10 Greatest Actors Turned Directors

Before a stellar directing career, Rob Reiner spent seven years as a sitcom actor. As the combative liberal voice on All In The Family, Reiner spent 182 episodes sparring with Archie Bunker, chipping in with four scripts along the way.

With his father, the late Carl, a hugely successful director, it was always likely Rob would go the same way, and he debuted in some style with 1984’s This Is Spinal Tap.

Reiner can claim a classic in most genres - horror (Misery), coming of age (Stand By Me), courtroom (All The President’s Men), fantasy (The Princess Bride), romcom (When Harry Met Sally).

Indeed there can be few directors with a more successful ‘80s than Reiner, with some of the above mentioned films ranking among the most enduring, not to mention the most influential, of their genre. The sheer number of film and TV show creators who owe a debt of gratitude to him and his collaborators is staggering.

Reiner’s latest, more dramatic movies haven’t been at quite this standard, but he has made smart shift back to acting, with his performance in The Wolf Of Wall Street an unexpected delight. His resume can stand up there with the best.