7 films that defined Rob Reiner's Hollywood legacy

Emmy Award-winning actor Rob Reiner, who was found dead Sunday, had a legendary Hollywood career that included films such as The Princess Bride and This is Spinal Tap.

He and his wife, Michele, were found stabbed to death at home, and the Los Angeles Police Department is investigating the incident as a homicide.

Tributes have since poured in, honoring Reiner's contribution to film and television.

"Michelle and I are heartbroken by the tragic passing of Rob Reiner and his beloved wife, Michele," former president Barack Obama said on social media. "Rob's achievements in film and television gave us some of our most cherished stories on screen."

Reiner, the son of the late The Dick Van Dyke Show creator Carl Reiner, got his start in the 1970s series All in the Family, and directed the 1984 cult classic This is Spinal Tap.

That film's sequel arrived in September this year and again starred Reiner as the filmmaker Marty DiBergi.

Here are 7 of the films that defined Reiner's Hollywood legacy.

This is Spinal Tap

Reiner directed and starred in the mockumentary, which follows the fictional heavy metal band Spinal Tap as they try to make a comeback.

Spinal Tap II: The End Continues arrived in September and follows Marty (Reiner) as he tries to find the band's original members for a reunion.

That film also stars Kerry Godliman, Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Harry Shearer, Fran Drescher, Paul Shaffer, Valerie Franco, Chris Addison, John Michael Higgins and June Chadwick.

Stand By Me

Reiner directed the 1986 coming of age feature, which is based on Stephen King's novella The Body, and follows four friends who are looking for the body of a missing person.

The film stars Corey Feldman, Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix and Jerry O'Connell.

Reiner previously told UPI that King "couldn't speak" after first watching the film, saying "It is the best thing that's ever been done with my work, but that's not saying much."

The Princess Bride

The 1987 feature stars Robin Wright as Buttercup and Cary Elwes as the hero who loves her and seeks to save her from Prince Humperdinck (Chris Sarandon).

Mandy Patinkin, Billy Crystal, Carol Kane, Christopher Guest and Wallace Shawn also star in the film.

"There are people who have come up to me that saw the film when they were 8 or 9 years old and now they have kids who are 8 or 9 years old and they are sharing that film with them. There is nothing greater," he said of the film. "It's a great feeling."

When Harry Met Sally

The 1989 romantic comedy was penned by Nora Ephron and starred Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan.

Crystal and Ryan portray friends who eventually fall in love with one another after 12 years.

Ephron evidently based Harry (Crystal) on Reiner, who directed the film.

Carrie Fisher, Bruno Kirby, Steven Ford, Lisa Jane Persky, Michelle Nicastro and Harley Jane Kozak also star.

Misery

The 1990 horror thriller starred James Caan as an acclaimed writer who is saved by fan and former nurse (Kathy Bates).

However, he finds himself in greater danger under her "care," after he discloses the fate of her favorite character.

Frances Sternhagen, Lauren Bacall and Richard Farnsworth also star in the film.

A Few Good Men

The 1992 thriller drama starred Tom Cruise as a military lawyer representing a pair of U.S. Marines accused of murder.

The case leads to the discovery of conspiracy.

Jack Nicholson and Demi Moore also starred in the film.

The American President

The 1995 romantic comedy starred Michael Douglas as the U.S. president, a widower courting Annette Bening's Sydney Ellen Wade, a lobbyist.

The situation is complicated by his reelection bid.

Reiner won two Emmy Awards over the course of his career, though he was nominated for seven.

"He was one of the greatest directors of our time," actor Josh Gad said in his tribute.