Rob Reiner and the struggles of standing in someone else's shadow
We've all had struggles coming into our own personality, but how do you forge your own identity when you're standing in your father's shadow?
While today, Rob Reiner is known for his directorial work, he originally first gained attention for his acting ability in television shows like All in the Family. Off-screen, Reiner learned a great deal from his father, Carl Reiner, who created the hit series The Dick Van Dyke Show.
But during an interview with the Ventura County Star, Reiner said that he believed his familial connections were more of a blessing than a curse, and it took him some time to reconcile with it.
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"I'm low-key and easygoing most of the time," said Reiner. "But I certainly never used to be that way. I had a major emotional thing to overcome wanting to be accepted for myself instead of as the son of Carl Reiner. I went through a painful struggle."
Reiner said that his struggles hindered his personal life, and he wasn't able to create lasting friendships or relationships until he came to terms with his own talent. Specifically, Reiner mentioned his former wife, Penny Marshall, as an example.
"I worked my way through it before she came along," he said. "In fact, all the good things that happened to me — getting the role on All in the Family, marrying Penny — only happened because I had straightened myself out and achieved a sense of inner security. Before that, I was incapable of a meaningful relationship with anyone. I was just so caught up in proving to myself and the industry and my father that I was as capable of achievements as he, that I was miserable to be around."
Luckily, Reiner was willing to put the work into bettering himself, improving not only his personal life but his professional life as well. After, Reiner was able to find his own voice and prove that he was a standout director, famous father or not.
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