The Brentwood home of Hollywood legend Rob Reiner and his wife, photographer Michele Singer Reiner, became the scene of a profound tragedy this week, with police arresting their 32-year-old son, Nick Reiner, on murder charges. The deaths of the esteemed couple, found in their home Sunday afternoon with what sources describe as stab wounds, sent a wave of shock and grief through the entertainment and political worlds.
Nick Reiner, a screenwriter who had collaborated with his father on a film detailing his personal struggles with addiction, was taken into custody Sunday night and booked Monday on suspicion of homicide. He is currently being held in a Los Angeles County jail on $4 million bail.
The Discovery and Arrest
The events unfolded rapidly Sunday afternoon at the Reiners’ upscale Brentwood residence:
- The Scene: Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics responded to a medical aid call around 3:30 p.m. and discovered the bodies of Rob Reiner, 78, and Michele Singer Reiner, 68, inside.
- The Homicide: The Los Angeles Police Department’s Robbery-Homicide Division took over the case, treating the deaths as an “apparent homicide.” Multiple media outlets, citing law enforcement sources, reported that the victims suffered multiple stab wounds, including lacerations to the throat.
- The Tip: Initial reports suggest that the couple’s daughter, Romy, was the one who discovered the bodies and immediately alerted authorities, identifying a family member as a potential suspect.
- The Arrest: Nick Reiner was arrested later that evening. Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell confirmed the booking on Monday, calling the incident “very tragic.”
The arrest of a family member in the slaying of one of Hollywood’s most recognizable figures and his wife has left investigators focusing on the events leading up to the shocking discovery. Sources told The Los Angeles Times that the father and son had been involved in a heated argument at a party Saturday night.
A Painful Public History
The tragedy is layered with the family’s long, public history of struggling with Nick Reiner’s drug addiction and mental health issues.
- The Film: Rob and Nick Reiner collaborated on the 2015 film Being Charlie, which explored a teenager’s cycle through addiction and rehabilitation—a semi-autobiographical account drawn directly from Nick Reiner’s own experiences. At one point, Nick Reiner reportedly experienced homelessness in his youth.
- A Father’s Hope: Promoting the film, Rob Reiner spoke candidly about the difficult journey, hoping the process had brought the family closer. “By the time we got to the point of making the movie, it didn’t matter if we actually did,” the director once said. “Because our relationship had gotten so much closer.”
- Recent Concerns: However, reports indicate that Michele Singer Reiner had recently expressed concerns to friends about her middle son’s mental health and continued struggles.
Rob Reiner was the son of comedy legend Carl Reiner and rose to fame as Michael “Meathead” Stivic on the iconic 1970s sitcom All in the Family. He later cemented his status as a legendary director with films including The Princess Bride, When Harry Met Sally…, and A Few Good Men.
The couple’s deaths have prompted an outpouring of tributes from across the entertainment world and political spectrum, mourning not only the loss of a cinematic giant but the tragic end to a family’s intensely public struggle.