Michael Douglas spent "a lot" of time talking to Rob Reiner about his son Nick Reiner's drug problems

Douglas also suffered drug problems within his family as his son Cameron Douglas spent years battling addiction issues and the actor has revealed he bonded with The Princess Bride director over their shared struggle.

Speaking in TV special CBS News: Rob Reiner - Scenes from a Life - which aired on Sunday night (21.12.25), Douglas said: "With this terrible tragedy we're realising how much pressure he was dealing with in his personal life with his son.

"I also had a son who had had drug issues. I'm happy to say he's overcome them and living a prosperous life.

"We did talk a lot about that and what you can do as a parent, what you can't do. Knowing with all of that going on behind the scenes, this was a man who always gave it his best."

The Oscar-winner revealed he also bonded with Reiner over their similar experiences in Hollywood as they both grew up in the shadow of their famous fathers with Douglas as the son of Spartacus actor Kirk Douglas and Reiner as the child of comedian/actor Carl Reiner.

Douglas said: "Well, my experience watching him was that I could never be the man that my father was. He can do everything. I mean, he was Spartacus ...

"Once you go into the same business, it stares you in the face. And in Rob's case, are you as funny as your father?

"I think that also created his tenacity, his strength and that's something that's not really talked about enough with Rob about his endurance."

In the TV special, Reiner was also remembered by his Misery star Kathy Bates, who compared landing the role in the Stephen King adaptation to the plot of Frank Capra's 1946 movie classic It's a Wonderful Life because it took her life in a totally different direction.

She said: "If I hadn't done Misery, it would be like [It's a Wonderful Life character] George Bailey going back and seeing what his life would have been like if he had never been ther.

"I've always wanted to be an actress and if it wasn't for Rob, I don't think I would have ever been able to make that dream come true in such a dramatic and incredible way.

"Rob changed the course of my life, and if he hadn't, I wouldn't be sitting in front of you now."

Annette Bening became a close friend of the director after starring in his 1995 movie The American President and she revealed Reiner would send the cast and crew home at a reasonable time every day because he wanted them to be able have dinner with their families.

She said: "[He was a] family man. The leader sets the tone. He would insist that the day ended at a sane time, which in show business is kind of unusual.

"But, he said: 'No, we want everyone to be able to have dinner with their kids.' He knew how to create a great atmosphere' ...

"He loved his kids and Michele. They were very much companions to each other. And we all respected that about them and their relationship."