Rob Reiner’s Most Underappreciated Role Was a Blink-And-You’ll-Miss-It Gem

Rob Reiner made a name for himself not just as one of the celebrated actors of the modern era, but also as a not-so-shabby actor. He was part of pop culture history as the liberal Meathead in All in the Family, but that wouldn’t be the last time he would put his comedic talents on the screen. Reiner was part of the vast ensemble in fellow director Martin Scorsese’s unhinged biopic, The Wolf of Wall Street. Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, the 2013 film showed the origins and downfall of Wall Street broker Jordan Belfort.

Belfort was known for being one of the most aggressive brokers on Wall Street and was ultimately imprisoned for money laundering. The film catapulted Margot Robbie to success in America and featured other cameos from directors like Spike Jonze. A wildly hilarious film that was an indictment of toxic masculinity, Reiner added to the fun as Jordan’s father, “Mad Max” Belfort. The director is a highly recognizable face for pop culture fans, and still, his role went under the radar. Max showed up incrementally in the film as the voice of reason for Belfort and delivered some of the most humorous lines in the picture.

Rob Reiner Stole the Show In Only a Few Scenes

Rob Reiner’s past in comedy served him well in Martin Scorsese’s biographical film about the seedy underbelly of Wall Street. Jordan grew up humble, marrying a hairdresser, Theresa (Cristin Milioti), and wanted to improve their circumstances by making it on Wall Street. This was a story about corruption as Jordan was seduced by the lifestyle. Though Jordan traded in Theresa for Naomi (Margot Robbie), Jordan kept his parents with him in his rush to the top.

His father, Max, was an advisor and enforcer for the chaotic workplace, called Mad Max for his quick temper. Reiner’s role showed that Jordan wasn’t always a monster but had a mother and father who raised him right. Max is one of the many voices that try to counsel Jordan in doing the right thing, though in a hilarious fashion. Max’s access to the business accounts leads him to be flabbergasted by the thousands of dollars that Jordan and Donnie (Jonah Hill) expense out as a business meal. One of the many charges was a high-class escort service that Jordan tried to pass off as only business. Max and his son also have humorous exchanges about their preferred grooming, and Reiner did not hold back from one scene where it becomes evident why he was dubbed Mad Max.

Reiner shone in the film as more than just a cameo for the sake of it, but convincingly portrayed a man enraged that a nighttime phone call interrupted his weekly viewing of The Equalizer. The When Harry Met Sally director swore like a sailor and contributed to some of the most hilarious lines of the film. Max was also an important support system for Jordan and encouraged him to take a plea deal from the FBI when his misuse of funds finally came to light. Reiner was more than just a well-respected director, but a pop culture icon in all aspects of Hollywood.