Jerry O’Connell Reacts to Rob Reiner’s ‘Devastating’ Death: ‘I Feel Like a Parent Has Passed’ (Exclusive)
- - Jerry O’Connell Reacts to Rob Reiner’s ‘Devastating’ Death: ‘I Feel Like a Parent Has Passed’ (Exclusive)
Rachel McRady, Gillian TellingDecember 15, 2025 at 11:46 AM
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Jerry O'Connell and Rob Reiner -
Jerry O'Connell speaks to PEOPLE about his reaction to Rob Reiner's "shocking" death
O'Connell starred in Reiner's beloved 1986 class Stand By Me
The actor says that Reiner's death feels like "a parent has passed"
Jerry O’Connell is remembering director Rob Reiner, whom he describes as being like a father figure to him.
The 51-year-old actor, who starred in Reiner’s beloved coming-of-age classic Stand By Me in 1986, opened up about his reaction to the news that Rob and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, were killed at their home on Sunday, Dec. 14.
"We're all shocked. I can't speak for them [costars Wil Wheaton and Corey Feldman], but for myself, I feel like a parent has passed, you know?” O’Connell tells PEOPLE. “I just feel like a parent has passed.”
Rob, 78, and Michele, 68, were killed by their son Nick, multiple sources who have spoken with family members confirm to PEOPLE. Police have not yet confirmed the account.
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Richard Dreyfuss, Rob Reiner, Jerry O'Connell, Corey Feldman and Wil Wheaton in 2011.
Calling the news “really devastating,” O’Connell adds, “Everything I have in my life is because of Rob Reiner. Everything I have, my children, my wife, my, just everything.”
O’Connell, who filmed Stand By Me at age 11, says that Reiner “protected” the young cast on the set of the film.
“We were saying, we have no idea how he herded a bunch of like 11, 12 and 13-year-old for this movie,” O’Connell says of speaking with his costars Wheaton and Feldman. “And not only herd us, it wasn't like a teacher or an authority figure. He was just a special, he was just a special human being… he is just a kind soul, really. A kind soul.”
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Wil Wheaton, Corey Feldman, Rob Reiner and Jerry O'Connell on set of 'Stand By Me.'
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O’Connell adds that he found himself comparing his other on-set experiences to Stand By Me throughout his career thanks to Reiner’s influence.
“Every professional experience I've had after Stand By Me, you sort of feel alone a little bit because Rob isn't there,” he shares. “Luckily, I have both of my parents with me, but my mother-in-law passed and just to see that loss that my wife never has really gotten over it, you know? You almost feel like you're alone now. You know? It's really it's really devastating.”
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Director Rob Reiner, actors Wil Wheaton, Corey Feldman, Jerry O'Connell and Richard Dreyfuss attend the 25th anniversary of 'Stand By Me' interview in 2011.
O’Connell also appeared on CBS Mornings on Monday, Dec. 15 to discuss Rob’s life and legacy, where he said the director was “like a father to me.”
He recalled that before he took on the role of Vern Tessio in Stand By Me, he was used to getting scolded by adults.
“I was always getting in trouble for speaking out loud in class and not being able to keep my mouth shut,” he explained. “And my mother would always say, ‘Just sit on your hands and shut up.’ I would get in trouble with teachers.”
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Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Jerry O'Connell, Corey Feldman in 'Stand By Me.'
That was the same fate O'Connell expected would happen to him when Rob halted filming after the actor ad-libbed a scene in the film. But something different happened.
“I thought, ‘Oh boy, here we go. He’s gonna [yell at me]. Why didn’t I sit on my hands and shut up?’ ” O’Connell recalled. “And he goes, ‘Jerry, Keep going man. That’s what I’m talking about right there. Keep going. More.’ ”
Prior to his life behind the camera, Rob appeared on 185 episodes of All in the Family as Michael “Meathead” Stivic, which earned him two Emmy awards and three additional nominations.
He went on to become a legendary director, whose film credits include Stand By Me, When Harry Met Sally, This Is Spinal Tap and A Few Good Men, for which he earned an Oscar nomination in 1993.
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