c484ff9a class=caas-img>
1 / 15These Rob Reiner movies became Hollywood classics
1989: "When Harry Met Sally..."Rob Reiner directed iconic Hollywood films throughout his career. Who can forget this classic deli scene with Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal (and Reiner's mother Estelle Reiner) in the 1989 film "When Harry Met Sally..."?Look back at the director's iconic films through his career.
Reiner's role as a launcher of careers – and an architect of great American cinema – was indisputable. With classic films like "Stand By Me," "When Harry Met Sally" and "A Few Good Men," a role in a Reiner flick could easily propel and up-and-coming actor to superstardom.
The twin deaths of the Reiners have rocked Hollywood as stars and fellow filmmakers alike mourn the loss of an industry titan and a dear friend.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Rob Reiner: Kathy Bates mourns director, says he launched her career
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
