After his tragic death On Sunday, the world remembers Rob Reiner as a cinematic force, and he was, as an unforgettable presence in the ambitious '70s comedy “All in the Family” and later as a director of beloved films. I came to know him in another way: as a restless thinker who transformed his own life story into bold public policy, reshaping the way California understands and invests in its youngest children.
Reiner conceived and almost single-handedly led the successful 1998 campaign for California's Proposition 10, a tobacco tax to raise money for early childhood health and education. Established a state commission and 58 county commissions charged with investing in health care, parenting support, early education and other services for children from prenatal stages to age 5.
At that time it was a radical rethinking of public responsibility: placing the first years of life at the center of social policy.
Reiner didn't come to this job by chance. He dove into the science of early brain development and evidence showing how experiences in the first five years shape lifelong outcomes. He articulated, clearly and persuasively, that investing early was not charity but a proven way to reduce crime, alleviate poverty, and strengthen families and communities.
I saw his commitment up close when I was founding executive director of First 5 of Alameda County, one of the county commissions created by Proposition 10. Reiner never delegated the hard parts. He showed up, listened carefully, asked tough questions, and helped solve problems. He led with clarity and conviction, refusing to allow bureaucratic inertia to define the limits of what was possible. I knew that public policy, like storytelling, requires imagination, discipline and perseverance.
As founding president of First 5 California, created by Proposition 10, Reiner expanded his leadership far beyond the campaign. He traveled the state, interacting with community leaders, educators, health professionals and families. He was deeply committed to evidence-based action, not token photographs. Whether in Sacramento or small rural towns, he insisted on understanding both the data and the human stories behind the work. He seemed to find genuine joy in spending time with the children whose lives had been improved.
Reiner also carried with him the imprint of his own childhood. Growing up in the shadow of his famous father, the actor and writer. Carlos ReinerHe spoke candidly about feeling misunderstood and emotionally insecure as a child, emotions he later channeled into the drama “Stand by Me.” That film's devastating scene, in which a young man sobs because his father doesn't love him, arose from Rob Reiner's own feelings as a child.
Instead of succumbing to bitterness, he used that emotional insight to fuel his advocacy for families and young children. This work was not abstract for him; It was personal.
First 5 California has generated more than $11 billion for programs that expand access to quality preschool, improve the training and compensation of early childhood educators, develop innovative children's mental health services, increase access to pediatric dental care, and provide comprehensive support to struggling families. County First 5 agencies have tailored initiatives to local needs, creating programs that reflect the diversity and complexities of communities across the state.
Reiner was no Hollywood figurehead in a suit (in fact, sweatpants and T-shirts were his preferred style). He attended countless commission meetings, handed out gum, and kept things moving. When discussions stalled, he didn't wait: he would make a motion, and if Robert's Rules of Order had allowed it, he might have supported it too.
Reiner moved easily between policy experts and elected officials, and his respect for people who worked directly with children was never performative. He treated a family child care provider in West Oakland with the same seriousness he would treat a state legislator. His commitment to equity made him a frequent voice on news panels and public forums debating early childhood policy.
His vision was not small. It was based on the belief that supporting children from an early age is one of the most effective ways to strengthen society. Their work reshaped California's political landscape and inspired advocates across the country to elevate early childhood from an afterthought to a priority.
Reiner's legacy goes far beyond Hollywood, reaching classrooms, clinics, homes and playgrounds across California and the United States. Countless children have had a stronger start in life because he refused to look away.
Mark Friedman is the executive director of the Eden Health District. He was executive director of First 5 of Alameda County and president of the First 5 of California Association.
