Actor James Woods, one of Hollywood’s most prominent conservatives, has stunned observers by offering an emotional defense of Rob Reiner and denouncing hostile commentary about the director’s killing. Appearing on Fox News, Woods called Reiner a “patriot” and said he found the wave of “horrible” remarks about the slain filmmaker “infuriating and distasteful.”
In doing so, James Woods praised Rob Reiner in terms rarely heard from a longtime Trump ally addressing a liberal critic, especially in the immediate aftermath of a high‑profile homicide. Woods’ intervention came after President Donald Trump used Reiner’s death to revive political attacks, remarks that drew swift condemnation from across the entertainment world.
Trump’s remarks fuel outrage
Rob Reiner, 78, and his wife Michele Singer were found fatally wounded at their Brentwood home in Los Angeles on Sunday, and their younger son Nick Reiner was arrested on suspicion of murder, according to authorities and a family source. Even before the investigation progressed, Trump took to social media to portray Reiner as “disturbed” and “very bad for our country,” and suggested the director was somehow responsible for his own death.
Those comments were widely branded “vile” and “disgusting” by critics, who accused the president of injecting partisan score‑settling into a family tragedy. It was against this backdrop that James Woods praised Rob Reiner and broke with Trump’s tone, stressing that political disagreement does not justify posthumous character attacks.
Woods recalls Rob Reiner ‘saved’ his career
During the Fox News segment, Woods, 78, grew visibly emotional as he recounted how Reiner cast him in the 1996 civil‑rights drama “Ghosts of Mississippi,” a decision he says rescued him from a low point in his career. James Woods praised Rob Reiner for “really fighting” studio resistance to his casting as white supremacist Byron De La Beckwith, a role that ultimately earned Woods an Academy Award nomination for best supporting actor.
Woods noted that he was more than three decades younger than the real Beckwith at the time and faced skepticism over whether he could carry the part, but Reiner insisted he was “the right guy” for the role. By Woods’ account, that vote of confidence transformed him from “basically out of a job” to an Oscar‑nominated actor, a turnaround for which James Woods praised Rob Reiner repeatedly in the interview.
Friendship across political divides
The actor emphasized that he and Reiner remained close despite stark ideological differences, with Reiner known as a progressive activist and major Democratic donor, and Woods a staunch conservative and high‑profile Trump supporter. James Woods praised Rob Reiner as a “Hollywood icon” and “artist” who also loved the United States, saying they took “different routes to the same destination” of wanting the best for the country.
Woods said that when fellow conservatives criticized Reiner, he would respond that “you’ve got it all wrong” and describe him as a “great patriot” who respected Woods’ own brand of patriotism, even when they clashed on policy. By stressing that “because you disagree with people doesn’t mean you have to hate people,” James Woods praised Rob Reiner as an example of how political opponents can maintain personal affection and mutual respect.
Context of earlier Rob Reiner comments
Woods also pointed to Reiner’s reaction to the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk earlier this year as evidence of the director’s principles. In that earlier episode, Reiner condemned the killing as “horrible” and rejected political violence as a solution, a stance Woods contrasted with some of the “dreadful” statements others made online.
Referencing that history, James Woods praised Rob Reiner as thoughtful and consistent, arguing that the director refused to dehumanize opponents even when he fiercely criticized Trump. For Woods, that record makes current attacks on Reiner particularly “infuriating,” given that the filmmaker himself urged restraint and empathy in the face of political bloodshed.
An unusual public rebuke of Trump
The Fox News appearance marked one of the rare occasions in which Woods has openly pushed back on Trump, whom he has loudly supported for years across social media and conservative media. By choosing this moment to separate himself from Trump’s rhetoric, James Woods praised Rob Reiner in a way that underscored the depth of their personal bond and the weight he places on loyalty beyond politics.
While Woods did not mention Trump by name in every criticism, his references to “people” saying “horrible things” about Reiner came just hours after the president again described the director as “disturbed” and harmful to the nation. The sequence left little doubt that James Woods praised Rob Reiner in deliberate contrast to Trump’s combative tone, adding an unexpected voice to the chorus chastising the president’s response.
Hollywood and political reaction
Reiner’s killing has already prompted shock and mourning across Hollywood and political circles, with tributes from figures ranging from former President Barack Obama to longtime collaborators and rivals. Many have highlighted his decades‑long career, from acting on “All in the Family” to directing acclaimed films such as “This Is Spinal Tap,” “Stand by Me” and “A Few Good Men.”
Within that broader outpouring, James Woods praised Rob Reiner in especially personal terms, framing him not only as a creative force but as someone whose private generosity changed lives. At a moment when partisan divides often dominate public discourse, his remarks offered a rare high‑profile example of political adversaries bound by gratitude and shared humanity even in the shadow of violent loss.