Like most, I was sitting in my living room when the push notification popped up on my phone.

Breaking News: Two people have been found dead inside a Los Angeles home owned by actor-director Rob Reiner, source tells AP

My heart sank as I read the article. No names had been released. No confirmation on who was found inside, just the ages of the victims, a 78 year old male and a 68 year old female. I didn’t need anymore confirmation. My heart sank even further. I knew.

Rob Reiner was a filmmaker who had an absolutely iconic run right out of the gate. His first film, This is Spinal Tap (1984), was an improvised mockumentary masterpiece. The Sure Thing (1985) helped to give him more footing in Hollywood (nepotism aside). He then directed Stand By Me (1986). Stand By Me turns out to be a critical and commercial success, and it’s nominated for a screenwriting Academy Award and two Golden Globe awards. The following year, Reiner directed The Princess Bride (1987). I could stop there and his cultural impact would be immense with just those films. But, Reiner didn’t stop there and neither will I.

In 1989, Reiner directs When Harry Met Sally. In 1990, he directs Misery, leading to Kathy Bates winning her first and, to date, only Academy Award. Then, in 1992, Rob Reiner directed A Few Good Men, which gets nominated for four Academy Awards, including Best Picture. This is all in less than 10 years. Talk about a generational run.

Of course, when talking about Rob Reiner, I am not just speaking about the legacy he left with his films. To properly pay tribute to the man, his political work must be discussed. In 1998, he chaired the campaign to pass California Proposition 10, which created the First 5 California program, using money from taxes on tobacco products to fund early childhood development programs.

And that isn’t the only time Reiner used his standing for the betterment of those around him. Rob Reiner was a large part of the path to overturning California Proposition 8. For those that don’t know or don’t remember, Prop 8 was the ballot measure in 2008 that tried to effectively ban gay marriage in the state of California. When it passed, Reiner co-founded the American Foundation for Equal Rights and was the sole sponsor of Perry v. Schwarzenegger, the initial court challenge to Prop 8. That court challenge, along with other coinciding events at the time, like a snowball, lead to the legalization of gay marriage in the United States

Whether we’re talking about his political work or his film work, the cultural impact of Rob Reiner cannot be understated. Reiner continued to direct films throughout his life, but this run of films from 1984 to 1992 is something to be talked about. From a filmmaking standpoint, there’s not a single film in that list that’s a critical rating less than 7 out of 10. Every film there, save for maybe The Sure Thing, has stood the test of time and is permanently ingrained in the cultural zeitgeist.

“You can’t handle the truth”.

“I’m your biggest fan”.

“I’ll have what she’s having”.

“As you wish”.

Rest in peace, Rob and Michele Reiner