The son of acclaimed film director Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, has been arrested on suspicion of murder after the couple were found dead with multiple stab wounds in their Los Angeles home, according to bbc.com.
Nick Reiner, 32, was taken into custody on Monday by the Los Angeles Police Department and is being held without bail. The bodies of Mr Reiner, 78, and his wife, 68, were discovered on Sunday in their Brentwood residence by their 28-year-old daughter, Romy, sources told the BBC’s US partner CBS News.
Emergency services were called to the scene at approximately 15:38 local time on Sunday, where both were pronounced dead. Police arrested Nick Reiner several hours later. Investigators have not publicly stated a motive, and the investigation remains ongoing.
The family’s Brentwood home is in an affluent, celebrity-filled neighbourhood.
Nick Reiner has previously spoken about his struggles with addiction and homelessness, which inspired the 2015 semi-autobiographical film Being Charlie, co-made with his father.
Rob Reiner was a celebrated figure in Hollywood, known for directing iconic films across various genres, including When Harry Met Sally, This Is Spinal Tap, Stand By Me, Misery, and A Few Good Men. The son of comedy legend Carl Reiner, he initially rose to fame as an actor, playing Meathead in the US sitcom All in The Family.
The tragedy drew immediate political reaction, with US President Donald Trump posting a highly controversial comment on social media criticising Mr Reiner, a vocal critic of the President, and referencing “Trump Derangement Syndrome”. This post was widely condemned, with former Republican ally Marjorie Taylor Greene stating the deaths were a “family tragedy, not about politics or political enemies,” and calling for empathy towards families dealing with addiction and mental health issues.
Tributes poured in from the Hollywood community. Maria Shriver, a close friend, described the couple as “devoted parents” who “deeply loved all their children and they never gave up trying to care for them.” Sir Elton John, who featured in the recent Spinal Tap sequel, expressed his disbelief, calling them “two of the most beautiful people I’d ever met.”
Michele Reiner was an actress, photographer and producer. The couple, who met during the making of When Harry Met Sally, married in 1989 and had three children together.
•Featured image: Rob Reiner & Michele Singer Reiner/Getty Images
