Celebrating Carl Reiner: A Legendary Life Full Of Laughter And Love

Let me tell you about Carl Reiner, a true comedy legend who knows how to make every moment count. On his 97th birthday, Wednesday, March 20, Carl had a pretty unique way of celebrating. “By staying alive!” he joked with his signature wit. But there’s more to it—Carl also shared a heartfelt story about a dish that brought back memories. “Today, I woke up thinking about a dish I haven’t eaten in a long time. We used to have a house in the south of France, and the first day we arrived, we always had ‘lapin a la cocotte,’ rabbit in burnt butter sauce. I’m going to celebrate by having that!” he said with a smile.

That’s the kind of positive thinking that keeps Carl going. “If you wake up and have an idea in your head, you will last longer,” he told Closer Weekly in a recent exclusive interview. He explained that keeping his mind active is one of the reasons he’s still here, thriving at 97. “One of the reasons I’m alive is because my head is still working. If my head is still working, my body has to follow suit!” Carl's wisdom is as sharp as ever, and his humor continues to light up the world.

A Journey Through Comedy and Life

Carl’s life story is one of passion and perseverance. Born in the Bronx to Jewish immigrant parents, Carl grew up surrounded by laughter and movies. “I grew up seeing movies once a week,” he reminisced. “My parents loved comedies, so we saw Buster Keaton, Charlie Chaplin, the Ritz Brothers, and the Marx Brothers. I wanted to be one of them.” From a young age, Carl knew he was destined for the stage.

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When World War II came knocking, Carl was drafted into the Air Force, where he served as a radio operator. But that didn’t stop him from pursuing his dreams. He toured as an actor, entertaining troops in Guam, Hawaii, and Iwo Jima. “Going through a war and living is a very important process,” he reflected. “You realize how vulnerable you are and how lucky you are to be in the right place at the right time. As a matter of fact, I have a history of luck.”

Breaking Into the World of Comedy

Carl’s big break came when he was hired as a writer and performer for Sid Caesar’s groundbreaking sketch comedy show, Your Show of Shows. It was there that he met his lifelong friend Mel Brooks, and together they created the timeless 2000-Year-Old Man comedy albums. “Mel and I had an incredible chemistry,” Carl said. “We laughed so hard during our sessions that we often had to stop recording to catch our breath.”

Of course, Carl’s career took off even further when he created and starred in The Dick Van Dyke Show, a series that won 15 Emmys and remains a favorite around the world. Carl remains close friends with Dick Van Dyke, who recently wowed audiences in Mary Poppins Returns. “Nobody can do what Dick does,” Carl marveled. “He can still dance and kick his legs in the air! It’s incredible.”