Jerry O'Connell "feels like a parent has passed" following the death of Rob Reiner
The 51-year-old actor worked with the director on 1986 coming-of-age saga Stand By Me when he was just 11 years old, and he has been left devastated after the 78-year-old filmmaker and his wife Michele Singer Reiner, 68, were killed at their home on Sunday (14.12.25).
23 December 2025
He told People magazine: "We're all shocked. I can't speak for [co-stars Wil Wheaton and Corey Feldman], but for myself, I feel like a parent has passed, you know?
"I just feel like a parent has passed."
Jerry - who has 17-year-old twins Charlie and Dolly with wife Rebecca Romijn - found the news "really devastating" because he feels he owes "everything" to Rob.
He said: "Everything I have in my life is because of Rob Reiner. Everything I have, my children, my wife, my, just everything...
"Every professional experience I've had after Stand By Me, you sort of feel alone a little bit because Rob isn't there.
"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."
Jerry praised Rob for having "protected" the young cast during filming of Stand By Me.
He said: "We were saying, we have no idea how he herded a bunch of like 11, 12 and 13 year olds for this movie.
"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."
The Sliders star recalled being concerned he'd get told off when Rob halted filming of Stand By Me when he ad libbed during a scene.
He told CBS Mornings: "I was always getting in trouble for speaking out loud in class and not being able to keep my mouth shut.
"And my mother would always say, 'Just sit on your hands and shut up.' I would get in trouble with teachers."
"[When filming stopped] I thought, 'Oh boy, here we go. He's gonna [yell at me]. Why didn't I sit on my hands and shut up?' And he goes, 'Jerry, Keep going man. That's what I'm talking about right there. Keep going. More.' "
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