Carl Reiner, the American actor and director whose career spanned seven decades, has died aged 98.

The prolific comedian not only helped create The Dick Van Dyke Show, as well as writing and performing in Caesar's Hour with Sid Caesar, Reiner appeared in films such as Ocean's Eleven and directed several others, such as 1984's All of Me.

He died of natural causes on Monday at his home in Beverly Hills, according to his assistant.

Born in the Bronx in 1922 to Jewish immigrants from Austria and Romania, Reiner began acting in the US army during the Second World War.

He appeared in several Broadway musicals before moving into television. During his time on working on Your Show of Shows he met Mel Brooks, who he went on to form a comedy double act with.

In his 90s, Reiner would frequently meet with Brooks at his Beverley Hills home, after they both lost their wives. They would sit on Reiner's sofa watching movies, telling jokes and recalling a lifetime of comedy.

Last year he told the Forward that he had not faced antisemitism in his early years in show business:  "The only antisemitism I faced was in my Bronx neighborhood, growing up. It was Italian Catholics and Jews living together. They were deeply antisemitic, and a lot more pugnacious. You’d get bumped in the head.

"That said, the Jewish accent was made fun of, and used as a comic piece. That’s why Mel [Brooks] and I waited [until 1961] to record “The 2,000-Year-Old Man.” For six years, we only did it live. Cary Grant was a fan of the record, by the way. He took it to Buckingham Palace, and told us, “She loved it.” I said, “Who?” He said, “The Queen Mother.” I thought, if the biggest shiksa in the world loves it, we’re home free.

He leaves three children, artists Annie and Lucas, and actor and director Rob Reiner, who is responsible for This is Spinal Tap and When Harry Met Sally.