Bud Yorkin, the celebrated director-producer and former partner of Norman Lear, was known for his easygoing nature and his dedication to making actors feel at ease on set. Rob Reiner, who collaborated with Yorkin on “All in the Family,” fondly remembers him as someone who created a welcoming and comfortable environment.
In a telephone interview with Variety from New Orleans, where Reiner is preparing his latest film, “LBJ” starring Woody Harrelson, he shared his memories of Yorkin, who passed away at the age of 89.
“The main thing that was great about Bud was that he just made you feel comfortable. He was a very welcoming person, very down to earth. I’ve learned that the best thing a director can do is to make people feel good about what they’re doing. He always did that. He was encouraging and always intelligent about the way he did things. He created an atmosphere that allowed you to do your best work.
“Bud was warm and soft-spoken. Just a generous kind of guy who made you feel comfortable. He loved sports and was a really good athlete. He played football and used to tell me, ‘You play both sides of the ball,’ offense and defense. He loved to ski. What I remember most about Bud is that you could always go into his office — he was so welcoming. You felt like you could just hang with him because he was an easy guy to be around.
“The main thing I learned from Bud about directing is how to treat people. I’ve worked with a lot of different directors. Some of them yell and scream; everybody has a different way. I learned from Bud that if you can make people feel comfortable, they’re going to give you their best. He always did that.”
These reflections from Reiner highlight Yorkin’s ability to foster a positive and productive atmosphere on set, leaving a lasting impact on those who had the pleasure of working with him.
