Actor Rob Reiner, Wife Found Dead; Son Is Primary Suspect
Filmmaker Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, were found dead Sunday at their home in Los Angeles, authorities said. Multiple sources familiar with the family said the couple was killed by their son, though police have not confirmed that account.
The Los Angeles Fire Department responded to a call for medical assistance at the residence at approximately 3:30 p.m. on Dec. 14, according to a department spokesperson. First responders found a 78-year-old man and a 68-year-old woman deceased at the scene. Sources identified the victims as Rob and Michele Reiner.
Police said the couple’s 32-year-old son, Nick Reiner, is alive and is being questioned. No arrests have been announced, and the investigation remains ongoing, People magazine reported.
Rob was a director, producer and actor whose career spanned decades and included some of Hollywood’s most widely known films, including This Is Spinal Tap (1984), Stand by Me (1986), The Princess Bride (1987), When Harry Met Sally… (1989), Misery (1990) and A Few Good Men (1992). He first gained fame as an actor portraying Mike Stivic on the television sitcom All in the Family in the 1970s.
Reiner was born in the Bronx in 1947. He was the son of comedian and filmmaker Carl Reiner and actress and singer Estelle Lebost, People noted. Rob met Michele while directing When Harry Met Sally…. The couple married in 1989 and had three children together.
Reiner was a vocal critic of Republicans and especially President Donald Trump, though there is no evidence to suggest that could have been a motive for the killings.
Reiner was previously married to actress and director Penny Marshall, who died in 2018 at the age of 75 from complications related to diabetes.
In a 2016 interview with People magazine, Nick Reiner spoke publicly about his long struggle with drug addiction, which he said began in his early teens. He described cycling in and out of rehabilitation programs starting around age 15 and said that as his addiction worsened, he became increasingly estranged from his family.
Nick said his substance abuse eventually led to periods of homelessness, during which he lived on the streets in several states, People added.
Nick Reiner told People that his experiences during that period of addiction, including sleeping outdoors for nights or weeks at a time, later served as the inspiration for the semi-autobiographical film Being Charlie, which he co-wrote.
“Now, I’ve been home for a really long time, and I’ve sort of gotten acclimated back to being in L.A. and being around my family,” Nick told the outlet at the time.
Those who knew the Reiners have begun responding to the news.
“Personally, I am heartbroken by the tragic loss of Rob and his wife Michele. I knew Rob and have tremendous respect for him,” Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said, Fox News reported.
A family spokesperson told Variety, “It is with profound sorrow that we announce the tragic passing of Michele and Rob Reiner. We are heartbroken by this sudden loss, and we ask for privacy during this unbelievably difficult time.”
Los Angeles Fire Department officials responded to a residence in the 200 block of Chadbourne Avenue at approximately 3:30 p.m., where two bodies were found, according to Fox News Digital.
Officials posted on X Sunday evening: “On December 14th, at 3:40 pm, LAPD officers responded to a death investigation in the 200 block of S. Chadbourne Ave. Inside the residence, officers discovered 2 decedents. The identity of the decedents has not yet been confirmed.”
Later, the LAPD added: “Robbery Homicide Division (RHD) responded to the residence, which has been identified as the home of Rob Reiner. At this time, no further details are available as this is an ongoing RHD investigation, into an apparent homicide.”
Actors Billy Crystal and Larry David were seen arriving separately at the residence Sunday evening, ABC 7 reported. Both men remained at the home briefly before leaving. A neighbor told the outlet that Crystal appeared visibly distressed, Fox noted.
