Rob Reiner filmed his final acting role one month before his death in July, playing George Washington in Larry David's new HBO historical sketch comedy series "Life, Larry, and the Pursuit of Unhappiness: An Almost History of America." The veteran director and actor appears in Episode 2 of the show, which now streams on HBO Max.
Reiner's casting in the role carries particular weight given his decades-long public opposition to Donald Trump. The sketch series itself operates as a satirical deconstruction of American history, with David writing and starring throughout. By placing Reiner as the nation's founding father in what amounts to a comedic reclamation of American mythology, the show positions the legendary filmmaker in a final statement against the political forces he spent his later years combating.
Reiner, who died at 94, had become a prolific presence on social media and cable news in recent years, emerging as one of Hollywood's most vocal Trump critics. His career spanned seven decades, from his acting work in "All in the Family" and "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" to directing beloved films like "When Harry Met Sally," "The Princess Bride," and "A Few Good Men." Beyond directing, Reiner remained active as an actor well into his final years.
David's new series represents a departure from his previous HBO work, trading the observational humor of "Curb Your Enthusiasm" for period sketches that interrogate American history through a comedic lens. The show benefits from both its star power and its satirical timing, arriving during an election season when questions about American institutions and founding ideals dominate public discourse.
Reiner's appearance, filmed shortly before his passing, reads as both a final artistic statement and a coda to his lifetime of work in entertainment. The detail that he played Washington—a figure central to American mythology—suggests David and producers intended a layered commentary, having one of Hollywood's most outspoken liberal voices embody the historical figure most often invoked by conservative rhetoric.