Hollywood and political figures collectively have expressed shock and paid tribute after acclaimed director Rob Reiner and his spouse, Michele, were tragically found dead in their Los Angeles home. The couple, 78 and 68, were pronounced dead this Sunday in their upscale neighborhood. The Dodgers also extended their sincere condolences for the loss of the longtime devoted fan.

For more than 60 years, the iconic filmmaker remained a diehard Dodgers fan. And hours after his passing, the team officially offered their condolences on their X handle. “The Dodgers express our deep sorrow and share our condolences over the passing of longtime fan Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele.”

Rob Reiner’s loyalty to the Dodgers began when his family moved to Los Angeles when he was a teenager. In fact, baseball always held a special place for Reiner. He saw it as a metaphor for life.

Reiner often reflected on baseball as a mirror of life. Like life, the Dodgers’ fan believed, it’s a team game. But, as he saw it, “when you’re at bat, nobody can help you. You’re all by yourself. It’s like life in that we’re alone, yet we’re still part of a team. In other sports, you rely, always, on your teammates to help you in whatever it is you do. In baseball, yes, you rely on your teammates, but there are moments when you are alone and no one can help you. That’s very much like life, too.”

Major League Baseball also joined in mourning the passing of the widely regarded figures.

“We are shocked and saddened by the tragic deaths of Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele. An Emmy Award-winning actor and Academy Award-nominated director, Reiner was an avid baseball fan. The Bronx native and Los Angeles resident was a longtime Dodgers fan. Reiner made numerous appearances at ballparks around the country and often inserted baseball references into his films. Our thoughts and prayers are with their loved ones,” MLB shared on X after the loss.

The death has left netizens stunned and grieving.