Leah Remini Mourns Scientology and the Aftermath Co-Host Mike Rinder: ‘He Was My Anchor’

Claire Franken

7 January 2025 at 1:26 pm·3-min read

Leah Remini has released an emotional statement about her Scientology and the Aftermath co-host Mike Rinder, who died on Jan. 5 after a battle with esophageal cancer. He was 69.

“On Sunday, we lost a giant, and I lost a man who was more than a friend—he was my family,” Remini wrote Tuesday on social medial “It’s impossible to imagine the last 13 years of my life without Mike Rinder. He was my anchor, my trusted partner, and my closest confidant. The thought of moving forward without him feels unbearable.” Read her full tribute below:

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On Sunday, we lost a giant, and I lost a man who was more than a friend—he was my family.

It’s impossible to imagine the last 13 years of my life without Mike Rinder. He was my anchor, my trusted partner, and my closest confidant. The thought of moving forward without him feels… pic.twitter.com/VOcy6sWikt
— Leah Remini (@LeahRemini) January 7, 2025

Rinder’s wife, Christie King Collbran, announced the news of his death in an Instagram post. His passing came after revealing an advanced esophageal cancer diagnosis in June 2023, but an official cause of death has not been revealed.

“Rest in peace, my sweet, beautiful husband,” King Collbran wrote. “I speak for so many when I say the sadness and pain we feel mirror the depth of our unwavering love for you. Your courage, bravery, and integrity are unmatched and will forever inspire us. You have been the pillar of stability in our lives, filling our days with your strength, wisdom, love, laughter and devotion. The world will remember you. My best friend, my hero, my love, Michael John Rinder.”

Raised in the Church of Scientology, Rinder went on to renounce the organization in 2007. He was featured in HBO’s Going Clear in 2015, the Emmy-winning documentary that revealed abusive practices within the church. He later joined Remini (King of Queens), who has been vocal about her condemnation of Scientology, as co-host of A&E’s Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath. The docuseries ran for three seasons from 2016 to 2019. In 2020, the pair continued their criticism of the organization with their podcast, Scientology: Fair Game.

Per Rinder’s wishes, his wife also shared his parting words on Instagram, which he shared with her before his death.

“If you are reading this, I have shuffled off this mortal coil in accordance with the immutable law that there are only two certainties in life: death and taxes,” Rinder wrote.

“My only real regret is not having achieved what I said I wanted to — ending the abuses of Scientology, especially disconnection and seeing [my son] into adulthood,” he shared. “If you are in any way fighting to end those abuses please keep the flag flying — never give up. And please, if you are able in some way, help Christie and the boys to move forward into the next chapter of their lives.”

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A post shared by Mike Rinder (@rindermike)

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