Star played it straight for laughs

CARL Reiner was a prodigious talent whose wit and good nature shone through in all his forms as a screenwriter, actor, director. In 1961, he created and wrote The Dick Van Dyke Show, still regarded as one of the best-loved sitcoms of all time.

- Carl Reiner

Originally titled Head Of The Family, the show was modelled on aspects of Reiner’s life but the producers did not fancy him for the part, which went to Van Dyke instead. It didn’t matter – the real genius was in Reiner’s writing. He cleverly avoided slang, resulting in its timeless feel.

The show earned 15 Emmys during its four-year run and remained Reiner’s proudest work because it served to inspire generations of young writers.