In his last major TV role before his death, Rob Reiner did a three-episode arc on Season 4 of FX’s The Bear. On Sunday, the late filmmaker won an Emmy Award posthumously for his performance in the Guest Actor in a Comedy Series category.
No one walked onstage, with presenter Wendi McLendon-Covey accepting the award on his behalf by saying to the Peacock Theater audience “We all wish he was here,” as everyone stood up to give Reiner a standing ovation.
The camera cut to Jamie Lee Curtis, who was in the audience. Nominated for her own guest-starring role on The Bear, Curtis was credited by Reiner for encouraging him to accept the offer from the Emmy-winning FX/Hulu comedy-drama.
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This is Reiner’s third career Emmy; he also won in 1974 and in 1978 in the Supporting Actor In a Comedy Series field for his signature role on CBS’ All In the Family.
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Following his tragic death, Reiner is expected to be featured during the In Memoriam tribute during the main Emmy telecast September 14 on NBC. The Princess Bride and When Harry Met Sally director and his wife Michele were found dead in their home on December 14, 2025, with their son Nick Reiner headed to trial for their murder.
On The Bear, Reiner played Albert Schnur, a restaurant franchiser who mentors Ebraheim (Edwin Lee Gibson), advising him on how to expand The Original Beef sandwich walk-up window.
Following his passing, the Emmy-winning series paid a tribute to Reiner in the series finale which featured line cook Ebra calling Albert with the good news that Carmy (Jeremy Allen White) had agreed to franchise the sandwich shop.
While Albert cannot be heard, Ebra ended their exchange with “As you wish,” a nod to the popular line by Cary Elwes’ Westley character in Reiner’s 1987 classic The Princess Bride.
The Bear, created by Christopher Storer, received eight Emmy nominations for its fourth season; the fifth and final season will be in contention at the 2027 Emmys.
Reiner’s final on-screen performance was a cameo as George Washington in Larry David’s Larry David Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness, which ran on HBO this summer.
