Mel Brooks, Dick Van Dyke & Others Reveal Their Secrets to Longevity

In 2017, the Bronx-born comedy legend Carl Reiner — who was responsible for a lifetime of laughs, including The Dick Van Dyke Show, The Jerk and, well, his comic-genius son, the late Rob Reiner — spoke with our sister publication about the must-see documentary If You’re Not in the Obit, Eat Breakfast, where he and his longtime bestie Mel Brooks (among others) were featured. In celebration of Mel’s 100th birthday on June 28, 2026, and in remembrance of Carl’s death on June 29, 2022, we share some of the best pieces of advice learned from the documentary. But first, we share what Carl Reiner told us what kept him going for 98 years.

“The way I keep myself going is writing,” said Reiner, who was also an avid tweeter about politics and the young comic pundits he loved.