Rob Reiner uses his fame to advocate for progressive causes. ‘Just a very special man. Terrible day’

Rob Reiner is known to millions as a television actor and film director.

But the Brentwood resident best known for the classic films “Stand By Me” and “When Harry Met Sally” was also a political force, an outspoken supporter of progressive causes and a Democratic activist who transcended the typical role of a celebrity hosting glitzy fundraisers.

Reiner is deeply involved in issues close to his heart, such as early childhood education and the legalization of same-sex marriage.

Rayner, 78, and his wife, Michelle Singer Rayner, were found dead in their home on Sunday, sparking an outpouring of grief from those who worked with him in various endeavors.

Ace Smith, a veteran Democratic strategist for former Vice President Kamala Harris, Gov. Gavin Newsom, former Gov. Jerry Brown and presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, has known Lehner for decades. He said Reiner approaches politics differently than most celebrities.

“This unique man really made the leap between entertainment and politics,” Smith said. “He really took the time to really understand policy in depth and made a huge impact in California.”

Reiner is a co-founder of the American Equal Rights Foundation, which successfully led the fight to overturn Proposition 8, the 2008 ballot measure that banned same-sex marriage. He has been active on children’s issues for many years, leading the campaign to pass Proposition 10, the California Initiative for Children and Families, which established an ambitious plan for early childhood development services.

Proposition 10 is considered a landmark policy. Reiner was assisted in this effort by Steven Spielberg, Robin Williams and his own father, comedy legend Carl Reiner.

“He wanted to make a change. He did it, and he did it profoundly,” Smith said.

After the passage of Proposition 10, Reiner was appointed chairman of the California Commission on Children and Families, also known as First 5 California. In early 2006, as Lehner was building support for Proposition 82, the committee ran $23 million in ads touting the importance of preschool before he resigned from the position.

The measure was unsuccessful and would have taxed the wealthy to establish universal pre-K in California.

The filmmaker and his wife spent more than $6 million on the failed proposal. They have also donated significant amounts of money to support national Democratic groups and candidates, including Jerry Brown, Gray Davis, Ed Rendell and Andrew Cuomo.

Bruce Fuller, a professor of education and public policy at the University of California, Berkeley, called Lehner “a concerned, vigilant advocate for children. He added prestige and funding to California’s movement to open kindergarten to tens of thousands of young families over the past quarter-century.”

Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who has known Reyna since he was a state legislator in the 1990s and worked with him on Proposition 10, has been impressed by Reyna’s support for the cause.

“He was a guy who had great answers. It wasn’t politics, it was always about the humanity among us,” Villaraigosa said. “When he solves a problem, he knows everything about it.”

“He was a very special man. This is a terrible day,” the former mayor said.

Mayor Karen Bass said in a statement that she was “heartbroken” by the day’s events and said Lehner “always used his gifts to serve others.”

“Rob Reiner’s contributions reverberate throughout American culture and society, and he improved countless lives through his creative work and advocacy for social and economic justice,” the mayor said.

“I hold everyone who loved Rob and Michelle in my heart,” Bass said.

Newsom added, “Rob is a passionate advocate for children and civil rights – from standing up to Big Tobacco and fighting for marriage equality to being a strong voice in early education. He makes California a better place through his outstanding work.”

“Rob will be remembered for his outstanding film work and extraordinary contributions to humanity,” the governor said.