Legendary Director Rob Reiner and Wife Michele Found Dead in Apparent Homicide

 

 

LOS ANGELES — Acclaimed filmmaker Rob Reiner, known for directing classics like When Harry Met Sally… and Stand By Me, and his wife Michele Singer Reiner were found dead on Sunday, December 14, in their Brentwood, Los Angeles home in what police are treating as an apparent homicide. NBC Los Angeles+2Los Angeles Times+2

 

Emergency responders arrived at the residence in the quiet west Los Angeles neighborhood around 3:30 p.m. local time after a call for assistance. Inside, the 78-year-old director and his 68-year-old wife were discovered with what officials described as knife-related injuries. Detectives from the Los Angeles Police Department’s Robbery Homicide Division are conducting a full investigation, and no suspect has been publicly identified. ABC News+1

 

A family representative confirmed the tragic deaths Sunday evening. In a statement, the Reiner family said they were “profoundly sorrowful” and asked for privacy as they grieve the sudden loss. Los Angeles Times

 

Reiner’s career spanned decades and genres. He first gained national fame as Mike “Meathead” Stivic on All in the Family before transitioning to a celebrated directing career that produced enduring films including This Is Spinal Tap, The Princess Bride, Misery, A Few Good Men, and the beloved romantic comedy When Harry Met Sally…. Reuters

 

Michele Singer Reiner was a photographer and active partner in his personal life; the couple had been married since 1989 and raised three children together. Reiner was also known for his outspoken activism and contributions to political and social causes. AP News

 

The investigation is ongoing, and law enforcement has urged anyone with information to come forward as detectives piece together the circumstances surrounding the couple’s deaths. ABC News

 

Key Takeaways

1. Rob Reiner, 78, and his wife Michele Singer Reiner, 68, were found dead in their Brentwood home, and police are treating the case as an apparent homicide. NBC Los Angeles

2. Both victims suffered knife-related injuries; the LAPD Robbery Homicide Division is leading the investigation with no suspects publicly named. ABC News

3. Reiner was a prominent Hollywood director and actor with a storied career that included When Harry Met Sally…, Stand By Me, The Princess Bride, and more. Reuters

 

Compiled from multiple sources

Read  elsewhere it was the son.

Wow.

Yes, the police are now confirming it was a son. I will not be surprised if it is the kid who had a history of substance abuse. The son said in an interview in 2016 he hadn't been particularly close with his father. However, I believe that was probably due to the father taking a tough stand on his son's substance abuse and forcing him into treatment.  I looked at a picture of the family from 2014 and I could tell right away that one of the kids was playing with a few cards missing from the deck.

 

Terrible tragedy for a family that tried its best to help a troubled  child. Unfortunately, it plays out regularly with many families. Parents don't want to write off a child and will do their utmost to help to the point of putting themselves at risk.  Rob Reiner was 78 and his wife Michelle 68. You have to be really screwed up to slice up elderly people like this, especially a couple who had helped their son repeatedly over the years and who had paid for therapy and rehab. They deserved to live out their old age in peace.

Tragic stuff.

Blessed with incredible talent, wealth, and fame.

Cursed with a bad son. 

Seemed like a super nice guy in interviews. 

 

A very tragic ending for a couple who represent Hollywood royalty and were probably living a very good life, and from everything I hear very kind and generous folks. 

 

People take it for granted, and just assume that their kid is going to be healthy, and normal, but there are literally 100 things that could go wrong and every day I wake up I'm so grateful that I decided not to bring kids into this world. 

His father, Carl Reiner, was a major figure in comedy, television, and film a generation earlier. Carl created and cast himself in the main role of a situation comedy, but the networks said they needed someone other than Reiner in the lead role. That resulted in The Dick Van Dyke Show (Van Dyke just turned 100 years old yesterday). Carl Reiner only died just about five years ago, age 98. Now, the son is gone at 78. All that heritage and success for Rob Reiner and things end up like this. Reminded me in a way of Gene Hackman's horrific end. All that glamour, money, and fame, but you never imagine going out like this.

1 hour ago, spidermike007 said:

A very tragic ending for a couple who represent Hollywood royalty and were probably living a very good life, and from everything I hear very kind and generous folks. 

 

People take it for granted, and just assume that their kid is going to be healthy, and normal, but there are literally 100 things that could go wrong and every day I wake up I'm so grateful that I decided not to bring kids into this world. 

He was a talented director no doubt. But I think we all know Reiner was an extremely hateful person. Writing hateful garbage toward patriots on x all day long he was one sick puppy. Right up there with O'Donnell and Kathy Griffin - probably even worse. Not what could describe as "living a good life".

But a shocker to go out like this. RIP mr Reiner. 

“Rob was a passionate advocate for children and for civil rights — from taking on Big Tobacco to fighting for marriage equality to serving as a powerful voice in early education. He made California a better place through his good works.”

 

“Rob will be remembered for his remarkable filmography and for his extraordinary contribution to humanity,” (California Gov. Gavin) Newsom said.

 

https://edition.cnn.com/entertainment/live-news/homicide-detectives-investigating-at-address-connected-with-hollywood-director-rob-reiner

 

NB "I'll have what she's having" is an iconic line from the movie When Harry Met Sally..., spoken by Estelle Reiner (director Rob Reiner's mother) after Meg Ryan's fake orgasm scene ...

 

via Gemini

49 minutes ago, SunnyinBangrak said:

He was a talented director no doubt. But I think we all know Reiner was an extremely hateful person. Writing hateful garbage toward patriots on x all day long he was one sick puppy. Right up there with O'Donnell and Kathy Griffin - probably even worse. Not what could describe as "living a good life".

But a shocker to go out like this. RIP mr Reiner. 

Hateful?

 

You mean like he constantly called people "deranged" and "losers" and "low IQ" and "no talent" and "bad ratings" or said "Quiet, Piggy"?

 

A hugely talented man, nobody deserves this kind of end. Forget anything else, this is a tragedy for his family and they deserve sympathy and respect for their loss.

1 hour ago, SunnyinBangrak said:

He was a talented director no doubt. But I think we all know Reiner was an extremely hateful person. Writing hateful garbage toward patriots on x all day long he was one sick puppy. Right up there with O'Donnell and Kathy Griffin - probably even worse. Not what could describe as "living a good life".

But a shocker to go out like this. RIP mr Reiner. 

Well that would be expected coming from you, as his statements were coming from a place very much the opposite of where you're coming from politically. I would choosing to call him courageous speaking truth to corrupt power. 

 

He was actually quite critical of Biden, which is a lot more objectivity than is expressed by a lot of Trump supporters. 

 

'Angry' Rob Reiner cursed at Doug Emhoff during Joe Biden debate party: Book https://share.google/nRwakISQXYTaqvTnu

1 hour ago, SunnyinBangrak said:

He was a talented director no doubt. But I think we all know Reiner was an extremely hateful person. Writing hateful garbage toward patriots on x all day long he was one sick puppy. Right up there with O'Donnell and Kathy Griffin - probably even worse. Not what could describe as "living a good life".

But a shocker to go out like this. RIP mr Reiner. 

 

Just peeked at his X account, yea, he's was a bit out there.   Knew he was anti gun.   Too bad, one might have come in handy.    

 

R I P  

2 hours ago, Ralf001 said:

Read  elsewhere it was the son.

 

No, just being questioned, as he did live in the house, I think, or on the estate if another living quarters available.  They kind of reconciled in 2016, even made a movie, about addiction.

1 hour ago, SunnyinBangrak said:

He was a talented director no doubt. But I think we all know Reiner was an extremely hateful person. Writing hateful garbage toward patriots on x all day long he was one sick puppy. Right up there with O'Donnell and Kathy Griffin - probably even worse. Not what could describe as "living a good life".

Politicizing a murder victim, about as low as one can sink as a life form?

5 minutes ago, Hamus Yaigh said:

Politicizing a murder victim, about as low as one can sink as a life form?

I had written a post quoting Rob doing exactly that on X but deleted. Now is not the time. But its also not the time for hypocrisy from uninformed posters tyvm

Anytime I think of the name Reiner, I immediately think of Carl.

Carl lived to 2020, and thankfully he did not live long enough to see this.

Carl had twice the talent, or probably even more.

 

Graduated from Georgetown University.

 

I cannot have been easy growing up in the shadow of such a giant.

 

Watch The Gazebo, 1959, and witness Carl's genius.

Glen Ford amazing, too, in this flick.

 

He had genius.

 

Those great days, post-war America, are now sadly gone.

 

And what is left?

Are we coming undone?

 

The humor of father and son (Rob) is quite different, by the way.

2 hours ago, KhunLA said:

 

No, just being questioned, as he did live in the house, I think, or on the estate if another living quarters available.  They kind of reconciled in 2016, even made a movie, about addiction.

 

If he didn't do it, he can make a mint suing People for defamation:

 

Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, were killed by their son, Nick, according to multiple sources who have spoken with family members. Police have not yet confirmed the account.

 

https://people.com/rob-reiner-wife-michele-were-killed-by-son-sources-11868856

5 minutes ago, impulse said:

 

If he didn't do it, he can make a mint suing People for defamation:

 

Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, were killed by their son, Nick, according to multiple sources who have spoken with family members. Police have not yet confirmed the account.

 

https://people.com/rob-reiner-wife-michele-were-killed-by-son-sources-11868856

Unless he got written out of any will, and equal share to kids, he'll be sittin' pretty.

 

... "As of December 2025, the late Rob Reiner's net worth was estimated at approximately $200 million at the time of his death." ...

2 hours ago, KhunLA said:

Unless he got written out of any will, and equal share to kids, he'll be sittin' pretty.

 

... "As of December 2025, the late Rob Reiner's net worth was estimated at approximately $200 million at the time of his death." ...

 

Maybe the Butler did it, and not the  son?

 

Or, maybe it was the son.

We must allow the jury to deliberate before we cast stones.

 

There is plenty of irony in being killed by the son, a son one had sired.

Yet, there is no humor in it.

 

Tough Love.

Tough luck....

 

What was the dynamic between Father and Son?

In this video, the dynamic is easy to see.

The father is being absolutely supportive of the son at every possible opportunity.

This is so obvious.

 

The son, however, just lacks the chops.

Carl was the brainiac.

Rob was smart, as well.

But Nick?....his lack of competence seems obvious, too.

 

 

Good Lord !

 

I certainly hope he had sufficient life insurance ....

 

 

I just watched a live news broadcast from Los Angeles they are saying son arrested and 4 million dollars bail.

9 minutes ago, bkk6060 said:

I just watched a live news broadcast from Los Angeles they are saying their are no suspects or arrests and family members need to be interviewed. 

 

 

Bail set a 4 million...

 

This is sort of like parts of the novel, The Brothers K....

Patricide is often involved in Russian novels.

 

 

Surely the men in white coats have to come soon to take him away.

 

US President Donald Trump has spoken out on the death of director Rob Reiner and his wife, claiming it was through him causing anger to others through a "mind crippling disease".

 

Speaking on Truth Social, he said: "A very sad thing happened last night in Hollywood. Rob Reiner, a tortured and struggling, but once very talented movie director and comedy star, has passed away, together with his wife, Michele, reportedly due to the anger he caused others through his massive, unyielding, and incurable affliction with a mind crippling disease ...........(deleted)

 

"He was known to have driven people CRAZY by his raging obsession of President Donald J. Trump, with his obvious paranoia reaching new heights as the Trump Administration surpassed all goals and expectations of greatness, and with the Golden Age of America upon us, perhaps like never before. May Rob and Michele rest in peace!

 

link cannot be provided as it contains words referring to a psychological condition, even though Trump uttered the words himself.

 

 

1 minute ago, bannork said:

Surely the men in white coats have to come soon to take him away.

 

US President Donald Trump has spoken out on the death of director Rob Reiner and his wife, claiming it was through him causing anger to others through a "mind crippling disease".

 

Speaking on Truth Social, he said: "A very sad thing happened last night in Hollywood. Rob Reiner, a tortured and struggling, but once very talented movie director and comedy star, has passed away, together with his wife, Michele, reportedly due to the anger he caused others through his massive, unyielding, and incurable affliction with a mind crippling disease ...........(deleted)

 

"He was known to have driven people CRAZY by his raging obsession of President Donald J. Trump, with his obvious paranoia reaching new heights as the Trump Administration surpassed all goals and expectations of greatness, and with the Golden Age of America upon us, perhaps like never before. May Rob and Michele rest in peace!

 

link cannot be provided as it contains words referring to a psychological condition, even though Trump uttered the words himself.

 

 

Someone needs to take you away for bringing up Trump in every conversation.

3 minutes ago, TedG said:

Someone needs to take you away for bringing up Trump in every conversation.

Help me Ted, I've got the dreaded syndrome that must remain nameless on AN, lol. 

Archy got it right, he was a meathead and a left wing liberal who could not keep his mouth shut. We laughed at meathead in All in the Family at the time but loathed him later on for his tirades against President Trump. Maybe his son did the world a favor. 

41 minutes ago, bannork said:

"He was known to have driven people CRAZY by his raging obsession of President Donald J. Trump, with his obvious paranoia reaching new heights as the Trump Administration surpassed all goals and expectations of greatness, and with the Golden Age of America upon us, perhaps like never before. May Rob and Michele rest in peace!

 

 

he was the eternal activist acting a role against the perceived power structure. Trump is only channeling what middle Americans think so if you're fighting him you're fighting the bulk of the country living outside of major urban centers. For him personally it was punching down and not honorable at all. 

7 hours ago, SunnyinBangrak said:

I had written a post quoting Rob doing exactly that on X but deleted. Now is not the time. But its also not the time for hypocrisy from uninformed posters tyvm

I wouldn't worry about it, you are low, but it seems the POTUS has managed to stoop even lower with his latest Truth Social on the matter.