LOS ANGELES – Hollywood is in mourning after legendary director and actor Rob Reiner, 78, and his wife of 36 years, photographer and producer Michele Singer Reiner, 68, were found stabbed to death in their Brentwood home on Sunday afternoon.
The Los Angeles Police Department is treating the case as a double homicide, and multiple outlets, including People, report that the couple’s son, Nick Reiner, is alleged to be responsible.
News of their deaths has stunned the entertainment community and fans around the world, leaving many grieving the loss of a beloved filmmaker and his longtime partner.
Paramedics with the Los Angeles Fire Department responded to a medical emergency call at the Reiner residence on the 200 block of South Chadbourne Avenue at about 3:38 p.m. on December 14. When they entered the home, they found both Rob and Michele Reiner dead with multiple stab wounds.
Law enforcement sources, cited by the Los Angeles Times, said there were no signs of forced entry.
The LAPD Robbery-Homicide Division quickly took control of the investigation. During a late-night press briefing, Deputy Chief Alan Hamilton confirmed that detectives are actively working the case but said that no suspect has been formally identified or detained.
He added that police are not looking for any person outside the couple’s close circle. A search warrant was being processed so investigators could fully examine the property.
According to reports, the couple’s daughter, Romy Reiner, who lives nearby, found the bodies and made the 911 call, describing what she believed to be a “family incident.”
Sources close to the family told People and other outlets that 32-year-old Nick Reiner, who has publicly spoken about his long struggle with drug addiction, is suspected of the killings.
Nick previously shared details of his substance abuse and periods of homelessness during press for the 2015 semi-autobiographical film Being Charlie, which he co-wrote with his father.
Current Status of the Investigation
As of Monday morning, the LAPD has classified the deaths as an “apparent homicide” and has released only limited information while they await autopsy findings from the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office. While officials have not confirmed the recovery of a weapon, stab wounds were clearly visible at the scene.
Law enforcement sources told ABC News and Variety that high-ranking LAPD officials responded in person, underscoring the profile of the case and the attention it has drawn. Family members, including a relative who was seen leaving the neighborhood, have spoken with investigators, but police have not announced any arrests.
In a brief statement released Sunday night, the Reiner family said, “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.”
Rob Reiner’s Friends, Colleagues, and Fans React
By early Monday, tributes had begun pouring in as Hollywood woke up to the news that one of its most familiar and respected figures was gone.
Christopher Guest and Jamie Lee Curtis, close friends of the couple who were married at the Reiners’ home in 1984, shared a joint statement: “Christopher and I are numb and sad and shocked about the violent, tragic deaths of our dear friends Rob and Michele Singer Reiner.
Our ONLY focus and care right now is for their children and immediate families, and we will offer all support possible to help them.” The guest recently worked with Rob again on Spinal Tap II: The End Continues.
The family of producer Norman Lear, who was a mentor and father figure to Rob Reiner through their work on All in the Family, also reacted with heartbreak. “The Lear Family is devastated by the deaths of Rob and Michele Reiner. Norman often referred to Rob as a son… The world is unmistakably darker tonight, and we are left bereft.”
California Governor Gavin Newsom remembered Reiner as a “big-hearted genius” whose films carried “depth and timelessness” rooted in empathy and humanity. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass called the deaths “a devastating loss for our city and our country” and praised Reiner’s long record of activism and social engagement.
Across the industry, actors and filmmakers expressed their grief. Elijah Wood said he was “horrified” by the news, while Virginia Madsen thanked Reiner for “giving us so much joy.” Fans on social media shared favorite clips from When Harry Met Sally… and The Princess Bride, and many described Reiner as a kind, thoughtful presence who shaped their love of movies.
A Remarkable Hollywood Life: From “Meathead” to Acclaimed Director
Rob Reiner’s career covered nearly seven decades and left a lasting mark on television, film, and political life.
Born in the Bronx in 1947, he grew up in a show business family. His father was legendary writer and comedian Carl Reiner, and his mother, Estelle Reiner, was an actress and singer remembered for her famous “I’ll have what she’s having” line in When Harry Met Sally…. Rob first became widely known as Michael “Meathead” Stivic, Archie Bunker’s outspoken son-in-law, on Norman Lear’s groundbreaking series All in the Family (1971–1979).
The role earned him two Emmy Awards and turned him into a familiar face in American homes.
Reiner later moved behind the camera and quickly proved himself as a director. He co-created and starred in the rock mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap (1984), which became a cult classic and eventually led to the sequel Spinal Tap II.
In the late 1980s and 1990s, he directed a string of influential films: the coming-of-age story Stand By Me (1986), the fantasy romance The Princess Bride (1987), the landmark romantic comedy When Harry Met Sally… (1989) where he first met Michele, the Stephen King thriller Misery (1990), the courtroom drama A Few Good Men (1992), and the political love story The American President (1995).
He continued working into the 2000s and beyond, directing The Bucket List (2007) with Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman, and the 2023 documentary Albert Brooks: Defending My Life. His films often balanced humor, emotion, and social themes, bringing in major box office success and multiple award nominations.
Outside of directing, Reiner became a prominent progressive voice in politics. He pushed for early childhood education funding through California’s Proposition 10, supported LGBTQ+ rights, and backed Democratic candidates and causes.
Reiner married actress and director Penny Marshall in 1971 and adopted her daughter, Tracy Reiner, who later appeared in A League of Their Own. After their divorce in 1981, he met Michele Singer while working on When Harry Met Sally…. The two married in 1989 and raised three children together: Jake, Nick, and Romy.
Michele built her own career as a photographer and producer and worked with Rob on several projects, including Spinal Tap II. Friends knew her for her creative eye and her warmth within their close-knit circle.
As investigators continue to piece together what happened inside the Brentwood home, the film community is remembering Rob Reiner as far more than a hit director. To many, he was a generous friend, a committed activist, and a steady presence whose work helped shape modern film and television.
His legacy, from confronting prejudice on All in the Family to creating some of the most quoted movies of all time, will live on through his work. For now, the focus remains on the Reiner children and their extended family as they face a loss that feels almost too painful to put into words.
