Jamie Lee Curtis honored the late Rob Reiner and James Burrows during the In Memoriam segment of the 2026 Emmy Awards, held in Los Angeles on Sept. 14, calling Reiner "our beloved meathead."
The tribute segment also honored Dolly Parton, Catherine O'Hara and other Hollywood figures who died over the past year, and closed with singer-songwriter Noah Kahan performing Paul Simon's "Bridge Over Troubled Water," the 1970 song originally recorded by Simon & Garfunkel.
"Last year we lost another cherished legend: our beloved meathead, Rob Reiner," Curtis said onstage through tears. "Last week, Robbie won an Emmy for Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for his beautiful work on The Bear."
Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, were killed at his home in Brentwood, California, on Dec. 14. Reiner built his career both in front of and behind the camera, first playing Michael "Meathead" Stivic on "All in the Family," the influential 1970s sitcom created by Norman Lear, before becoming a director known for films such as "When Harry Met Sally..." and "This Is Spinal Tap." His father, Carl Reiner, created "The Dick Van Dyke Show" and worked as a writer, director and actor until his death in 2020.
Reiner Sets an Emmys Record
Curtis told the audience that Reiner's posthumous win made Emmys history. "He now holds the record of 48 years for the longest gap between acting Emmys, which was previously held by his father Carl Reiner at 37 years," she said. "He was generous and kind, and funny as hell, and a friend to all. And we all miss Rob and Michele, and all those we lost this year."
Reiner's win was announced days before the main ceremony, at the Sept. 6 Creative Arts Emmy Awards, a separate ceremony that recognizes categories including guest acting and technical achievement ahead of the primetime broadcast. He received the award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for playing restaurant consultant Albert Schurr in the fourth season of "The Bear," the FX drama about a chef who returns to Chicago to run his family's sandwich shop.
Actress Wendi McLendon-Covey accepted the award on Reiner's behalf as the audience gave him a standing ovation. "We all wish he was here," she told the crowd.
The award marked Reiner's first Emmy win since 1978, when he took home the prize for Outstanding Continuing Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for "All in the Family."
A Tribute to James Burrows
Curtis also used the segment to honor James Burrows, the director and co-creator of "Cheers," the long-running sitcom set in a Boston bar. Burrows spent decades directing pilot episodes and installments across some of television's best-known comedies.
Curtis is an actress known for the "Halloween" film franchise and her Oscar-winning role in "Everything Everywhere All at Once." The daughter of actors Janet Leigh and Tony Curtis, she has become a familiar presence at awards shows for delivering emotional tributes to industry figures.
Dolly Parton Also Remembered
Parton was honored separately during the segment, with actresses Sally Field and Reba McEntire taking the stage to pay tribute to the country music icon known for hits including "9 to 5" and "Jolene."
"If there are truly angels on earth, then we just lost one: Dolly Parton," Field said. "It was my great good fortune to have worked with Dolly in a film called Still Magnolias and, over the years, I never stopped loving her."
Parton died on Aug. 25 at the age of 80, following what was described as a brief battle with cancer. She won her first Emmy in 2021 for her work on "Dolly Parton's Christmas on the Square."
Hosted by Mariska Hargitay
The 2026 Emmy Awards were hosted by Mariska Hargitay, known for playing Olivia Benson on "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit." The In Memoriam segment is a fixture of the annual ceremony, set aside each year to remember television figures who died over the preceding twelve months.
