Estelle Reiner 1914-2008 - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Zoneboy · 10-29-2008, 01:55 AM

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REINER--Estelle. Jazz singer, painter, and wife of comedy legend, Carl Reiner for 64 years, died on Saturday, October 25 at the age of 94. A talented artist and singer, Estelle was most widely known for the famous line -"I'll have what she's having," in son, Rob Reiner's film, "When Harry Met Sally".

As an artist she had four one-woman shows of her paintings in the 1970's and at the age of 65 embarked on a new career as a jazz singer. Undeterred by any of the usual constraints of age, anxiety and later, illness, she developed her innate musical gifts and continued performing in clubs in New York and Los Angeles until the remarkable age of 93.

Early in her new found career, the noted jazz critic, Leonard Feather, said of her work, "Her bittersweet timbre suggests honey laced with vinegar. She has qualities many a seasoned pro would envy." A. James Liska of the Daily News in New York, wrote, "she has wise and knowing phrasing, and a dry, wry, sly wit...", and talented singer/songwriter, Dave Frishberg wrote, "I feel comfortable entrusting my songs to Estelle Reiner, whose musicality shines through every track." She was a true original, a jazz stylist, part of whose repertoire included quirky, little known old jazz and blues songs which reflected her personal humor and uniqueness.

Although she sang sweet ballads and standards, she fell in love with the Blues as a teenager, frequenting the Apollo Theater in Harlem, and did not shy away from raunchy old blues tunes such as, "Handy Man," "You Can Have My Husband (But Please Don't Take My Man"). Her friend, Dom Deluise never stopped talking admiringly about her sexy rendition of "Don't You Feel My Leg," when well into her 80's. Jazz afficionado, David Chasman, also the former production head at United Artists, wrote of Estelle, "More than innate musicality, more than seductiveness of voice, it is Estelle's undisguised, unequivocal, unabashed, unmistakable love for the songs that she sings, which makes her irresistible to her audience".

Her courage and determination also resulted in seven CD's, including, "Ukulele Mama", and a charming collection of standards called "Grown Up Songs For Kids". After raising her three children, acclaimed actor/director, Rob, Annie, a gifted writer and psychoanalyst, and Lucas, a painter whose work shows in the U.S. and Europe, Reiner began a career as a performer, studying with Viola Spolin and Lee Strasberg, and was soon cast in "Fatso", the directorial debut of her old friend, Anne Bancroft.

Subsequently, she had a small part in Mel Brooks' film, "To Be Or Not To Be", and went on to do other performances in TV and film, including the often repeated line in "When Harry Met Sally". Born in Bronx, New York in 1914, the former Estelle Lebost graduated the National Academy of Design in the late 1930's and during World War II she was the first woman isometric draftsman to work at Sperry Rand, making blueprints for assembly workers building submarines and airplanes.

She and Carl Reiner married on Christmas Eve, 1943, when Reiner was on a weekend pass from the Army. Her friends and family will remember her as a free thinker who never stopped searching, a courageous woman of extraordinary spirit and curiosity who lived life to the end. In addition to her children and husband, she also leaves nephews George Shapiro and Donny Shapiro, and five grandchildren, Jake, Nick and Romy Reiner, Livia and Rose Reiner. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Save The Children.

Indy788 · 10-29-2008, 10:14 AM

Oh my God. This is terrible news. I can't even imagine how Carl feels. RIP

catlover79 · 10-29-2008, 11:02 AM

She will always be remembered in film lore for that one line in When Harry Met Sally. I loved it!!

MickeyMac · 10-29-2008, 05:44 PM

Wow 94. Sad news

Larry Surrell · 10-29-2008, 08:54 PM

I love the movie "Fatso" and have it on DVD. I will watch it this weekend in her Honor.

Scoobiedoo30 · 10-29-2008, 09:26 PM

rest in peace

phoebe7165 · 10-30-2008, 01:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

She will always be remembered in film lore for that one line in When Harry Met Sally. I loved it!!

"I'll have what she's having" was the absolute best line in When Harry Met Sally!! I loved it, too. It was so memorable that Family Guy even parodied it!!

RIP Estelle.

I just saw Carl on The Bonnie Hunt show and he was mentioning about he & Estelle being married for so long. Amazing!! My condolences to Carl, Rob, Tracy & the rest of the Reiner family.

Marvo301 · 10-30-2008, 01:56 AM

Rest in peace Estelle. My thoughts and prayers go out to Carl Reiner and his family at this difficult time.

Scoobiedoo30 · 10-30-2008, 12:26 PM

The Riner Family is in my prayers.

Schmoopie · 10-31-2008, 02:21 AM

That is very sad to hear but it's wonderful that they were married for 64 years! Just incredible! My grandparents were married for 64 years as well!

Andrea

10-29-2008, 01:55 AM	#1
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,412	Estelle Reiner 1914-2008 Link REINER--Estelle. Jazz singer, painter, and wife of comedy legend, Carl Reiner for 64 years, died on Saturday, October 25 at the age of 94. A talented artist and singer, Estelle was most widely known for the famous line -"I'll have what she's having," in son, Rob Reiner's film, "When Harry Met Sally". As an artist she had four one-woman shows of her paintings in the 1970's and at the age of 65 embarked on a new career as a jazz singer. Undeterred by any of the usual constraints of age, anxiety and later, illness, she developed her innate musical gifts and continued performing in clubs in New York and Los Angeles until the remarkable age of 93. Early in her new found career, the noted jazz critic, Leonard Feather, said of her work, "Her bittersweet timbre suggests honey laced with vinegar. She has qualities many a seasoned pro would envy." A. James Liska of the Daily News in New York, wrote, "she has wise and knowing phrasing, and a dry, wry, sly wit...", and talented singer/songwriter, Dave Frishberg wrote, "I feel comfortable entrusting my songs to Estelle Reiner, whose musicality shines through every track." She was a true original, a jazz stylist, part of whose repertoire included quirky, little known old jazz and blues songs which reflected her personal humor and uniqueness. Although she sang sweet ballads and standards, she fell in love with the Blues as a teenager, frequenting the Apollo Theater in Harlem, and did not shy away from raunchy old blues tunes such as, "Handy Man," "You Can Have My Husband (But Please Don't Take My Man"). Her friend, Dom Deluise never stopped talking admiringly about her sexy rendition of "Don't You Feel My Leg," when well into her 80's. Jazz afficionado, David Chasman, also the former production head at United Artists, wrote of Estelle, "More than innate musicality, more than seductiveness of voice, it is Estelle's undisguised, unequivocal, unabashed, unmistakable love for the songs that she sings, which makes her irresistible to her audience". Her courage and determination also resulted in seven CD's, including, "Ukulele Mama", and a charming collection of standards called "Grown Up Songs For Kids". After raising her three children, acclaimed actor/director, Rob, Annie, a gifted writer and psychoanalyst, and Lucas, a painter whose work shows in the U.S. and Europe, Reiner began a career as a performer, studying with Viola Spolin and Lee Strasberg, and was soon cast in "Fatso", the directorial debut of her old friend, Anne Bancroft. Subsequently, she had a small part in Mel Brooks' film, "To Be Or Not To Be", and went on to do other performances in TV and film, including the often repeated line in "When Harry Met Sally". Born in Bronx, New York in 1914, the former Estelle Lebost graduated the National Academy of Design in the late 1930's and during World War II she was the first woman isometric draftsman to work at Sperry Rand, making blueprints for assembly workers building submarines and airplanes. She and Carl Reiner married on Christmas Eve, 1943, when Reiner was on a weekend pass from the Army. Her friends and family will remember her as a free thinker who never stopped searching, a courageous woman of extraordinary spirit and curiosity who lived life to the end. In addition to her children and husband, she also leaves nephews George Shapiro and Donny Shapiro, and five grandchildren, Jake, Nick and Romy Reiner, Livia and Rose Reiner. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Save The Children.
	__________________ 'Twas The Night Before Christmas And All Through The Full House Not A Creature Was Stirring, Not Even Mighty Mouse. All My Children We're Nestled All Snug In Their Beds While Visions Of Sugarbakers Danced In Their Heads.

10-29-2008, 10:14 AM	#2
Indy788 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Feb 02, 2008 Location: Illinois Posts: 109	Oh my God. This is terrible news. I can't even imagine how Carl feels. RIP
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10-29-2008, 11:02 AM	#3
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	She will always be remembered in film lore for that one line in When Harry Met Sally. I loved it!!
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10-29-2008, 09:26 PM	#6
Scoobiedoo30 Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Jun 27, 2002 Location: KENNER, LOUISIANA Posts: 27,654	rest in peace
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10-30-2008, 01:56 AM	#8
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,456	Rest in peace Estelle. My thoughts and prayers go out to Carl Reiner and his family at this difficult time.
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10-29-2008, 05:44 PM	#4
MickeyMac Member Forum Star Join Date: Jun 18, 2008 Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan Posts: 19,006	Wow 94. Sad news

10-29-2008, 08:54 PM	#5
Larry Surrell Ed M. 1918-2006 RIP Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 27, 2003 Location: Thousand Oaks, CA Posts: 702	I love the movie "Fatso" and have it on DVD. I will watch it this weekend in her Honor.

10-30-2008, 12:26 PM	#9
Scoobiedoo30 Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Jun 27, 2002 Location: KENNER, LOUISIANA Posts: 27,654	The Riner Family is in my prayers.

10-31-2008, 02:21 AM	#10
Schmoopie Keep Calm and Love Snoopy Forum Star Join Date: Jul 13, 2008 Location: Lynnwood, Washington Posts: 15,697	That is very sad to hear but it's wonderful that they were married for 64 years! Just incredible! My grandparents were married for 64 years as well! Andrea
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