Hollywood was left reeling on Monday after U.S. law enforcement sources confirmed that Nick Reiner, the son of acclaimed filmmaker and actor Rob Reiner, has been taken into police custody following the deaths of Reiner and his wife Michele Singer Reiner at their Los Angeles home.
According to a law enforcement official briefed on the investigation, Nick Reiner, 32, was arrested by the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) and remains in custody. Online jail records indicate that he is being held on $4 million bail, though authorities have not yet publicly disclosed the formal charges. The official spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity, citing the sensitivity of the ongoing investigation.
Rob Reiner, 78, and Michele Reiner, 68, were discovered dead inside their residence in the upscale Brentwood neighborhood on Sunday afternoon. Investigators believe both suffered fatal stab wounds, prompting the LAPD’s Robbery-Homicide Division to open what police have described as an “apparent homicide” investigation.
Emergency Response and Investigation
The Los Angeles Fire Department said it responded to a medical aid call shortly after 3:30 p.m. Sunday, where first responders found a man and woman deceased inside the home. Authorities have not yet officially confirmed the victims’ identities, though multiple sources have identified them as Rob and Michele Reiner.
“Detectives with the Robbery-Homicide Division are investigating an apparent homicide,” LAPD Captain Mike Bland said, declining to provide further details as the inquiry unfolds.
Family representatives have not issued a public statement, and it remains unclear whether Nick Reiner has retained legal counsel. Requests for comment to the Reiner family were not immediately returned.
A Hollywood Icon Remembered
Rob Reiner’s death marks the loss of one of Hollywood’s most influential creative figures. Over a career spanning more than five decades, Reiner directed and produced some of the most iconic films of the late 20th century, including This Is Spinal Tap, When Harry Met Sally, A Few Good Men, Stand By Me, and The Princess Bride.
He first rose to national prominence as “Meathead” on Norman Lear’s groundbreaking 1970s sitcom All in the Family, a role that earned him two Emmy Awards and cemented his place in American television history.
The son of legendary comedian and filmmaker Carl Reiner, Rob Reiner carved out his own legacy as a storyteller whose work blended humor, romance, political insight, and cultural commentary. Carl Reiner died in 2020 at age 98.
Rob Reiner married Michele Singer Reiner, a photographer, in 1989 after meeting her while directing When Harry Met Sally. Together, they had three children: Nick, Jake, and Romy. Reiner was previously married to actor-director Penny Marshall, who died in 2018; he adopted her daughter, Tracy Reiner, during their marriage.
Tributes Pour In
The news prompted an outpouring of tributes from across Hollywood and beyond. Relatives of the late producer Norman Lear, who died in 2023, described the loss as deeply personal.
“Norman often referred to Rob as a son, and their close relationship was extraordinary, to us and the world,” the Lear family said in a statement. “Norman would have wanted to remind us that Rob and Michele spent every breath trying to make this country a better place, and they pursued that through their art, their activism, their philanthropy, and their love for family and friends.”
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass also issued a statement calling Reiner’s death “a devastating loss for the city.”
“Rob Reiner’s contributions reverberate throughout American culture and society,” Bass said. “An acclaimed actor, director, producer, writer, and engaged political activist, he always used his gifts in service of others.”
A Rare Crime in a Quiet Neighborhood
Violent crime is uncommon in Brentwood, an affluent neighborhood home to numerous celebrities and industry figures. The tragedy has inevitably drawn comparisons to the infamous 1994 killings of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman, which occurred roughly a mile away.
Authorities have not indicated whether the public is at risk, nor have they released further details about the circumstances surrounding the deaths. Investigators continue to examine forensic evidence and interview potential witnesses as the case develops.
As the investigation moves forward, Hollywood and fans worldwide are grappling with the sudden and shocking loss of a filmmaker whose work shaped generations—and with the disturbing circumstances surrounding his death.
