07 September,2026 12:52 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Rob Reiner (Pic/AFP)
Late filmmaker-actor Rob Reiner has won a posthumous Emmy for his guest appearance in The Bear. The honour came nine months after his death and marked his first acting Emmy since 1978. Reiner's win at the Creative Arts Emmys was met with a standing ovation as presenter Wendi McLendon-Covey accepted the award on his behalf.
With this, he prevailed over Michael J. Fox and Brett Goldstein for Shrinking, Hamish Linklater for Widow's Bay, Christopher McDonald for Hacks, and Connor Storrie for Saturday Night Live.
The award was a posthumous honour for the legendary actor-filmmaker, who was killed alongside his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, in December last year. It is also the first posthumous Emmy for an on-camera performance since Raul Julia won for The Burning Season in 1995.
The Emmy was received by presenter Wendi McLendon-Covey on Reiner's behalf following a minute-long standing ovation from the audience. "It's appropriate to stand for this one. I know we all wish Rob could be here tonight," Covey told the audience.
The recognition marks Reiner's first Emmy Award for acting since 1978, when he won the award for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Michael âMeathead' Stivic in All in the Family in 1972 and earned more nods for his performance on the CBS sitcom.
Back in 2024, Reiner was nominated for two more Emmys, 46 years later, for directing and producing the Albert Brooks documentary Defending My Life.
Rob Reiner, who passed away at 78, is remembered as one of the prominent figures in Hollywood. His work included some of the most memorable movies of the 1980s and '90s, including This Is Spinal Tap, A Few Good Men, When Harry Met Sally and The Princess Bride. He was also honoured in the In Memoriam segment at the 2026 Oscars.
Reiner's guest appearance on FX's The Bear stands as one of his final screen performances. Notably, the Creative Arts Emmys take place over two days, usually a week ahead of the Primetime Emmy Awards. The 78th Emmys, set to be hosted by Mariska Hargitay, will be aired live on September 14.
