Commentary: As news of Rob Reiner's killing worsens, let's remember his legacy rooted in empathy

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I think about Rob Reiner almost every time I put on my socks.I am old enough to remember the famously hilarious (and largely improvised) bit from “All in the Family” in which Reiner’s Mike “Meathead” Stivic and Carroll O’Connor’s Archie Bunker argue about the correct order of donning footwear — both socks first (Archie’s method) or sock/shoe, sock/shoe (Mike’s).The straight-faced back and forth was, and is, a pitch-perfect exhibition of how much time and energy we waste judging, and arguing about, personal differences that are none of anyone’s business and matter not at all.I also think about Reiner whenever my now-adult children and I sit down for a movie night.

When all other suggestions fail, at least one of his films — ”Stand by Me,” “The Princess Bride,” “A Few Good Men,” “When Harry Met Sally...,” “Misery” — will achieve consensus, in large part, because of that same understanding.Reiner was, above all, a compassionate filmmaker, willing to excavate all manner of conflict and tension in search of the essential humanity that connects us all.Reiner made a perfect rom-com (‘When Harry Met Sally…’), a perfect thriller (‘Misery’), a perfect fantasy (‘The Princess Bride’) and never wanted to be pigeonholed.Reiner helped shape the culture of my youth and early adulthood with such brilliant empathy that his random appearances on television — as Jess’ (Zooey Deschanel) father in “New Girl” or, more recently, Ebra’s (Edwin Lee Gibson) business mentor on “The Bear” — sparked immediate reflexive delight, as if a beloved uncle had shown up unexpectedly at a family dinner.It helped, no doubt, that I share his political leanings.

Reiner’s advocacy for gay marriage and early education were well-known, as was, in recent years, his unvarnished criticism of President Trump, who Reiner, like many others, consider...