By Don Terry | Monday, December 15, 2025 | 4 min read
Police are investigating the shocking deaths of acclaimed filmmaker and actor Rob Reiner and his wife, photographer and producer Michele Singer Reiner, after the couple were found fatally stabbed inside their Brentwood home in Los Angeles. The case has sent shockwaves through Hollywood and beyond, not only because of Reiner’s cultural legacy, but because investigators are now examining the possibility of a tragic family-related incident.
Emergency responders were called to the couple’s residence on South Chadbourne Avenue Sunday afternoon, shortly after 3:30 p.m., following a distress call from their daughter, Romy Reiner. When Los Angeles Fire Department personnel arrived, they discovered both victims deceased, each suffering from multiple stab wounds. Authorities said there were no immediate signs of forced entry, a detail that quickly shifted the focus of the investigation inward.
The Los Angeles Police Department’s Robbery-Homicide Division has taken over the case. Law enforcement sources familiar with the investigation say detectives are treating the deaths as a domestic incident, though they have stressed that the inquiry remains active and evolving. No arrests have been announced as of this writing.
Investigators are currently questioning the couple’s son, Nick Reiner, in connection with the case. Multiple media outlets report that he is considered a key person of interest. Police have not publicly disclosed his whereabouts, and officials have declined to comment on whether he is formally in custody. Authorities have emphasized that no conclusions have been reached and that all findings remain subject to verification.
Rob Reiner, 78, was one of Hollywood’s most influential figures, first rising to fame as Michael “Meathead” Stivic on the groundbreaking sitcom All in the Family. He later became an acclaimed director, shaping American film culture with classics including This Is Spinal Tap, The Princess Bride, When Harry Met Sally, and A Few Good Men. The son of legendary comedian Carl Reiner, Rob carved out a legacy that blended sharp humor, political consciousness, and enduring storytelling.
Michele Singer Reiner, 68, was a respected photographer and producer who married Rob in 1989. Together they raised three children — Jake, Nick, and Romy — and were known among friends for their close-knit family life. Rob also had a daughter, Tracy, from his earlier marriage to Penny Marshall.
Nick Reiner, now at the center of the investigation, has spoken publicly in the past about struggles with substance abuse. His challenges were well known within the family, and Rob Reiner had openly discussed supporting his son’s recovery over the years. In 2015, Rob directed Being Charlie, a film inspired in part by Nick’s experiences with addiction, which Nick co-wrote — a project that was widely seen as both personal and hopeful.
News of the deaths has devastated the entertainment community. Tributes poured in almost immediately, with colleagues and friends describing Rob Reiner as not only a towering creative force but also a deeply engaged civic voice. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass praised Reiner’s impact on American culture and his lifelong advocacy for social justice and early childhood development.
Close friends, including Billy Crystal and Larry David, were seen near the family home in the hours following the discovery, visibly shaken. For many in Hollywood, the loss feels both professional and deeply personal.
As investigators continue their work, authorities have urged the public to avoid speculation. While the absence of forced entry and the family connection have shaped early lines of inquiry, police have made clear that no motive has been established and no charges have been filed.
The tragedy underscores how deeply personal struggles — particularly those involving addiction and mental health — can exist even within families known for success, stability, and public admiration. For now, the case remains unresolved, and the nation watches as investigators work to uncover what led to the violent end of two lives that shaped American culture for decades.