Mel Brooks expressed deep emotions about grief, friendship, and loss during the Los Angeles premiere of the HBO documentary “Mel Brooks: The 99-Year-Old Man!” on January 20. The 99-Year Old filmmaker shared heartfelt thoughts about his late friend, Carl Reiner, during a post-screening discussion.
Rob Reiner’s Death Casts a Somber Note Over Documentary Premiere
He spoke about the recent tragedy in Hollywood, focusing on how Carl would have responded to the loss of his son, Rob Reiner. The New York Times confirmed on December 15th that Rob and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, were found dead in their home in December.
This tragic incident brought a somber tone to the evening, which was otherwise a celebration of Brooks’ long and successful career.
People reported that Brooks said during the Q&A, “Oh, very sweet. Anyway, Carl, with what’s happened, I’m glad that he passed away when he did.” He added, “I mean, he never could have survived this terrible, terrible thing.”
Remembering a Bond Built on Comedy & Love
GettyThe comments were shared during a discussion moderated by Judd Apatow, who co-directed the documentary alongside Michael Bonfiglio.
GettyApatow pointed out that countless comedians cite Brooks and Carl as foundational influences, especially their legendary “2000 Year Old Man” sketches.
Brooks took the opportunity to speak about his bond with Carl, who died in 2020 at age 98.
Getty“I loved him. I loved Carl,” Brooks said. “And I used to really… There was no fake laughter. I used to really break him up. He’d grab his belly and sometimes he’d fall down.”
A short time later, Brooks described Carl as the “sweetest guy that ever lived,” a sentiment that runs throughout the documentary and underscores the depth of their friendship.
A Final Goodbye That Still Hurts
GettyThe film also revisits Carl’s passing and includes Rob in one of his final interviews before his death in December 2022 at age 78.
As per The New York Post, in the documentary, Rob spoke about the night his father died and how Brooks was with him at that time.
“Mel was there when my dad died,” Rob said, mentioning that Brooks often visited Carl’s home after both lost their wives in the 2000s.
Carl’s wife, Estelle Reiner, died in 2008, while Brooks’ wife, Anne Bancroft, died in 2005.
Getty“He just collapsed in the bathroom,” Rob recalled. “And Mel came back and realized, ‘Uh oh, something’s wrong.’”
Brooks shared his own recollection of that night, describing the desperation he felt as doctors tried to save his friend. “I was still hoping that they would put the stuff on him and boom, get him up,” he said. “I kept yelling at them, ‘Keep it up, keep it up,’ and they thought I was crazy after an hour of yelling.”
“I just didn’t want him to go. I just couldn’t — I wouldn’t accept it,” Brooks added. “I loved him so much.”
Keeping Carl’s Memory Alive
GettyRob also talked about how deeply the loss of his father affected Brooks. “After my father died, he would come to the house, sit there, watch television, and have dinner, and he did that for months,” Rob explained.
“That steady presence, Rob noted, showed the depth of their friendship. “He was that close to my dad, where he kept… he wanted to be close to him even when my dad was gone,” he said, as reported by People. “I always thought even though Mel was only like four years younger than my dad, I think he looked to my dad as a father figure.”
Brooks said he continues to honor his relationship with Carl by staying close to his family, including regular meals with Carl’s daughter, Annie. “Once a month, once a week,” he said.
“Mel Brooks: The 99-Year-Old Man!” premieres on January 22 and 23 on HBO, with both parts available to stream on Max beginning January 22.
