From Real-Life Nuptials to Iconic TV Moments
Rob Reiner, son of legendary comedian Carl Reiner, carved his own path in Hollywood, becoming famous for his role as Michael “Meathead” Stivic on the classic sitcom All in the Family. Known for his humor both on-screen and off, Reiner took creativity to another level—he wrote scripts for his own weddings.
Reiner famously penned two wedding scripts: one for his real-life marriage to actress Penny Marshall in 1971, and another for the fictional wedding of Gloria Bunker and Michael Stivic on All in the Family. The latter was featured in a two-part episode titled “Flashback: Mike and Gloria’s Wedding” during the show’s third season.
Reflecting on the experience in a 1973 interview with The Herald, Reiner shared, “Writing my real-life wedding was easier than writing for the number one series on television. Penny and I could just say what we felt, without worrying about time constraints or getting laughs.” He added that getting married as Rob Reiner was much scarier than marrying as Mike Stivic.
In planning their wedding, Reiner and Marshall meticulously organized every detail, even insisting on serving Chinese food—an amusing nod to his character’s tastes. Interestingly, while their fictional and real weddings shared this culinary preference, they diverged in many other ways.
In a 1972 interview with The Cincinnati Enquirer, Reiner revealed that he and Marshall had lived across the street from each other as children in New York City but only met later at a party in California. They lived together for a year and a half before tying the knot.
Despite the romantic and scripted nature of their wedding, Reiner and Marshall ultimately divorced in 1981. Reiner once reflected on their success in Hollywood, saying, “I can tell you why we’re top-rated, but I can’t explain why we’re number one. It will last as long as it remains good, not a minute longer.” And for fans of All in the Family, the laughter certainly continues to resonate
