'Seinfeld would never have happened without him'

Jerry's tribute to Rob Reiner

Jerry Seinfeld has paid tribute to Rob Reiner – revealing how his hugely successful sitcom would never have been made without his faith in the show.

The comedian wrote a heartfelt tribute to the actor and director behind such movies as This Is Spinal Tap, The Princess Bride and When Harry Met Sally after he and his wife Michele were found dead at their Los Angeles home on Sunday.

Posting on Instagram, Seinfeld said Reiner had the ‘biggest influence on my career’ alongside Larry David, the co-creator of his eponymous sitcom, and George Shapiro, his longtime manager who executive produced the sitcom.

Seinfeld was produced by Castle Rock Entertainment, the production company co-founded by Rob Reiner, but its pilot was notoriously poorly received, and the first season picked up lacklustre ratings. But it went on to be one of the most successful comedies in American TV history, with more than 76million viewers tuning in to the finale.

Seinfeld wrote of Reiner: ‘Our show would have never happened without him. He saw something no one else could. When nobody at the network liked the early episodes, he saved us from cancellation.’

‘That I was working with Carl Reiner’s son, who happened to be one of the kindest people in show business, seemed unreal. I was naive at the time to how much his passion for us meant.

‘Rob and Michele married right as our show was starting and they became an imprint for me of how it’s supposed to work, each one broadening the other. Their death, together, is impossibly sad.’

Co-star Julia Louis-Dreyfus also paid tribute, posting: 'My husband Brad and I had the great honor and pleasure of working with Rob and Michele Reiner often and happily in movies and television where their impact as actor, director, and producer will be everlasting.

'Even more deeply felt was their superb example of how to be an activist and a powerful voice for the environment, for justice, and for democracy. They were great American patriots, and they were so much fun. We send our condolences and love to the Reiner family.'

David, a longtime close friend of Reiner’s, was seen outside his house shortly after the news of the couple’s death broke.