Washington DC/Los Angeles [US], December 15–16 (ANI): Veteran Hollywood actor-director Rob Reiner, celebrated for classics such as When Harry Met Sally…, The Princess Bride, Stand By Me and A Few Good Men, was found dead along with his wife Michele Singer at their Brentwood home in Los Angeles on Sunday afternoon. Reiner was 78. Authorities said the couple had been stabbed to death, and the Los Angeles Police Department launched a homicide investigation.
On Monday, police arrested the couple’s 32-year-old son, Nick Reiner, on suspicion of murdering his parents, according to Variety. LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell confirmed that Nick Reiner had been booked for murder, calling the incident “a very, very tragic” case. Charges have not yet been filed, and investigators are expected to submit the case to the District Attorney’s office. Nick Reiner is currently being held without bail at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility in downtown Los Angeles.
Rob Reiner first rose to fame as Michael “Meathead” Stivic on the landmark CBS sitcom All in the Family, earning Emmy Awards for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy in 1974 and 1978. The son of famed writer and comedian Carl Reiner, he later transitioned into directing, making his feature debut with the cult mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap (1984). Over the following decade, Reiner became one of Hollywood’s most versatile and successful filmmakers, delivering acclaimed works across genres, including Stand By Me (1986), The Princess Bride (1987), When Harry Met Sally… (1989), Misery (1990) and A Few Good Men (1992). He also co-founded Castle Rock Entertainment in 1987.
Despite a decline in box-office success in later years, Reiner remained committed to personal storytelling. In a 2008 interview, he said studios were increasingly focused on massive profits, adding that he entered filmmaking “to express myself and tell stories, not just churn out a product.” Beyond cinema, Reiner was a prominent progressive political voice, advocating for Democratic candidates, gay rights and social causes in California.
News of Reiner’s death prompted an outpouring of grief from across the entertainment industry. Director Paul Feig described him as a “true visionary titan,” while actor-director Paul Walter Hauser credited A Few Good Men as a defining inspiration for his career. Actors Jon Cryer, Josh Gad, Virginia Madsen, Elijah Wood, and filmmaker Joe Russo also shared tributes, praising Reiner’s talent, kindness and moral conviction. The family of late television legend Norman Lear said the world felt “unmistakably darker” following the loss of Rob and Michele Reiner.
Amid the mourning, controversy erupted after US President Donald Trump mocked Reiner’s death in a post on Truth Social, attributing it to what he called “Trump Derangement Syndrome.” The remarks drew sharp criticism online, given that authorities were investigating the deaths as a homicide.
Rob Reiner is survived by his children Jake, Nick and Romy, and by Tracy Reiner, whom he adopted during his marriage to actress-director Penny Marshall. In a statement released earlier, the 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.”
The investigation into the killings remains ongoing.
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