Son arrested after deaths of film legend Rob Reiner and wife

Hollywood icon Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, were found dead at their Brentwood home on Sunday, December 14, and their son, Nick Reiner, was later arrested on suspicion of murdering his parents, a case that has sent shock waves through the entertainment industry and political circles alike.

Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell told The Los Angeles Times that the officers responded to the Reiners’ home at approximately 3:40 p.m. Sunday. Rob Reiner, the celebrated actor and director, was 78, while Michele Singer Reiner, a photographer and producer, was 70. Law enforcement sources told The Times that both victims suffered injuries consistent with being stabbed and that there were no signs of forced entry at the residence in the 200 block of Chadbourne Avenue.

Nick Reiner, 32, was not at the home when police arrived. He was located later that evening in South Los Angeles near the University of Southern California, roughly 15 miles from the crime scene, and was arrested around 9:15 p.m., according to a law enforcement source who was not authorised to speak publicly.

Police said he was tracked down by officers from the Los Angeles Police Department’s Gang and Narcotics Division, working alongside a U.S. Marshals task force that typically searches for fugitives. He is currently being held without bail in Los Angeles County jail. Authorities have not disclosed a possible motive.

“Our hearts go out to the family and friends of the Reiners,” McDonnell said at a Monday news conference, calling the case “a tragic incident.” He added that investigators have obtained a search warrant for the Reiner home, describing it as a “critical piece of our investigation.”

Rob Reiner was widely known for his role as Michael “Meathead” Stivic on the sitcom All in the Family and for directing some of Hollywood’s most enduring films, including When Harry Met Sally, The Princess Bride, and This Is Spinal Tap. Beyond entertainment, he was a prominent political activist, particularly on liberal causes such as same-sex marriage.

The killings prompted an outpouring of reactions nationwide. Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said in a statement that they were “heartbroken by the tragic deaths of our friends Rob and Michele Reiner,” praising them as generous people who “inspired and uplifted millions” and were deeply committed to civic engagement and inclusive democracy.

Family friends told The Los Angeles Times that Rob and Nick Reiner had argued at a holiday party hosted Saturday night by talk show host Conan O’Brien, where several guests reportedly noticed Nick behaving oddly. Friends said Nick, who had struggled with addiction for years, had been living in a guesthouse on his parents’ property and that Michele Singer Reiner had grown increasingly worried about his mental health in recent weeks. The Reiners’ daughter, according to those friends, was the first family member to arrive at the home Sunday afternoon.

The case has also drawn political controversy. President Donald Trump suggested in a Truth Social post that Rob Reiner’s outspoken criticism of him may have played a role in the killings, remarks that sparked bipartisan backlash. California Gov. Gavin Newsom condemned the comments, and Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky called them “inappropriate and disrespectful.”

As The Times noted, the Reiners’ struggles with their son had previously been discussed publicly, including through the semi-autobiographical film Being Charlie, which explored addiction, recovery, and the painful dynamics within the family — issues that now form a sombre backdrop to a tragedy still under investigation.

By Tamilla Hasanova