Before falling in love with Michele Singer Reiner, Rob Reiner experienced a special love story with Penny Marshall.
Although the duo grew up across the street from each other in the Bronx, they didn’t meet until a 1970 audition in Los Angeles for the roles of Mike and Gloria Stivik on All in the Family. The role of Gloria eventually went to actress Sally Struthers.
Rob married Marshall in 1971 and went on to adopt his then-wife’s daughter, Tracy Reiner. The couple ultimately split in 1981 after 10 years of marriage.
The When Harry Met Sally director’s relationship history is being explored after news broke that Rob and Michele were found dead in their Brentwood, Los Angeles, home on Sunday, December 14. Rob was 78 while Michele was 68.
One day later, Los Angeles Police Department Parker City Jail told Us that the couple’s son Nick Reiner, 32, was arrested on a murder charge. (Rob and Michele also shared kids Jake, 34, and Romy, 28.)
As Hollywood mourns the death of Rob and Michele, keep reading to learn more about his history with Marshall.
When Did Penny Marshall Die?
In December 2018, Marshall died at her Hollywood Hills, California, home of complications from diabetes. She had previously been diagnosed with brain and lung cancer in 2009 before going into remission by 2012. She was 75.
“Our family is heartbroken over the passing of Penny Marshall,” her family said in a statement to Us Weekly at the time. “Penny was a girl from the Bronx who came out West, put a cursive ‘L’ on her sweater and transformed herself into a Hollywood success story. We hope her life continues to inspire others to spend time with family, work hard and make all of their dreams come true.”
How Did Rob Reiner Pay Tribute to Penny Marshall After Her Death?
Upon learning about his ex-wife’s death, Rob paid tribute to the actress on social media.
“I grew up with her. She was born with a great gift,” he wrote via The Hollywood Reporter. “She was born with a funnybone and the instinct of how to use it. I was very lucky to have lived with her and her funnybone. I will miss her.”
What Did Penny Marshall Say About Rob Reiner in Her Book?
In 2012, Marshall released her memoir titled My Mother Was Nuts. In the book, the producer and director writes about some past romantic relationships, including her marriage to Rob and her adventures with Art Garfunkel.
“It’s still sad that Rob and I didn’t work it out, but he’s happily married with three kids — my grandson went to school with his kids, two of his boys. And Artie Garfunkel came to the book party with his wife,” Marshall explained to The Hollywood Reporter in September 2012. “I stay in things a long time to make sure it’s over. It’s not, ‘Okay, we had a fight.’ No, I wait ’til way past ‘It’s over’ to make sure it’s just not a mood or something going on. It wasn’t like we were fighting, it’s just, things are going a different way, you know?”
How Did Rob Reiner’s Adopted Daughter Tracy Marshall React to His Death?
Hours after news broke about Rob’s death in December 2025, the director’s adopted daughter from his marriage to Marshall reacted to the news.
“I came from the greatest family ever,” Tracy told NBC News. “I don’t know what to say. I’m in shock.”
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