According to Rob Reiner, who worked with Yorkin on the movie “All in the Family,” Bud Yorkin, director-producer and former partner of Norman Lear, was an easygoing guy who always tried to help his friends. Actors feel comfortable on their sets.
Reiner shared his memories of Yorkin, who died Tuesday at age 89, with Variety in a phone interview from New Orleans, where he was preparing for his latest film, Woody Harrelson “LBJ” stars.
“The best thing about (Yorkin) is he makes you feel comfortable. He is a very friendly, very down-to-earth person. I’ve learned that the best thing a director can do is make people feel good about what they’re doing. He always does that. He was always encouraging and always smart about how to do things. He created an atmosphere that allowed you to do your best work.
“Bud was warm and soft-spoken. Just a generous guy who makes you feel comfortable…. He loves sports. He is really a good athlete. He played soccer and he used to tell me, ‘You play both sides of the ball,’ attack and defense. He likes skiing. The thing I remember most about Bud is that you could always walk into his office – he was so welcoming. You feel like you can hang out with him because he’s such an approachable guy.
“The main thing I learned from Bud about directing is how to treat people. I have worked with many different directors. Some of them screamed; Everyone is different. I learned from Bud that if you can make people feel comfortable, they will give their all to you. He always does that.”
